Just a thought - don't wiggle that micro cable - its not the cable that will break, rather, its more likely that the little connector inside the machine will break. It has happen to me so many times on mobiles and tablets that I've taken to filling down the hooks on everyone's micro usb cables :-) File enough to round the hooks and avoid the hooks locking into the connector. You still get a good solid connection but the cable won't lock, meaning that the pressure on your connector will be much less when inserting or removing the cable, ensuring you can enjoy your machine for a long time. Cheers
i want too but i don't have enough money to buy it i just have $35 from now but my birthday is May 11 its so sad cuz i cant buy one and i cant tell my parents about what i want im shy
Hey Chris, just wanna know that which type of painting you've used to color your launchpad s ? I'm asking this because I wanna have a custom look on my launchpad s , but I've asked for some painters in Hong Kong and they said that if they used the spray paint (with a equipment like a gun) , the orange paint on the original launchpad might be mixed with the spray (e.g if they spray white color on the whole pad , they were afraid that the orange part will vanished and mixed with the white color ). But I saw that the paint on yours didn't affect it , so I just wanna know how or which type of paint did u use .
Chris Hahn I am 14 yrs and my question is that if I buy launchpad mk2 mini then can i be able to use it......is it tough to use or easy?......plz help me cuz when I buy then how will i make music through ableton ......I don't have any idea.................IF U RESPOND ME THEN IT WOULD BE SO GRATEFULE😉
Great Review! I'm really glad you addressed the double click feel that you get on the S. I find that not the best either so it is nice to know that the mini does not have that.
Is a launchpad worth getting with just the use of Ableton Live 9 Intro? I also have never used Ableton before and before I get a launchpad I wanted to ask someone with experience. Thanks, -Cole
I just built this in Ableton. I'm actually going to record a video this week explaining how to build something like this yourself. The cool thing is, that you can send light shows to your launchpad while using it to fire off clips or effects or whatever, so instead of just looking at a clip grid, you can fire off some really interesting light patterns. Great if you have something like Beat Repeat or Stutter Edit that you can map across a range of keys.
I've been wanting to get more access to ableton live for a while both of these come bundled with a simple version of ableton. Do you know of any other controllers that come bundled with ableton Chris?
awesome video dude, very useful review on this. i jus had another question; can you load your own sounds on each seperate channel? i plan on making instrumental rap beats using it. how easy would that be?
Getting a LP Mini for Xmas, just curious as to the button size....im gonna wanna use user 1 mode alot but are the buttons WAY smaller than on the normal launchpad or could you still perform the same way?
mmm. Neither one, really. Unfortunately, they're not really a beginner tool. They do try to make it as easy to start with, but if you don't have a basic understanding of music or MIDI, then it's going to be a little confusing. At its basic level, it's designed to extend what you already know about Ableton Live, even though you're not limited to just using Ableton with it.
Jone Korpi Well, you kind of have to look at a device like a Launchpad as a blank slate. Out of the box with Ableton, it's more or less just replicating the Ableton interface, firing clips, controlling the mixer, panning, things like that. So, that assumes that you know your way around Ableton enough to use it just for a control surface. Beyond that, you can do all sorts of things with it like make a light show, control different instruments with it, turn it into a step sequencer, and using something like Automap, you can configure it to send keyboard commands. Depending on the application, you'll want to understand MIDI basics, understand how notes and control changes work, understand channels, understand how to route the input back to the output so that you can get visual feedback from the lights.
yeah, you really need to check it out in person. Personally I like the smaller form factor, both for the button feel, and for the distance between buttons.
no. The Mini is a red, green, yellow multi-bright LED set. The MK2 and Pro are full RGB, so they can do the full gamut of colors including white, blues, purples, pinks, etc
Should I go for the mini or the origional lanuchpad? I would normally get the origional but its $80 more on amazon. I'm brand new to this stuff and I don't know how to start out please help. Thx :)
Thank you for this video! But which would you prefer getting - The launchpad mini or the other one? Me and my friend are going to start making music just for fun, so what would you recommend?
hey please tell me what the difference of Launchpad mini mk2 Grid Controller/DJ Controller/Mini MKII . Do all is the same ? or some difference there . Please response soon thanks .
