Novation’s Mk3 keyboard controller range now has an 88-key model. Jon Musgrave plugs up the new Launchkey 88
CONTACT WHO: Novation WEB: novationmusic.com KEY FEATURES KEYBOARD: 88-key semiweighted PADS: 16 backlit velocity sensitive with selectable aftertouch SOFTWARE BUNDLE: Ableton Live Lite, XLN Audio Addictive and offerings from AAS, Spitfire and Klevgrand SCREEN: LCD 2 x16 character POWER: via USB or regular USB PSU DIMENSIONS: 1270 x 258 x 87mm WEIGHT: 8.3kg
Novation’s Launchkey controller keyboards have been very successful. Now at version 3, they continue to provide a good balance of price and features, and on the bench I have the new 88-key model.
Novation pitch Launchkey as a DAW-ready device that provides keyboard, keypad and DAW control. It has a pretty decent set of onboard standalone features and, in addition to a USB port for connection and powering, there’s a regular MIDI out and sustain pedal input. It supports the HUI protocol, so you can use it with any suitably-equipped DAW. That said, custom scripting means it integrates best with Ableton Live. It also gets extended support in Cubase 12 via a pre-installed script, and there are user installable scripts for Logic Pro and Reason.
But first let’s have a quick look at the physical features. Like most 88-key keyboards the layout differs a bit from the smaller models, with the mod and pitch wheels on the top panel, and the controls spread out a little bit more. Nevertheless, you’ve still got the Launchkey core feature set of 16 backlit velocity sensitive pads with selectable polyphonic aftertouch, four Ableton Live navigation pads, eight pots, nine sliders with accompanying buttons, a small LCD display and transport controls. The keyboard itself combines gloss finish white keys with contrasting satin finish black keys, and the semi-weighted keybed is a different design to the other Launchkeys. The action is fast and positive, and with no aftertouch, when you hit the keys with medium to hard velocity, you get a welcoming solid thump. In terms of physical noise there is some inconsistency between keys, but this isn’t particularly obvious. At over 8kg the keyboard is heavy but manageable by one person, and the overall dimensions are reasonably slimline for an 88-key format.
Novation pitch it as a DAWready device with keyboard, keypad and DAW control
As mentioned, Launchkey 88 has a regular MIDI output and plenty of onboard features, making it an ideal standalone controller. The most powerful is its arpeggiator, which uses a
