Novation

Novation NOVLKE61MK3 Launchkey 61 MK3 MIDI Keyboard Controller

4.4 (454 reviews)

Unleash Your Musical Creativity with Seamless IntegrationThe Novation Launchkey 61 [MK3] MIDI Keyboard Controller is designed for seamless integration with Ableton Live and external equipment. Its intuitive controls, creative features, and comprehensive software suite empower musicians of all lev...

View price on Amazon
Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.

Notice a mistake? Let Us Know

Overview

Unleash Your Musical Creativity with Seamless Integration

The Novation Launchkey 61 [MK3] MIDI Keyboard Controller is designed for seamless integration with Ableton Live and external equipment. Its intuitive controls, creative features, and comprehensive software suite empower musicians of all levels to create and perform their music like never before.

  • Integration: Unrivalled Ableton Live integration
  • Keyboard: Velocity-sensitive keyboard
  • Pads: 16 velocity-sensitive pads
  • Arpeggiator: Creative arpeggiator with rhythm, beat, pattern, and gate controls
  • Scale Modes: Transpose keys and pads to notes in the selected scale
  • DAW Integration: Excellent integration with Reason and HUI compatible DAWs

Key Features

Designed for Live – Unrivalled integration for Ableton Live gives you a seamless music making experience. Controls include device macro control, track select, record, capture MIDI, clip/scene launch, stop/mute/solo, volume, pans and send, and more

Never lose an idea with Capture MIDI – One touch access to Ableton Live’s Capture MIDI ensures you will never lose an idea without taking you from the creative experience

Create and play with feeling – Velocity-sensitive keyboard and 16 velocity-sensitive pads enable expressive and dynamic performance at your fingertips. Capture your playing in Ableton Live precisely as you intended

Get melodies moving with arpeggiator – Easy to use but deeply controllable, Launchkey's creative arpeggiator allows you to change rhythm, beat, pattern, octave, gate and more to add a whole range of diversity to your ideas and melodies

Never hit a wrong note – Scale modes transpose keys and pads to notes in the selected scale, so that you can focus on being creative and remove music theory frustration

DAW Integration – In addition to Apple Logic and Ableton Live, Launchkey also has excellent integrations with Reason, as well as any HUI compatible DAW, such as Cubase, Pro Tools, and more

Specifications

Model
Launchkey 61 MK3
Key Count
61
Pads
16 velocity-sensitive pads
DAW Integration
Ableton Live (unrivalled), Reason, HUI compatible DAWs (Cubase, Pro Tools)
Special Features
Capture MIDI, Arpeggiator, Scale Modes
Keyboard Feature
Velocity-sensitive
Controls Include
Device macro control, Track select, Record, Capture MIDI, Clip/Scene launch, Stop/Mute/Solo, Volume, Pans, Send

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Provides unrivalled integration for Ableton Live, offering device macro control, track select, record, and clip/scene launch
  • Features Capture MIDI, a one-touch access function for Ableton Live, ensuring no musical ideas are lost
  • Equipped with a velocity-sensitive keyboard and 16 velocity-sensitive pads for expressive and dynamic performance
  • Includes a creative arpeggiator with control over rhythm, beat, pattern, octave, and gate for diverse melodies
  • Offers Scale modes that transpose keys and pads to selected scales, removing music theory barriers for creativity
  • Delivers excellent DAW integration beyond Ableton Live, supporting Reason and HUI compatible DAWs like Cubase and Pro Tools

👎 Cons

  • The most comprehensive integration is specifically for Ableton Live, meaning other DAWs might not offer the same depth of control
  • The primary focus on Ableton Live integration could be less appealing for users committed to different primary DAWs
  • While providing expressive pads, the velocity sensitivity may require adjustment for individual playing styles
  • The depth of the arpeggiator's control features might present a learning curve for new users
  • Relies on DAW software for full functionality, meaning it's not a standalone instrument or sound module
  • The specific features for HUI compatible DAWs are not detailed, so the extent of integration could vary

Frequently Asked Questions

The Novation Launchkey 61 MK3 is designed for unrivalled integration with Ableton Live, offering a seamless music-making experience with specific controls.
Yes, in addition to Ableton Live, it has excellent integrations with Reason and is compatible with any HUI-compatible DAW, such as Cubase and Pro Tools.
The Capture MIDI feature provides one-touch access to Ableton Live’s Capture MIDI function, ensuring you can quickly save spontaneous musical ideas without interrupting your creative flow.
The keyboard features velocity-sensitive keys and 16 velocity-sensitive pads, enabling expressive and dynamic performances that capture your playing intentions precisely.
Yes, it includes an easy-to-use but deeply controllable creative arpeggiator, allowing you to modify rhythm, beat, pattern, octave, and gate to diversify your melodies.
Scale modes transpose keys and pads to notes within a selected scale, which helps users focus on creativity by preventing wrong notes and removing music theory frustrations.