I heard about a launchpad mini MK2 while- if I got this right- this isn't MK2 but only mini. Are there many difference between them? Sorry if I am wrong.
Cool Review. I bought a Novation Launchkey 25 yesterday and was surprised about the perfect buttons on it. On my old Launchpad you have to HIT the Pads a little bit hard and one the Launchkey you can push them really soft like on a Laptopkeyboard. Did they change that too on the new S or mini? You noticed that in the Video but its hard too get that feeling in a video :) I would love to have the same pads on the mini
yeah, it's really interesting, i've heard really mixed reviews on the LaunchKey, but they actually made the grid buttons on the LaunchKey pressure sensitive. Unfortunately, the LP S and LP Mini are not pressure sensitive. I wish they were!
I mentioned this to someone else, the only difference between the S and the mini is the size and the price, and the LEDs are a bit brighter on the S. If you're just getting started, I'd get the mini because it's cheaper.
I'm planing to get 1 . What is better for a beginner like me? Do i need a computer such like Macbook or Imac to play with Launch pad? And what programs do i need to download on my computer?
I got a new launchpad mini for the holidays and I've been trying it out. I love the build quality and ease of use with Ableton live lite, but the button response feels off to me. First of all, the keys are not velocity sensitive, but I can get over that. My main problem comes with the launchpad's idea of what counts as a 'button press' and what does not. Pressing on the corner or edge of the pad yields a quick response with little pressure, but pressing on the middle of the pad will either cause it to rock back and forth from corner to corner or not produce a sound at all. The strange thing is that pressing on the middle of the pad causes it to compress just like a regular button, but no input will be received. What usually ends up happening is that either no sound will come out or rapid taps will take place as the pad rocks from side to side. Pressing hard enough on the middle of the pad can get it to work, but I'm afraid that I'll damage the lanchpad with that much pressure all of the time. As a piano player, the idea of being forced to play on only the corners and sides of each pad just feels downright wrong. Is this something that I'll need to get used to, or is it a problem with my launchpad?
i was wondering, this launchpad is made specifically for ableton? Because I tried to use my reason on it, and it works, but the lights dont come on when im using launchpad mini with reason, is there a way to see the lights using a different program such as reason?
it is made specifically to pair with Ableton, but you can use it with anything. To get LED feedback with other programs though, you need to go through some steps. Here's a guide for Reason: Ableton Tutorial - Rewire Reason/Record & Launchpad Light Feedback
Hi Chris I would start with NOVATION Launchpad, but I'm not sure how to choose a model if S? or MINI? Which of them is actually a novelty? I would like to form a hip hop music ") - Thanks for the answers
I think the MIDIfighter 3D is pretty sweet. I have a MIDIfighter classic, and the arcade buttons have a really cool feel to them. They're a bit clicky for my taste though, so I mostly use it for triggering effects, and not finger drumming. The 3D accellerometer part is pretty nice too, though if you take a look on DJ Tech Tool's site, they also sell this thing called the Hot Hand which is a 3 axis accelerometer ring that you wear that turns your hand into a MIDI controller.
I wanted to know what you guys think; is smaller better, can ableton live lite 9 usually used for like people that play the launchpad a lot because I really want to get into ableton, also what do you think is better, the mini or the Big one(S). THANKS!
So quick question. I'm basically a huge noob when it comes to this sort of stuff but does the launchpad have a speaker or is that your laptops speaker playing the music when you hit a button?
The Launchpad is just a controller with a grid of buttons. It makes no sounds itself. You have to use it with a computer that has MIDI software to receive it's control messages, or hook it up to an iPad with the Launchpad App. Think of it like a MIDI keyboard. It has keys, but only triggers other devices to make sounds.
Hey Chris I was just thinking of getting the Launchpad Mini. I have never owned a Dj pad before though so I am inexperienced. I was wondering how good the software it comes with is and if it is fairly easy to learn to use as a beginner. Is the software a full version or only a light version with some features thanks!
