Novation LaunchKey 49 Mk4 (White Edition) – 49-Key MIDI Controller Keyboard

OVERVIEW

Find inspiration with LaunchKey 49 White – a powerful, all-in-one DAW controller with four octaves of semi-weighted keys and 16 patented FSR pads for finger drumming, clip launching, and more. You also get a bank of nine faders and eight endless rotary encoders for mixing, controlling plugins, and performing with built-in creative tools. The next generation of LaunchKey also gives you new ways to get creative in your DAW, with hardware synths, or on iPhone and iPad. Chord, Scale, and Arpeggio Modes have each been expanded to help you stay in key and perform in even more expressive ways – all with detailed feedback from the crisp, new OLED display.

Same Powerful Features Dressed in a Sleek, White Finish

Same intuitive DAW integration, same powerful creative tools on board, sleek, modern colourway. LaunchKey 49 White gives you full creative control from four octaves of white and grey, semi-weighted keys; 16 responsive, polyphonic-aftertouch pads; dedicated transport controls; and a host of assignable faders, encoders, and buttons.

Enhanced DAW Integration

LaunchKey supports all major DAWs right out the box, with seamless, custom integration for: Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reason Studios, Reaper, FL Studio, and Ardour. With these, you get a hardware-powered workflow that gives you full control of transport functions, timeline navigation, mixing and EQ, clip launching, and instrument and effect parameters. And when using Ableton Live’s Session View or Logic’s Live Loops, the 16 drum pads double as Launchpad-style clip launchers with RGB backlights that perfectly match what you see on screen.

The Best-Ever Novation Keys and Pads

LaunchKey 49 White’s upgraded keybed is sensitive enough for the most delicate passages, but it’s also built to last. Now with 49 semi-weighted, waterfall-style keys, LaunchKey gives you all the power of a software-based workflow with the feel of a premium hardware instrument.

More Powerful Creative Tools

LaunchKey 49 White’s creative tools are built into the hardware itself – so they work the same way in your DAW, with your hardware synths, or on your mobile devices. Scale Modes now allow you to lock your keyboard to one of 30 different scales to eliminate wrong notes, or even map everything to just the white keys. Fixed Chord mode triggers full chords from a single key, and new Chord Maps take things further, allowing you to craft emotive progressions from LaunchKey’s pads. And the latest iteration of our much-loved arpeggiator makes it easier than ever to twist and mutate your sequences for endless inspiration.

Want to control more than one instrument at a time? You can now split LaunchKey 49 White’s keyboard into two zones, and play one with each hand – or layer two MIDI channels across all 49 keys and send the same notes to both.

Super-Responsive FSR Pads

For finger-drummers, LaunchKey now sports our patented, velocity-sensitive FSR drum pads with polyphonic aftertouch. Unlike standard pads, each one features a unique, radial sensor that increases sensitivity and improves consistency for even tighter performances. They can also be set to trigger chords or individual notes with polyphonic aftertouch.

Play Your Way with Custom Modes

LaunchKey’s controls aren’t limited to their default assignments; just load up the free Components software in your browser, and configure them to behave exactly the way you want with your software or hardware. You can store up to four custom mappings each for LaunchKey’s faders, pads, and encoders, and recall them instantly from the hardware to send your chosen notes, MIDI CCs, or program changes.

Go Beyond the Computer

LaunchKey 49 White’s five-pin MIDI output makes it easy to hook up your hardware synthesizer – no DAW required. Together with Components and custom mappings, you can take control of all its most important functions directly from your keyboard. LaunchKey is also USB-powered and class compliant, so it’s fully compatible with countless music-making apps for iPhone and iPad – including the free Novation Launchpad app.

All You Need to Create

LaunchKey 49 White comes with everything you need to plug in and start making music right away. The included Ableton Live 12 Lite gives you the ability to record and perform with up to eight tracks of MIDI or audio, as well as a suite of instruments, effects, and creative tools – and it all works perfectly with Launchkey. You also get a selection of additional studio-grade effects and sounds from Novation.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Same Powerful Features Dressed in a Sleek, White Finish:

LaunchKey 49 White offers the same intuitive DAW integration and the same powerful creative features in a sleek, modern colourway.

In-Depth DAW Control:

Powerful control of Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Bitwig Studio, Reason, and Ardour.

Tweak Your Software:

Eight encoders and nine faders deliver instant control over DAW mixers, virtual instruments, and effects; user mappings can also be created for customised control.

Perform with a High-Quality Keybed:

The 49-note keyboard is semi-weighted with waterfall keys; delivering superb playability and feel.

Play Drums and Instruments:

16 velocity-sensitive pads with polyphonic aftertouch for playing drums and instruments, as well launching clips and working with grids.

Powerful Tools for Creating Chords and Patterns:

Powerful built-in Arpeggiator and three Chord Modes to easily create musical progressions: Fixed Chord, User Chord, and Chord Maps.

Always Stay in Key:

Scale Mode locks notes on the keyboard into right key, and Chord Detector shows what chord is currently being played, with visual representation on the OLED display.

Split and Layer the Keyboard:

Split enables you to divide the keyboard into two independent zones, and Layer means two MIDI channels can be played simultaneously from the same keys.

Connect to Other Instruments:

LaunchKey 49 White can be connected directly to synths and other MIDI hardware with its full-size MIDI out port; it also works with your iPhone or iPad.

