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Do you like the Grid Instrument from Novation? Then there is good news to report because at NAMM 2020 the manufacturer is showing us the Launchpad Pro MK3. And that is not only fun for Ableton Live, but also goes well with external hardware. You can even control them standalone, i.e. completely without a computer, with the MIDI controller.
You still get the usual control options for Ableton Live: starting clips and scenes, operating the mixer, controls for transport and individual devices, quantization and so on. Plus the Capture MIDI function.
But a sequencer is also built-in here. Four tracks that you can use with eight-part polyphony. There are 32 steps for this, the patterns can be combined into whole songs. Micro steps move outside the clock grid. The functions Probability, Mutation, Sync Rate, and Play Order automatically add variety and variation to your creations.
You can also control external hardware via the two MIDI outputs (MIDI Out and MIDI Out / Thru). This is also a possible standalone, i.e. completely without a computer. By the way, there is also MIDI In if you are wondering. The MIDI ports are designed for mini-jacks, nothing new for Novation.
The 64 RGB-illuminated pads react to velocity and pressure. Scale and chord modes help you create musical sequences and chords. A good feature that we really appreciate at the Circuit.
Custom Modes on the keyboard controller allows you to create your own templates for any software and hardware that is compatible with the MIDI controller. As always, this is done using the manufacturer’s components software, which is not as bad as it was at the beginning.
If you own Novation hardware and register it, you automatically belong to the Sound Collective. You get a bit of software (for example Abelton Live or Samples), but also nice plug-ins from other manufacturers.
USB-C supplies the Novation Launchpad Pro with the necessary juice, either bus-powered or via a USB power adapter in standalone mode. A simple controller that will also fit as a MIDI interface sequencer in some setups. In our view, the price is absolutely okay.
Price and Availability
Novation Launchpad Pro MK3 USB MIDI Controller has been priced at $349.99 and it can be pre-ordered through Bhphotovideo.com online store.