It's only an intro version of Ableton Live that comes with it, but it's enough to get you started. Ableton isn't the only software you can use it with.
I like having the 72 buttons on the LP, plus is mostly silent. Also, with Automap, you can map the buttons to notes, CC's AND keystrokes, which is especially killer. Try using it with Photoshop or Premiere, or even mapping key combinations for games.
Please everybody reply even if you are geusing i dont care, what is the best free or between 0 and 10 dollars software for the launchpad mini on mac?? Sorry for my english im dutch
it's not that they're hard to press, is that the action isn't a smooth up and down action. Unlike MPC, or Push pads, Launchpad buttons actually depress up and down. There's a silicone spring device under each button that pushes up on the button, and then the conductive contact underneath. Because it's silicone, there's nothing to guide the button up and down, so sometimes it catches the edge of the silicone and you get a misfire, or what feels like a double tap, almost a soft crunch as the button slips off of the edge of the plastic moulding. I've gotten around this by using two fingers, one on the opposite corners of the button to push down on it. The mini does not have this problem because the buttons are smaller, but they may be too small for some people's liking.
Dear Chris! Thanks for the tutorial! I'm wondering - the mini launchpad is quite cheap here in my country. Also there is a nice pack of Launchpad S + NOVATION Launch Control (+ nice leather cases for them). Can you make a tutorial on how to use them both? I'm thinking about buying the pack... But I'm beginner and I think it will be better to go for a mini, just to understand how those devices work. :) Any advice? Thank you!
Thank you, I had no idea about the low / high power mode..... My mini came with the Low power mode by default which was hard to see. Can you explain the firmware and reboot buttons please? Thank you.
+ThisWayOut So, the bootloader is what you get into to view power modes, switch MIDI channels and all that, The bootloader button and firmware buttons at the bottom just tell you which version of the bootloader and LP firmware you're running, and these are most likely for support, not anything functional that you can use. You can find out more information in the Advanced Features Guide here: global.novationmusic.com/support/downloads/launchpad-mini-advanced-features-guide
Can you help me I am new to using launchpad and have it on iPad but if I get launchpad mini can I plug it in to my computer just with USB and not get any abletion will It still be able to make sound and music or do I have to get abletion and what is abletion please help Chris 😞
USB Mini B Cables (or whatever they call them) are used as phone chargers too, so they are usually in the phone section at BestBuys, but they are way over priced. I found one at a garage sale for $0.25.
Just to know, is the Launchpad Mini programmable ? I read somewhere that it wasn't, but I found it weird that you can program a beat on the S and not on the Mini...
neither one is programmable per se - they're really just controllers, fairly generic at that. The programmability comes from the scripting in Ableton. There are some third party scripts that give it even more functionality.
Hi Chris, I am wondering how the Novation Launchpad mini (and Launchpad S) hold up over time and use. I saw another review discussing potential connection issues with the Launchpad USB connection over time ... Let me know.... Thanks..Bob
I'm not a huge fan of the Micro USB on the Mini, I've already had one cable go bad, and that thin connection is stable, but it's not going to stand up to any major abuse. I wouldn't travel with the cable plugged in, that's for sure. The S and older models are fine though, standard female USB square connectors recessed in the plastic housing and should be fine.
Hi! im 13 years old and do you think i could double tap with the mini? Is it hard to push the buttons and is it any diffrence about how hard you have to push the buttons between the launchpad S and mini? Is it possible to do the light effects with the mini? and can i download more sounds to the buttons if im tired of the basic sounds or is it not possible to change the sounds and move around the sounds from a button to another? How high are the buttons up from the launchpad, any diffrence between s and mini? :))))) Can i put same sound on 2 buttons? is it diffrent material on the button, and what material? :)
It's pretty basic, but yeah you can, and you can still do a lot with it. Ableton doesn't have a listing for it on their site, but the features are almost identical to Live Intro. You can hit up the Ableton site for the comparison chart between the editions.
