English Novation A division of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. Windsor House, Turnpike Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3FX. United Kingdom Tel: +44 1494 462246 Fax: +44 1494 459920 e-mail: sales@novationmusic.com Web: http://www.novationmusic.com Trademarks The Novation trademark is owned by Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. All other brand, product and company names and any other registered names or trade marks mentioned in this manual belong to their respective owners.
English CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . About This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What’s In The Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
English INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing this Novation Launchkey MIDI controller keyboard. As well as the music keyboard itself, Launchkey is equipped with a range of controllers to allow the modern musician to create great music in the studio, in live performance or on the move. The keyboard allows you to control your existing Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software, and also the included V-Station and Bass Station software plug-ins.
English Abbreviations, conventions, etc. Where top panel controls or rear panel connectors are referred to, we’ve used a number thus: 6 to cross-reference to the top panel diagram, and thus: 1 to cross-reference to the rear panel diagram. (See pages page 7 and page 9). We’ve used CAPS to name physical things like top panel controls and rear panel connectors, and also on-screen buttons which you need to click, and bold Courier font to denote text which you see on the computer screen.
English Registering Your Launchkey It is important to register your Launchkey on-line using the Product/software Registration details on the back of the Getting Started Guide. Apart from validating your manufacturer’s warranty, you will also then be able to download the additional software that you are entitled to as a Launchkey purchaser.
English Hardware Overview Top View – controls 11 10 6 13 12 25-note version 2 12 13 11 2 3 3 1 8 4 1 5 9 7 6 10 8 9 7 Applicable to 49 and 61-note versions Launchkey’s controls are non-assignable. This makes Launchkey very simple to configure and use. 1 Keyboard – Launchkey is available in 25-, 49- or 61-note versions. 2 Pitch wheel – standard pitchbend wheel, spring-loaded to return to centre position. 3 Modulation wheel.
English 6 8 x rotary controls, providing further DAW/MIDI control. 7 Transport controls - these provide remote control facilities for your DAW, but also have specific functions when Launchkey is used with Ableton Live Lite software. 8 6 x velocity-sensitive launch pads. These can be used to trigger sounds (e.g., drums) in 1 your music software and provide other functions in some DAWs and iPad apps. 9 2 x round buttons. These can be used for custom functions in the iOS software, or in your DAW.
English Rear view – connections 1 3 2 4 USB port – USB Type B connector compatible with USB 1.1, 2.0 or 3.0. Connect Launchkey to a USB port on your computer or iPad using the USB cable supplied. 1 2 P ower In - you can also connect an AC-to-DC adaptor here to externally power Launchkey. 3 Sustain– a ¼” jack socket for the connection of a standard sustain pedal. 4 Kensington security lock – secure your Launchkey to a convenient structural point if desired.
English LAUNCHKEY SETUP EXAMPLES Launchkey is designed to integrate automatically and seamlessly with your computer music software. Launchkey can be used with either a computer/laptop, or with an iPad; however the features and operational possibilities do differ with the two platforms, so they have been covered separately in the User Guide sections that follow.
English Basic mapping mode Launchkey will act as a general-purpose MIDI controller for use with a wide range of music software applications. In addition to the keyboard’s Note On/Note Off messages, each of the various controls (sliders, buttons and rotary controls) will always transmit their own unique MIDI control message, allowing you to configure your software to respond to the messages as you wish.
English EXPLORING LAUNCHKEY MIDI Channel MIDI data can be sent on any one of 16 channels, and will only be received and interpreted correctly if the receiving device is set to the same channel. In InControI mode, you don’t need to worry too much about MIDI channels, as InControl will ensure that all messages are transmitted on the correct channels in any case.
English Octave up/down The Octave + / Octave - buttons 12 shift the keyboard ‘up’ or ‘down’ in octave steps. The number of octaves over which the keyboard can be shifted varies with Launchkey model: • • • Launchkey 25: -4 to +5 octaves Launchkey 49: -3 to +4 octaves Launchkey 61: -3 to +3 octaves Note that the LED display will confirm the number of octaves shifted (as a positive or negative value).
English Slider(s) Launchkey 25 has one slider control, and Launchkeys 49 and 61 have nine. The single slider on the Launchkey 25 transmits a Master Volume message (CC=7). This slider cannot be used in InControl mode. On Launchkeys 49 and 61, the functions of sliders 1 to 8 will differ depending on whether InControl mode is in use. In InControl mode, the sliders will act as faders in the DAW’s mixer section, controlling the track levels in a set of eight consecutively-numbered channels.
English Round buttons The two large, round buttons 9 transmit fixed MIDI CC messages (upper = 104, lower = 105) when Launchkey is in Basic Mapping mode. When InControl is active they have specific functions within the software being used. Track I / H The two Track I / H buttons 13 are only operative in InControl mode. They allow you to ‘step’ the slider(s) between tracks or instruments in your DAW, which will be assigned to consecutive DAW tracks by successive presses of Track I / H.
English Using Launchkey with InControl If you have one of the DAWs for which a DAW Setup Guide is available, you will first need to follow the instructions on how to set it up to operate correctly with Launchkey. Once this has been done, InControl will automatically assign each hardware controller to a key DAW function in an intelligent manner.
English A long press of the top InControl button for the rotary controls places Launchkey in Pot Selection mode. The drum pads will now illuminate in various colours to indicate the current function within Ableton Live Lite of the rotary controls (the bottom row of pads), and the currently selected Ableton Device Bank (the top row). Bottom row: One pad will be significantly brighter than the others; this indicates the function that the rotary controls will now perform.
English TECHNICAL INFORMATION TROUBLESHOOTING For the latest information and assistance with your Launchkey please visit: www.novationmusic.com/answerbase Basic Troubleshooting Examples Q. Where can I find my software? A. The software for Launchkey is available from our web site. Go to www.novationmusic.com/register and follow the instructions. Q. Do I need to install a USB driver when using Launchkey with a Mac or PC? A. No, Launchkey is a class-compliant device.
English MIDI messages table 25-note Launchkey: Control Msg Type Msg No.
English 49 and 61-note Launchkeys: Control Msg Type Msg No.