words: MICK WILSON
TECH
Novation Launchpad
WE HAVE LIFT OFF!
Is Novation’s new Launchpad controller —
designed for Ableton Live — the space age
kit we’ve been waiting for?
E
veryone will be familiar with
Ableton’s Live production
software, that many also use for
DJing, but up until now, there
haven’t been any real dedicated controllers
for it. Ableton users had to make do with
equipment that just didn’t give the user
the full benefi ts of the software, but the
balance is now being addressed. Novation’s
Launchpad could be the all singing and
dancing bit of kit we’ve been waiting for.
Ableton Live has become one of the favoured
alternatives for digital DJing, but due to the
way it can be used so differently from one
person to the next, it has always been diffi cult
to create a controller for it that appeals to
everyone’s needs.
This is where Novation has stepped in.
The Launchpad has been designed in
collaboration with Ableton from the ground
up, and its brief is simple: designed for
DJs, live performances, or studio work, the
intention is to eliminate all of the on-screen music session. You’re not limited with your
mouse work that has always been part of the options on this little unit.
Live working environment, but which can be a Most people using Launchpad will already
pain when you’re right in the thick of it all. have the Ableton Live software, but for those
new to it all, it comes supplied with a special
Launchpad is a compact USB device, which cut-down version of Live 8 — very handy, and
looks similar to Akai’s APC40 in regards to the all for £150 — a steal considering the price
row of touch pads that make up the body of of the full Live software alone. Launchpad
the unit, but without the faders and knobs, will only work with the up-to date versions of
and at a fraction of the size, which makes Live 7 and any version of Live 8, but not with
carrying it easy. previous versions of the software.
The unit has a multicoloured 64 pad matrix
touchpad surface as its main feature for
MODE SELECTOR
launching clips (whole tracks or segments There are two main modes to the unit, Session
of audio that Ableton Live uses), with an and Mixer. Session Mode is the “performance”
additional eight control buttons along the mode, where clips can be started and
top, and down the right-hand side of the dropped into the mix. It actually looks like an
unit for controlling a host of the features instrument is being played — this is great for
within the Live program itself. The feel of the the crowd and for actual DJ performance. The
buttons is quite responsive and sturdy — in view on the touchpad corresponds to what
fact, considering the plastic build, it feels would be seen onscreen. The buttons light
remarkably robust. up to refl ect slot contents — unlit for empty,
amber for a loaded clip, green if it’s playing. any reference to the computer screen. Once
FULL CLIP
Think of it like this: if on the computer screen you’re set up, leave the laptop and just play,
The unit's touch pad matrix is lit by LEDs you have four clips set up in one of the track in theory (don’t rely on this when drunk!). it’s
displaying the clip status in real time. Amber columns, then an empty space with no clips, far simpler in practice than to explain.
means a sound clip is loaded — think of it as and then an additional set of clips, what
having a record on the deck but not actually would be seen on the touch pad would relate Needless to say, it does make navigation of
playing. Green shows a sound is playing, (the to what is onscreen. The touch pad would your tracks easy. Mixer mode is where all
needle is now on the record), and red shows indicate this by having four amber buttons the techy workings of Live are adjusted, and
that a clip is recording. The latter will be more lit, then a clear button, then the remaining once again this is relatively simple, allowing
useful in a production sense, rather than for buttons lit up. If one of the clips was playing the user to be able to solo or mute tracks, as
the DJing aspect, because whilst this is a onscreen, this would then be indicated on the well as setting pan and volume levels with
great controller for DJing, it can also be used touch pad as green. This visual representation the backlit pads forming visual columns
extremely effectively for a recording or live is designed so that there doesn’t have to be indicating the level of each.
104
www.djmag.com
DJ481.tech_launchpad.indd 104 1/12/09 15:07:59
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