I would be at least familiar with using MIDI controllers before you buy any type of launchpad, because that's what it really is: a surface controller. It enhances what you're already doing. Most people see the launchpad in a video and think that they want to get one, but they don't realize that it's all of the software and configuration that happens in the background that make all of the awesome music. So, if you're not already using some sort of DJ or musicmaking software, the launchpad is probably not the best place to start. The exception would be if you had an iPad. When you connect the launchpad mini to an iPad, there's free software that you can download off of the app store and you can start using it immediately.
Hey Chris Hahn I might be getting a computer soon and I was going to get a launchpad I was wondering what do u think would be a good starter the mini or the s thanks.
if you're talking about the rainbow wash that comes up when I plug it in, that's not a patch. That's built into the firmware when you plug the Mini in. The S model doesn't do this.
does the launchpad mini play any project? i mean if someone plays a song on a launchpad mk2/pro on youtube and leaves a project file, can the mini play it? thanks in advance.
yes, it really doesn't matter what Launchpad you use. Think about the project as a piece of sheet music, and the launchpad as a piano. Just like you can take any sheet of music and play it on any piano, you should be able to plug in any kind of launchpad and play the same project. Since you're not loading anything onto the launchpad, it's just acting like a controller, so it doesn't matter what you plug it into as long as it has some kind of MIDI control.
I read all the comments to find the answer to my question but I'm not satisfied with anyone. If I want to "play" with the launchpad and just play some music projects (like dubstep, finger drumming) should I take the S or the Mini. I think the mini have the buttons too close each other and that may be uncomfortable when playing with my hands near and fast. But also you said that those buttons are better than the bigger ones. What do you think? Thanks and sorry for my english!
It doesn't work too well - I tried to produce with my launchpad and fl studio but since you don't have the session mode thing and the performance mode is not even close as good as the one in ableton live (imho) it is much more comfortable to produce loops / samples FL and then just play them in Ableton Live.
to be more specific, the MK2 has full RGB LED's, and the Mini has multicolors, but it's more like red, green, and yellow. A grid is a grid though, visually it translates.
it is too small to make music as M4Sonic or ? because the music that he uses are very fast / responsive. it is not too difficult ? ( Sorry for my very bad english I'm french )
+RainbowKkiller No, it's just a more compact version of the normal launchpad. Not at all slower or worse. It might be more difficult for some people because it's smaller, but it is more than likely capable of playing M4SONIC or something equivalent to it. Also, your English is very good :D
I'm in the same situation than you, and I recommend you the mini if you have a low budget. For beginners, there are no real differences except the size, but it doesn't really matter.
Hey Chris Hahn im completely new in this field..but the launchpad has blown my mind..i wanna get one and learn how to play it! should i go for a mini or the launchpad S?? and as im a beginner i dont have any knowledge about piano or dj ing. will that cause a major problem? please suggest me! thank u! regards! :)
Unfortunately, the Launchpad isn't really what i'd call an entry level piece of gear despite the fact that it's so inexpensive. I wouldn't let that hold you back though, if you have an interest in making electronic music, i'd start with learning about Ableton Live, Reason, or FL Studio, and then after that, start looking at controllers like the Launchpad. Think of the Launchpad as an extension of the computer. You still have to know how to program beats and make songs, the Launchpad just gives you a way to touch the music, in a way.
As I was looking to buy a lanchpad mini, I saw a sentence saying that the mini version is for the ipad. But it can be used on the pc without buying any additional adapets right?
yeah, whatever you're doing in Ableton is independent of the controller, it'll work no matter if you plug in different versions of the LP, or the Ableton Push, or APC40, etc.
Just subscribed.I'm going to be purchasing the mini soon and I REALLY want to start making ambient music like "ESPRIT 空想 - summer night" and "RIVKA- Better Days" . Which software do you think is best for beginners? and what things should i learn before going into this?. Thank you for your time :)
A little complain on the review....the launchpad mini's cable is a Usb-MiniUsb and it is the same as most of the android phones on the market so you can easly find them in a phone store. Is not so rare as you said. By the way good review :)
it really depends on your style. These pads are not velocity sensitive, so not the best for detailed beat entry. You can use this to control the mixer, but honestly, nothing makes up for actual faders and knobs.
