HammondDave Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 So after months of searching I found an excellent backup keyboard controller for my rig. The new Novation Launchkey 88 is an excellent <$400 choice that easily links to my iPad Pro. What makes this controller stand out is the quality non-weighted keybed that feels more like an expensive controller than the M-Audio models I have tested. In fact, the weighting is perfect for my own hands and will fit my organ, EP, and AP needs. My hands fly over these keys! It has excellent quality control options, including knobs, faders, wheels, and pads that belie its low price. Plus its ergonomic design is first rate. Along with being an emergency backup for my Mojo rig, I will also use it on smaller quick setup gigs using it and my iPad alone. The buttons can switch MIDI setups so that I can instantly switch from Korg Module, to Model D and to VB3m. It is powered via USB bus so you will need to hook it up to a Phone, tablet, or computer. It weighs 18lbs. I will update this quick review as I play with it more, but nothing comes close to it in this low price range. 5 Quote '55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400’s; Wurlitzer 206; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module; B3X; Model D6; Moog Model D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Can you program the 16 blue pads (or the 9 buttons under the faders) to C/V and percussion? Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 No Expression Pedal input!!! Argh. 2 Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HammondDave Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 1 hour ago, drawback said: No Expression Pedal input!!! Argh. Yeah… thats stupid. But I will just use my volume pedal. Quote '55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400’s; Wurlitzer 206; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module; B3X; Model D6; Moog Model D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Volume pedal between the iPad’s headphone jack and the mixer is better than nothing, but it’s yet another workaround on a brand new controller. Given it has semi weighted action, someone at Novation isn’t considering their market. My 1.77 cents. Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnchop Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Seems we have similar impressions: I’m satisfied, too, and yeah you can program just about all of the controls to send CCs. While I’d like controllers to have more than just sustain input, and while I’d like one less thing, the MIDI Expression Quattro more than solves the problem. It is just too damn cool. Quote I make software noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 2 hours ago, johnchop said: the MIDI Expression Quattro more than solves the problem. It is just too damn cool. Looks as though their supply chain issues have been resolved. When I first checked these out back in 2020, shipping to Canada was next to impossible – very long waits and the cost of shipping so high, the items weren't worth ordering. Now at least they're available (although I see the Expression -1 socket is presently out of stock and not available till May 2023). I still have to shake my head over the fact there's only a sustain pedal input on the Novation when they've clearly thought of everything else. Defies logic, IMO. Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Motif Max Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 1 hour ago, drawback said: ... I still have to shake my head over the fact there's only a sustain pedal input on the Novation when they've clearly thought of everything else. Defies logic, IMO. They just scaled up their smaller Launchkey designs I think, none of which had an expression input either. I would have loved an expression input on my 37 for orchestral writing and such...instead I have to use a knob assigned to CC11. It's like the perfect little desk controller otherwise. Quote Yamaha: Motif XF8, MODX7, YS200, CVP-305, CLP-130, YPG-235, PSR-295, PSS-470 | Roland: Fantom 7, JV-1000 Kurzweil: PC3-76| Hammond: SK Pro 73 | Korg: Triton LE 76, N1R, X5DR | Emu: Proteus/1 | Casio: CT-370 | Novation: Launchkey 37 MK3 | Technics: WSA1R Former: Emu Proformance Plus & Mo'Phatt, Korg Krome 61, Roland Fantom XR & JV-1010, Yamaha MX61, Behringer CAT, Kurzweil PC4 (88) Assorted electric & acoustic guitars and electric basses | Roland TD-17 KVX | Alesis SamplePad Pro | Assorted organs, accordions, other instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HammondDave Posted August 1, 2022 Author Share Posted August 1, 2022 5 hours ago, johnchop said: Seems we have similar impressions: I’m satisfied, too, and yeah you can program just about all of the controls to send CCs. While I’d like controllers to have more than just sustain input, and while I’d like one less thing, the MIDI Expression Quattro more than solves the problem. It is just too damn cool. John. Do you know how to change the polarity of the faders to mimic the hammond drawbars (so that when at 0 they are at full?) Quote '55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400’s; Wurlitzer 206; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module; B3X; Model D6; Moog Model D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnchop Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 Hmmm… Not sure (off the top of my head) if it’s an option in the Components software to invert the values. Quote I make software noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnchop Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 There was no specific “invert” option, but thinking they might be clever over there at Novation HQ, I set the min CC value to 127 and the max value to 0. And it worked! I didn’t see that in the manual either. So ya, you can take that approach to make drawbars. hope this helps! -John Quote I make software noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah DC Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 There is a reverse polarity option in the VB3 settings. Quote Numa X Piano 73 | Yamaha CP4 | Mojo 61 | Motion Sound KP-612s | Hammond M3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HammondDave Posted August 2, 2022 Author Share Posted August 2, 2022 3 hours ago, Noah DC said: There is a reverse polarity option in the VB3 settings. Yup. Found it. Thx 1 Quote '55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400’s; Wurlitzer 206; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module; B3X; Model D6; Moog Model D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 SOS has had their hands on it. https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/novation-launchkey-88 1 Quote Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HammondDave Posted August 19, 2022 Author Share Posted August 19, 2022 15 hours ago, ElmerJFudd said: SOS has had their hands on it. https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/novation-launchkey-88 Good review. I am using it as an inexpensive emergency backup keyboard, but one with an excellent feeling keybed and MIDI control devices. I may still build a cool DAW with it. Quote '55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400’s; Wurlitzer 206; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module; B3X; Model D6; Moog Model D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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