Create Your Own Control Surfaces:

LaunchKey is fully customisable; map MIDI parameters to pads and controls of your choice with Novation’s easy-to-use Components software.

Additional software:

Comes with Ableton Live Lite and a collection of pro-grade virtual instruments – the full list can be found below.

Enjoy Three Years of Warranty:

Wherever you happen to be in the world, you can rely on a three-year warranty if any Novation hardware needs repairing or replacing due to a manufacturing fault.

FEATURES

• Chord and Scale modes.
• Powerful integration with all major DAWs.
• Eight endless rotary encoders.
• Nine faders and buttons.
• Semi-weighted keybed.
• 16 velocity-sensitive pads.
• Pro-grade software bundle.
• 3-year warranty.
• Award-winning 24/7/365 customer support.
• Ableton Live 12 Lite plus a huge collection of instruments and effects.

INCLUDED SOFTWARE SUITE

Ableton Live 12 Lite

Live 12 Lite is the latest version of Ableton’s innovative software for recording, producing, and performing music. It includes essential workflows, instruments and effects for creating new sounds, recording ideas, performing on stage, and much more.

Cubase LE 14

Cubase LE 14 is ready to meet the demands of high-quality songwriting and production projects. Offering up to sixteen audio tracks, up to twenty-four MIDI tracks for external instruments and up to eight instrument tracks for virtual instruments, Cubase LE 14 has enough power to record as many as eight audio channels simultaneously.

GForce Bundle

We’ve also partnered with GForce to bring a comprehensive, 4-in-1 bundle of some of the most renowned synths in history. This bundle includes an enhanced emulation of our iconic Bass Station, as well as the Oberheim SEM, Oberheim OB-EZ, and GForce AXXESS synthesisers.

Parallel Orchestras Bundle by Orchestral Tools

Discover the perfect blend of orchestral instruments and effects tailored for Novation LaunchKey. Our curated bundle combines selections from two Orchestral Tools collections; Inspire 2 and Time Macro, offering you a versatile suite of sounds. These samples, recorded to the highest standards, bring the essence of a full orchestra to your fingertips.

This bundle includes:

• Delicate Piano
• Flautando Strings
• Percussion FX 
• Shadowy
• Paradox Texture
• Woodwind Parallax

Klevgrand Bundle

Klevgrand’s LUXE is an easy-to-use effect plugin designed for enhancing tracks to fit seamlessly within a mix, whether on drum buses, vocal tracks, or anything in between. Klevgrand’s R0Verb is a unique audio effect that merges the simplicity of reverb with the complexity of a multi-delay system. With up to 50 individual delay lines at your command, you can precisely control volume, pre-delay, feedback, and high shelf for each one. Slammer is a multi-sampled drum plugin that contains 30 different instruments made from a large number of carefully recorded and edited samples with highly customizable settings for pitch, filtering, effect sends, decay time, velocity mapping, and more.

Melodics Curated Lessons

Melodics is a unique desktop and mobile app that helps you learn to play the music that you love; whether on keys or pads. They have created a bundle of bespoke lessons for Novation users, which are included free with LaunchKey.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Keybed:

Keys: 49 Semi-Weighted Piano-Style Keys

Key Size: Full Size

Key Bed: Semi-Weighted

Creative Tools:

Generative Arpeggiator with Step Editor

Scale Mode – with 30 Built-In Scales to Choose From

Zones: Parts A and B, Split, and Layer

Chord Modes: Chord Map/Fixed Chord/User Chord

Custom Modes: Pads/Encoders/Faders

Controls and Pads:

RGB Backlit Velocity Sensitive Pads with Polyphonic Aftertouch: 16

Pad Page Buttons: 2 (Scene Launch / Func Buttons)

Endless Rotary Encoders: 8

Faders: 9

Fader Buttons: 9

Pitch Bend: Wheel

Modulation: Wheel

Transport Buttons: 4 (Play, Stop, Record, and Loop)

Capture MIDI/Undo/Quantise/Metronome

Encoder Page Buttons: 2

Pad Page Buttons: 2

Scene Launch Button: 1

Function Button: 1

Arpeggiator Button: 1

Scale Button: 1

Shift Button: 1

Settings Button: 1

Octave Buttons: Up and Down

Track Navigation Buttons: Up and Down

Display:

Monochrome OLED Display

128 x 64

Connectivity:

USB Socket: USB Type-C

5-Pin MIDI Out Socket: 1

Sustain Pedal 1/4″ Jack Socket: 1

Kensington Security Slot

Dimensions & Weight:

Width: 730mm

Depth: 263.5mm

Height: 93mm

Weight: 4.08kg

Power Requirements:

Bus-Powered: Yes (via USB)

Power Supply: Not included

Software Compatibility:

LaunchKey 49 Mk4 (White Edition) is class-compliant and will work with any recent operating system:

• Mac OS
• Windows PC
• iOS Devices

DAW Integration:

Custom DAW Scripts:

• Ableton Live 11 or later
• Logic Pro X and 11
• Cubase 11 and 12
• Reason Studios
• Reaper
• FL Studio
• Ardour

Compatible with all other DAWs through HUI.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

• 1 x LaunchKey 49 White
• 1 x USB Type C-to-A Cable

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR LAUNCHKEY 49 (WHITE EDITION)

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