Software friendlyLaunchkey Mini includes everything you need to make tracks in the box, including sounds, instruments and effects from AAS, Softube, Spitfire Audio, XLN Audio and Klevgrand, plus membership of Novation Sound Collective. They’ve also added Chord and Scale modes, a built-in arpeggiator, MIDI output, and MIDI map customisation.

Pitch and mod wheels are also onboard along with Octave Up and Octave Down functions for easy manipulation of your sound. You also get 8 knobs for controlling parameters, pitch and modulation wheels, and an improved screen. The two are similar in some respects, particularly some of the products that use the two technologies. introduces the new Strum Mode to the Launchkey series, a creative tool that adds an extra element to your production, helping to elevate it to the next level. Full integration with Logic, Reason and Cubase, plus out of the box functionality with other DAWs including Studio One, Reaper and Pro Tools, via HUI.

Built for use with Ableton Live, the keys, faders, pads and knobs on the LaunchKey controllers map perfectly with the software which provides a consistent workflow at home, in the studio or on stage. The chord mode allows you to trigger a full chord with only one key, perfect for making the most of your key-space when adding chords to a track. Finally, power consumption is minimal — indeed Novation haven't even popped a power supply into the box. When Novation released the original Launchkey, the raised the bar for USB MIDI keyboard controllers. Novation's own bundled soft-synth offerings are a little long in the tooth now, but they're still usable companions for Lite or for your existing DAW.

A powerful arpeggiator takes you to new melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic places, and Strum mode lets you hold down notes and strum chords to unlock more creative ideas. There’s also a built-in arpeggiator with rhythmic controls and 7 playback types opening up plenty of creative avenues. Hardware - our finest mini keymech to date, 16 velocity-sensitive RGB, eight rotary controls, pitch and mod touch strips, and sustain input.The launchkey seems to count amongst the standard kit for controlling Ableton, and as a new user still getting used to this hardware I'm not going to comment on its functionality. The main thing Novation might do better is to make the labels of the rotary knobs easier to read - perhaps by putting the labels below the knobs instead of above where they are prone to being obscured by the knobs themselves – and to have a more generous-sized LED display. All the controller assignments are done for you via the integral InControl mode, so there's absolutely no work needed (or possible) on the Launchkey itself. There needs to be an option to switch off all LED’s, then a direct to iOS without the need of USB hubs would be better.

They’ve also deepened the Launchkey’s Ableton Live integration and added dedicated Logic integration. With three keyboard sizes to choose from and a pack of useful software thrown in, the Launchkeys offer painless live performance and intuitive studio control. I've used my MK3 keyboard for producing on my iPad and Windows DAW, for six months or more with no complaints.

Shape your sound – Tweak instruments and effects to perfection using eight rotary encoders and nine 45mm faders. This is great for live performers that may travel with extensive equipment and need a feature-rich yet portable solution for sending MIDI data to other pieces of gear. Get creative easily with arpeggiator - Easy to use but deeply controllable, Launchkey Mini’s creative arpeggiator allows you to change rhythm, beat, pattern, octave, gate and more to add a whole range of diversity to your ideas and melodies. Overall the Novation MK3 is a really great mini midi keyboard and I will continue to enjoy using it.

Novation have added a 5-pin MIDI output to the Mk3, so you can control external MIDI-compatible hardware (you’ll need an external power supply for hardware control). Larger, improved velocity-sensitive pads provide greater control over dynamics, and eight fixed rotary knobs bring your software to life at your fingertips. Getting started with the Launchkey Mk3 is really simple as it’s USB-powered and class compliant so you don’t need an external power supply and you don’t need to download any drivers.

The exclusion of hardware synths is no accident because the manual states: "Launchkey's controls are non-assignable.