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Novation Launchkey 25 MK3 25-key Keyboard Controller

25-note USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Synth-action Keys, 8 Knobs, 16 Pads, Dedicated Transport Controls, and Bundled Software
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Novation Launchkey 25 MK3 25-key Keyboard Controller
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We Have Liftoff With Novation’s Launchkey 25

Whether you’re launching clips in Ableton Live or composing in any other major DAW, you want streamlined, tightly integrated control over your music creation process, and that’s just what you get with the Novation Launchkey 25. Its predecessors have been runaway best-sellers at Sweetwater, and Novation has taken all the user feedback from the previous iterations and plowed it into a third-generation MIDI keyboard controller that’s improved in every way. Packing hot new features like Scale and Chord Modes, a powerful arpeggiator, and larger velocity-sensitive pads with optimized response, the Launchkey 25 MK3 is more intuitive to use than ever — and the quickest way to get your music from your head to your speakers.

New Scale Modes

Perhaps the most exciting new feature of the Launchkey 25 MK3 is its eight onboard Scale Modes. We all use modes, whether we realize it or not. Now with the 3rd-gen Launchkey, you can lay down a smokin’ Mixolydian bass line or rock out a sweet solo in Dorian mode without getting bogged down in music theory. (Of course, knowing a little theory never hurt any musician!) Scale Modes transpose the keys you play into notes of the scale you’ve chosen. You just select your root note and the scale you want, and then play. No matter how accomplished a keyboardist you are, Launchkey will streamline your creative process and expand your musical vocabulary.

New Chord Modes, Arpeggiator, and Mutate

Chord Modes change the Launchkey MK3’s keys and pads into an interactive control surface for music exploration, in which every note you play is tonally and harmonically associated. The arpeggiator lets you explore new ideas and nail the perfect melodies quickly, while the mutate function reassembles your patterns into exciting new musical statements.

New Custom Modes

Custom Modes simplify communications between controller and software, putting more power than ever right at your fingertips. Programmable using the browser-based Novation Components tool, Custom Modes let you customize the behavior of your Launchkey, giving you total mastery over control assignments, MIDI routing, pad color, and more.

New Connect your external gear

If you use external gear with a 5-pin MIDI DIN connection, the Novation Launchkey 25 has you covered. Connect your hardware synths and devices to your rig and control everything from your Launchkey, whether you use it standalone or with a computer. Previous-generation Launchkey models didn’t have this feature, and we’re very happy that Novation has included it on the Launchkey 25 MK3!

New larger, more sensitive pads, and more

The Launchkey platform has always been about unfettered musical expression, and the MK3 revision carries this mantra forward. The Launchkey 25 MK3’s larger velocity-sensitive pads give you greater control over dynamics, while its eight fixed rotary knobs bring your software instruments to life with effortless, real-time performance control. Integration with Ableton Live is airtight, with a dedicated button for activating Capture MIDI functionality, plus track arm, quantize, and click and looping controls, so you can fly around your Session quicker and easier than ever.

Designed for Ableton, works with any major DAW

Many musicians at Sweetwater use Ableton and love the streamlined workflow they get from Novation’s Launchkey controllers. That’s because Novation designed the Launchkey’s controls to integrate immediately and seamlessly with Ableton Live. All the controls are completely assignable, however. And if you do use another major DAW, the Novation Launchkey 25 will instantly map to it. Launchkey has full integration with Logic and Reason, plus native functionality with other major DAWs, including Studio One, Cubase, and Pro Tools, via HUI.

Hit the ground running, right out of the box

Whether you’re just starting out or locked in the groove, Launchkey 25 is the keyboard controller that takes you further on your musical journey. Shipping with a powerful software bundle of virtual instruments, plug-ins, and sample packs that includes Ableton Live 10 Lite, Spitfire Audio LABS Expressive Strings, XLN Audio Addictive Keys, Klevgrand R0Verb and DAW Cassette, and AAS Session Bundle; Launchkey 25 gives you everything you need to hit the ground running, right out of the box! Start making music immediately with Novation’s Launchkey 25.

Novation Launchkey 25 MK3 Keyboard Controller Features:

  • Optimized for Ableton Live with immediate access to all the controls you need
  • Instantly maps to most major DAWS
  • 25 velocity-sensitive synth-style keys
  • Easy-to-read 16 x 2 character screen
  • 16 RGB backlit velocity-sensitive pads
  • Pitch bend and modulation wheels
  • 8 rotary knobs
  • 5-pin MIDI out socket
  • Arm/select buttons
  • Octave up/down buttons
  • Play/stop/record/loop button
  • Track navigation buttons
  • Capture MIDI/quantize/click/undo buttons
  • One-touch access to Ableton’s Capture MIDI feature
  • Stop/solo/mute buttons
  • Scene launch button
  • Device select/device lock buttons
  • Arp/scale/fixed chord buttons
  • Powerful arpeggiator takes you melodies to the next level
  • Scale modes transpose keys and pads to notes in the selected scale
  • 3 chord modes (fixed, scale and user) let you trigger chords with one finger
  • 4 Custom Modes for creating unique control setups for any performance or studio rig
  • USB B socket, Kensington security slot
  • Sustain pedal 1/4-inch jack socket
  • USB bus powered; power supply not included
  • Includes USB A to B cable
  • 3-year warranty
  • Included software bundle

Included Software:

  • Ableton Live 10 Lite DAW software
  • Spitfire Audio LABS Expressive Strings (exclusive for Launchkey MK3 owners)
  • Your choice of XLN Addictive Keys instrument with product registration
  • Klevgrand R0Verb and DAW Cassette
  • AAS Session Bundle

Warranty Info

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  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
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Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Keyboard Controller
  • Number of Keys: 25
  • Type of Keys: Synth action
  • Velocity Sensitive: Yes
  • Pads: 16 x RGB, Velocity-sensitive Pads
  • Other Controllers: Pitchbend, Mod Wheel
  • Encoders/Pots: 8 x Rotary Knobs
  • Dedicated Transport Control: Play, Stop, Record, Loop
  • Pedal Inputs: 1 x 1/4" (sustain)
  • MIDI I/O: Out/USB
  • USB: 1 x Type B
  • Computer Connectivity: USB
  • Features: Scale Modes, Chord Modes, Arpeggiator, HUI DAW Control
  • Software: Ableton Live Lite, Virtual Instrument and Sample Plug-in Bundle
  • OS Requirements - Mac: OS X 10.11 or later
  • OS Requirements - PC: Windows 7 SP1 or later
  • Power Supply: USB Bus powered
  • Height: 3.03"
  • Width: 18.23"
  • Depth: 10.16"
  • Weight: 3.99 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: AMS-LAUNCHKEY-25-MK3

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Wooooooo!!!

This thing kicks so much ***!!
Rated 5/5

Quality gear

Pro's : Well built / Nice action on the keyboard / Lightweight for travel / and a Great light show with all the pad flashing and changing colors? but MOST importantly their customer support is 1st Class EXCELLENT!!!! and I cannot give them enough credit for that in a world where product support is a thing of the past - NATIVE instruments for example I have spent thousands of dollars with and you cannot get any help from them to deal with issues. I got on the phone twice trouble shooting the LAUNCHKEY25 and they spent time walking me through the set up . That is a HUGE deal for me and I would highly recommend this product for that reason they get 5 stars

Cons : This thing does a LOT it's much more than simply a keyboard and some drum pads - that's great if your a techy cat but I personally wanted a simple keyboard with drum pads for travel and because my 88 weighted keyboard does not have Pitch and Modulation - this was to solve those two issues for me which it does. Problem is the set up is complex and without the tech support I was about to send this keyboard back and opt for something simpler. Luckily between Sweetwater and Novation that issue was solved - However when I set the pads to simply work as drum pads after the keyboard sits for 20 minutes it defaults itself back and if I hit a drum pad suddenly I am soloing or muting tracks and doing a host of other things in my logic session ... that is irritating for me and more fiddling around to reset it each time I go to use the pads - I think they got some of the programming wrong with this unit but maybe there is a way to set it to not default and I need to get back on with the tech support. Be prepared to spend some time setting this unit up and calling tech support if your not a tech wizard in your own right, but at least you can rest assure that there is help out there unlike NATIVE and a host of other companies that take your money and leave you out in the woods.
Music background: Platinum & Gold Award winning Producer & Songwriter
Rated 5/5

The Launchkey is a diving board, I just walk up to it and dive into creating music.

I've been lost in gear doldrums, every piece of gear I hoped would make my music process better turned out to be a project in itself just to make it work, a patchbay that kept me up at night, a midi foot controller that has so many options that it is like a maze, one wrong turn and it is bricked, and I never made it out of that maze. My sales engineer recommended the Launchkey, but only after I bought the Minilab, and found myself in another funk of the wrong kind, trying to get it to integrate with Ableton... well, when I plugged the USB midi cable of the Novation Launchkey MK3 in, it was religious, everything worked without installing anything it all just flows. After I plugged it in I was suddenly making music, the Launchkey disappeared and in its place was my flow, the flow that had been diverted into troubleshooting and problemsolving. As soon as it is plugged in it just works with Ableton, no midi mapping, no drivers, no configuration. There are clearly marked buttons to move around Session View in Ableton Live-- Session View is what is so cool and musical about Ableton and this keyboard controller takes all the essential controls, organizes them in a well thought out interface, now I don't need to move a mouse to a place on the screen while holding a guitar pick, it's just one button press, and I am recording, undoing, moving to the next track, while playing and creating sounds. Sometimes your dreams come true, and I had kind of lost hope that any music gear could work this easily, it is like I walk up to the Launchkey and dive straight into the music.
Music background: Musician
Rated 5/5

A very powerful controller for the price

This is my first Novation product, and I am seriously impressed. At this price point, you are getting much more than comparable controllers, such as transport keys, an LCD screen, pitch/modulation wheels, and velocity controls on the keyboard. The build quality is good, and it works excellent with the Ableton DAW that is included with it (Ableton is very user-friendly, yet is a very capable DAW).

The "Vegas Mode", where the RGB pads light up different colors on standby mode, looks very cool, too.

I highly recommend this controller to any beginner, or more, looking to record music.
Music background: Amateur/hobbyist musician for 20 years
Rated 5/5

Such a great addition to my Ableton Live setup

I bought this specific keyboard for the main reason that it's out of the box programmed for Ableton Live. No set up necessary! The device its self feels very sturdy, the pads velocity sensitivity is spot on, and its super easy to build up parts in clips mode using just the keyboard.

It really shines when you're using it in device mode along side the scale and chord features. Abletons instrument rack macros are automatically set to the Knobs on the keyboard when set in device mode. This makes doing on the fly automation super simple and a lot of fun!

I will most definitely buy the bigger version in the future when I have more room
Music background: Producer/Guitarist
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