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Novation have been running this integration for quite some time and the LaunchKey slips effortlessly into Ableton Live controller mode when you launch the DAW. ![]() Ableton LiveĪs it says on the box, this controller is designed for making tracks in Ableton Live and specifically in Live version 10, where you can make use of the MIDI Capture feature to record your playing after you played it when you weren't in record by hitting 'Shift-Record'. The LaunchKey Mini MkIII's back panel is equipped with a USB-B port, a quarter-inch sustain pedal input and a mini-jack MIDI Out port. ![]() I have a slight twinge of disappointment in not seeing a CV/Gate output, which was a very welcome feature of the SL MkIII, but that would be a lot to expect. See the 'Mini MIDI Standard' box, later, for more details. The LaunchKey uses the recently accepted standard of TRS A whereas their older devices all used the now-defunct TRS B. No problem, I thought, I'll use the one that came with my Novation Circuit - except I can't because it's not compatible. The MIDI Out is on that increasingly common TRS mini-jack output, for which they've decided not to supply an adapter. And they've added a MIDI output port which is a cause for celebration. With the MkIII Novation have added a useful Sustain pedal socket that can be mapped to anything via the Novation Components software. On the back you get a regular USB port that serves as both power and computer connection and that all-important Kensington security slot for when you're making music in a cafe and have to nip to the loo and don't want anyone to steal it. If I could find any complaint at all for the build quality of a plastic controller it would be that there's perhaps a bit too much wobble in those very petite encoders. The LaunchKey Mini is lightweight without feeling flimsy, gives good resistance to my twisting and banging it about and has half-decent rubber feet for keeping it still on the desk. You don't expect to get too excited about the feel of miniature keys, but these feel OK - there's plenty of spring and resistance in a small amount of travel. However, if you're looking for miniaturised control and sleek lines then a touchstrip is a small compromise. Call me old fashioned but I do enjoy a good modulation wheel. But the most prominent physical developments are the pitch and modulation strips, whose presence should be standard on every MIDI controller. The button, knob, key and pad count are almost identical to the MkII with the addition of a couple of extra buttons. It sits over 1cm lower on the desk, and the pads and buttons have been slimmed down so as not to spoil the flow. It looks classy and understated with the matte grey/black paint even if it is still made of plastic. The clean lines are beautiful, the straight down encoders futuristic, and even the keys have been flattened to make them feel nuanced and less chunky. The MkII had the smallest curves on the case and graduations on the knobs, but I wouldn't be seen dead with such old tat now that the MkIII is here. Novation have followed Native Instruments into the neatness of straight lines and square angles. I find it remarkable how the smallest tweaks to a design can make previous versions appear dated so quickly. NOVATION LAUNCHKEY 49 MK2 PLAYING WITHOUT ME HITTING KEYS APKThe previous versions of the Novation LaunchKey Mini have held their own against the likes of the Arturia MiniLab and the Akai APK Mini, so does the updated MkIII offer a creative advantage for mini-keyed music makers? Form & Function There's no shortage of mini MIDI controllers knocking around under £100 for about $100 and so any manufacturer hoping to capture this market is going to need to pull something a bit special out of the bag. Novation's latest LaunchKey Mini offers more features in a smaller package.
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