Novation Launchpad Pro Grid Controller for Ableton Live Reviews

I purchased this item for a very specific reason - SCALE MODE.

I've wanted to play keys/piano for at least the last 10 years and have tried a number of things (one of which was Piano 101 in college) but nothing made it stick. Then, a month or two ago, I saw a dude playing this thing on YouTube and couldn't help but notice that SCALE MODE looked a lot like a fretboard. Having played guitar for the last 20 years, I thought I'd do some research... turns out that the notes are in fact stacked in 4ths. Win.

I've been off to the races ever since this thing came in. It is incredibly intuitive. I'm learning so much about intervals, chord structure, chord extensions and more with the help of Logic Pro X's midi chord analysis system.

And yes, all the other modes are awesome, but SCALE MODE is by far my favorite feature.

I'm very satisfied... but what would make this thing absolutely PERFECT would be a sustain pedal input. (I know similar item has this feature, but it's more than twice the price and is not compatible with LPX.)

Buy it. It's awesome.

I was looking for a way to control 2 virtual pipe organs for my Hauptwerk software. I have every one of the stops and all the couplers and other controls I need for the small organ on one Launchpad Pro. I'm setting up for the larger of the 2 organs now, and am buying a 2nd Launchpad Pro (I can get all the stops on one, but there isn't enough free buttons for all the couplers and other controls without a 2nd device).

Once I figured out it needed to be in Live mode (even though this project isn't using the Ableton software, its Hauptwerk), you right click on the organ control on your screen and auto-detect the touchpad you want as primary control (I mapped them out in advance and printed them out with a cheatsheet of keyboard shortcuts as well). Click the secondary tab and auto-detect the keyboard shortcut associated to this touchpad key). So if I don't have time/a free hand to hit a Launchpad key, I can use the unused keys (right and left of the standard 61 organ keys) on my 88's, and the Launchpad lights (or dims) depending on the stop or piston I hit on the regular keyboards. I print out the cheatsheet and place it over the launchpad on on the music stand and all the touchpads are backlighting the paper and showing the rank or function of the button below the paper.

I was afraid I'd loose my programming if I turned the Launchpad Pro off, so I thought I better try this out before I had a power failure (it makes a great nightlight when left on BTW) as a test before purchasing the 2nd unit. Power off, Power On, Menu, Live and I have a blank screen. Hit Tutti on the organ and all the lights come back in the appropriate color for the type of rank or control. Hit General Cancel on the organ and the stops go back to white and the other controls go to light green except for General Cancel which stays Red. WOW! So I load the 2nd organ and do the same (Tutti then General Cancel) and the LaunchPad is lit the way I programmed that additional instrument without me even touching the LaunchPad Pro!

It works so well for my virtual pipe organ setup, that I can't wait to try it out (after I record some hymns/carols for the holidays on the organs) as a controller on Ableton Live and also as a drumpad for live playing with my keyboards for jazz and easy listening songs.

I love this controller, and new it was exactly what I wanted after seeing demos of them online. I had an ableton push and had a smaller launchpad prior to this, but they just didnt fit like I wanted, as well as left a gap for utilization with my external gear (this has 5-pin midi I/O on board). I'm already well versed in utilizing ableton and use the screen and hot keys of my computer for the majority of "grunt work" in my workflow. However, this brings an element of creativity to my workflow without being too overbearing with extra screens and knobs. I feel like I'm actually playing ableton like an instrument. It doesnt try to be the entire software, just the creative parts of it. Build is impeccable as is the integration with windows and mac machines. Seriously happy with this.

I have launchpads before,starting with the launchpad mini.But this is head and shoulders above the previous.Sturdier ,brighter, larger etc...And I don,t even use it for Ableton! I run the iOS app, and connect via midi to my bass station!

This is a rugged controller that can do the job of many others: clip launch, drum pads, standalone MIDI, chromatic keyboard, and "motorized" controllers. While it can perform many of the above functions pretty good, other controllers can do some things better, smoother, easier, etc., it is a great value for its' versatility. In many ways it operates like an instrument itself.