Recording - February 2014 - 51

and filter-sweep globally on all tracks;
there are 16 such effects operated from
pads of their own on a pop-up page.
When the app is used with Launchpad
S or Launchpad Mini, you can trigger
sounds and FX all over the array; Launch
Control and Launchkey Mini let you trigger sounds or FX one or two rows at a
time, and also control volumes and filter
settings for all eight channels.

I found this app to be a fun and fast way
to create beats and mixes; the controls are
intuitive and the sounds are by and large fantastic (typical of Loopmasters). One feature I
wished for in my tests, added in version 1.3
just as we went to press, was the ability to
save and export songs-in this case, to
SoundCloud, to Dropbox, or via email.
Launchkey is a polyphonic analog modeling synthesizer with built-in arpeggiator and
80 preset sounds. There are eight parameter
knobs, and an unusual and intuitive visual
programming surface that lets you morph
between multiple sets of parameter values
called "nodes" by dragging your finger
between them. It's much easier to try for yourself than to explain in words; I strongly recommend giving Launchkey a try, you'll be up
and playing with cool sounds in seconds.
While you can't create your own programs or save edits to the existing presets,
you can send Launchkey's audio to other
apps via Audiobus, a feature missing thus far
from the Launchpad app. Speaking of which,
if you launch both apps at once, they can
play simultaneously and you can sync the
Launchkey arpeggiator to the Launchpad
app's tempo. The Launchkey Mini allows you
not only to play notes but also to turn the
app's knobs, jump between nodes with one
pad press, jump between the Launchkey and
Launchpad apps on the fly, and select from
eight "favorite" presets of your choice; the
larger Launchkey keyboards add control of
envelopes, volume, and arpeggiator settings.
Launchkey sounds really good in addition to being visually engaging. I've
always been a fan of Novation's analog
modeling, and the presets in Launchkey
were fun and inspiring, prompting lots of

lost hours just playing the app and smiling
like a fool... always a good sign!
Wrapup
I had a blast playing with these controllers! They work seamlessly out of the
box, provide a huge range of very useful
functions for anyone composing in clip- or
grid-based DAWs as well as iOS apps,
and network with one another cleanly and

reliably. My tests using all three surfaces
at once plus my own Launchpad in
Ableton Live were seamless; the line really does have integration dialed in nicely.
The apps are a treat; if you have an iPad,
grab them for free and try them for yourself.
Alone or integrated with Launch controllers,
they're well-designed, sound marvelous, and
will provide lots of inspiration on the go.
Novation has made the world of easy
clip-based performance and composition
open to anyone and everyone with the
Launch family. Do yourself a favor and
check them out; if you were feeling uncertain about getting to know a clip-based
music platform before this, these controllers
may well banish those fears for all time.
Prices: Launchpad Mini, Launch Control,
and Launchkey Mini, $99.99 each;
Launchpad and Launchkey apps, free.
Not reviewed: Launchpad S, $169.99;
Launchkey 25 / 49 / 61, $149.99 /
$199.99 / $249.99
More from: Novation,
www.novationmusic.com
RECORDING February 2014

http://www.mojaveaudio.com http://www.mojaveaudio.com http://www.novationmusic.com

Recording - February 2014

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