Just a thought - don't wiggle that micro cable - its not the cable that will break, rather, its more likely that the little connector inside the machine will break. It has happen to me so many times on mobiles and tablets that I've taken to filling down the hooks on everyone's micro usb cables :-)
File enough to round the hooks and avoid the hooks locking into the connector. You still get a good solid connection but the cable won't lock, meaning that the pressure on your connector will be much less when inserting or removing the cable, ensuring you can enjoy your machine for a long time.
Cheers
I am happy cuz I am gonna buy a launchpad soon... Always wanted a launchpad
Golden Freddy yes i got the same launchpad mini on christmas :) i will try this for first time :)
Agreed! My birthday is still like 5 months away, and yet I've already decided on a Launchpad Mini!
i want too but i don't have enough money to buy it i just have $35 from now but my birthday is May 11
its so sad cuz i cant buy one and i cant tell my parents about what i want im shy
You'll get it if you tell them... if you dont then you wont get it lol
They will be angry to me i i tell them
Hey Chris, just wanna know that which type of painting you've used to color your launchpad s ? I'm asking this because I wanna have a custom look on my launchpad s , but I've asked for some painters in Hong Kong and they said that if they used the spray paint (with a equipment like a gun) , the orange paint on the original launchpad might be mixed with the spray (e.g if they spray white color on the whole pad , they were afraid that the orange part will vanished and mixed with the white color ). But I saw that the paint on yours didn't affect it , so I just wanna know how or which type of paint did u use .
I got one of those mini launchpad for Christmas today :3
RΣD Clan - Happy Beatmaking!
me too but idk how to use it it not working like lights and things...
MATLT Gaming Gotta hook it up to Ableton or an iPad! :-)
RΣD Clan ME TO BUT I DONT KNOW HOW TO USE IT
Chris Hahn I am 14 yrs and my question is that if I buy launchpad mk2 mini then can i be able to use it......is it tough to use or easy?......plz help me cuz when I buy then how will i make music through ableton ......I don't have any idea.................IF U RESPOND ME THEN IT WOULD BE SO GRATEFULE😉
Great Review! I'm really glad you addressed the double click feel that you get on the S. I find that not the best either so it is nice to know that the mini does not have that.
Is a launchpad worth getting with just the use of Ableton Live 9 Intro? I also have never used Ableton before and before I get a launchpad I wanted to ask someone with experience.
Thanks,
-Cole
I just built this in Ableton. I'm actually going to record a video this week explaining how to build something like this yourself. The cool thing is, that you can send light shows to your launchpad while using it to fire off clips or effects or whatever, so instead of just looking at a clip grid, you can fire off some really interesting light patterns. Great if you have something like Beat Repeat or Stutter Edit that you can map across a range of keys.
hi. I'm looking at buying a launchpad. but I would like to know if the mini is to small. it seems tiny. is it really small IRL
I've been wanting to get more access to ableton live for a while both of these come bundled with a simple version of ableton. Do you know of any other controllers that come bundled with ableton Chris?
awesome video dude, very useful review on this. i jus had another question; can you load your own sounds on each seperate channel? i plan on making instrumental rap beats using it. how easy would that be?
Thanks! I will get one mini, but have you ever misstaped something by being too *mini*? Which one do you prefer S or mini?
Getting a LP Mini for Xmas, just curious as to the button size....im gonna wanna use user 1 mode alot but are the buttons WAY smaller than on the normal launchpad or could you still perform the same way?
Im a complet beginner to this kind of stuff, which one would be easier or better more beginners?
mmm. Neither one, really. Unfortunately, they're not really a beginner tool. They do try to make it as easy to start with, but if you don't have a basic understanding of music or MIDI, then it's going to be a little confusing. At its basic level, it's designed to extend what you already know about Ableton Live, even though you're not limited to just using Ableton with it.
ok thanks i will follow your tip!
