Novation just announced a refresh of their LaunchKey MIDI and DAW controllers. The big news in these, is that like the new MK3 LaunchPads and Launchkey Mini MK3, they can also now load up custom templates to control hardware or software instruments directly, and they also include a generative arpeggiator, with the Mutate and Deviate functions – like the Launchkey Mini MK3. There’s also a new 37 key member to the old line up of 25, 49 and 61 key versions.

In this video I take a look at what these controllers can do, the differences between the four versions of these keyboards, namely what the extra faders and buttons do on the 49 and 61 key versions, how the arpeggiator works, what the custom modes are, how these keyboards interface directly with hardware instruments and with Ableton Live:

Timeline:

0:00 Intro
1:00 Overview
2:55 Brain & brawn
3:40 Arpeggiator
5:35 Mutate
6:05 Arp & scales
6:30 Deviate
6:55 Scales
7:15 Scale chords
8:40 User chords
9:05 Fixed chords
9:15 Custom modes
12:35 Ableton Live
14:35 Device controls
16:35 Pots & faders
18:05 Settings
18:40 […] Keyboard
18:55 Awesome tip
19:45 Software bundle
19:55 Summary of 25/37 vs. 49/61 key versions
21:20 Pros & cons