***** What is basic understanding? Like what level of understanding specifically is that?
Jone Korpi Well, you kind of have to look at a device like a Launchpad as a blank slate. Out of the box with Ableton, it's more or less just replicating the Ableton interface, firing clips, controlling the mixer, panning, things like that. So, that assumes that you know your way around Ableton enough to use it just for a control surface. Beyond that, you can do all sorts of things with it like make a light show, control different instruments with it, turn it into a step sequencer, and using something like Automap, you can configure it to send keyboard commands. Depending on the application, you'll want to understand MIDI basics, understand how notes and control changes work, understand channels, understand how to route the input back to the output so that you can get visual feedback from the lights.
Well I guess I have a good starting point and I can safely go ahead and go by mine, thanks bud :D
yeah, you really need to check it out in person. Personally I like the smaller form factor, both for the button feel, and for the distance between buttons.
Are there the same amount of colour configurations in both the Mini and the Mk2/Pro? Any difference between the amount of colours?
no. The Mini is a red, green, yellow multi-bright LED set. The MK2 and Pro are full RGB, so they can do the full gamut of colors including white, blues, purples, pinks, etc
Hey Chris. I have a little problem with my launchpad mini. When I push a button it double clicks. How can I fix it? Did you have that problem?
Should I go for the mini or the origional lanuchpad? I would normally get the origional but its $80 more on amazon. I'm brand new to this stuff and I don't know how to start out please help. Thx :)
Can is use it also with Magix Music Maker 2013,or only Ableton Live?
Thank you for this video! But which would you prefer getting - The launchpad mini or the other one? Me and my friend are going to start making music just for fun, so what would you recommend?
hey please tell me what the difference of Launchpad mini mk2 Grid Controller/DJ Controller/Mini MKII . Do all is the same ? or some difference there . Please response soon thanks .
I heard about a launchpad mini MK2 while- if I got this right- this isn't MK2 but only mini. Are there many difference between them? Sorry if I am wrong.
Is the launchpad mini only compatable with an iPad? Or does it work with Abelton?
Cool Review. I bought a Novation Launchkey 25 yesterday and was surprised about the perfect buttons on it. On my old Launchpad you have to HIT the Pads a little bit hard and one the Launchkey you can push them really soft like on a Laptopkeyboard. Did they change that too on the new S or mini? You noticed that in the Video but its hard too get that feeling in a video :)
I would love to have the same pads on the mini
yeah, it's really interesting, i've heard really mixed reviews on the LaunchKey, but they actually made the grid buttons on the LaunchKey pressure sensitive. Unfortunately, the LP S and LP Mini are not pressure sensitive. I wish they were!
13:10 how did you do that? is LED feedback just factory-user mode in launchpad mini?
No, that's a patch that I built in Ableton.
I mentioned this to someone else, the only difference between the S and the mini is the size and the price, and the LEDs are a bit brighter on the S. If you're just getting started, I'd get the mini because it's cheaper.
I'm planing to get 1 . What is better for a beginner like me? Do i need a computer such like Macbook or Imac to play with Launch pad? And what programs do i need to download on my computer?
I am not very familiar with launchpads, but I use Logic.
How hard is it to gather sounds for the launchpad? (if you do)
If you want to start using a launchpad which would you recommend
Because the mini seems pretty appealing
If your a beginner would it be really hard to learn, or could i just play around with it an make some dubstep?
Awesome review. I'm getting my Launchpad Mini next week, and I can't wait to get it going! Again, brilliant review. Thanks!
Im brand new to this sorta thing. Is the Mini some-what user friendly and/or easy to get used to?
1/3 of the size is less than 1/2
Stian Jørgensrud 1/3 = 2/6 and that less that half so yes
I think he meant 2/3, but obviously was not speaking from a script, so got it the wrong way around.
I got a new launchpad mini for the holidays and I've been trying it out. I love the build quality and ease of use with Ableton live lite, but the button response feels off to me. First of all, the keys are not velocity sensitive, but I can get over that. My main problem comes with the launchpad's idea of what counts as a 'button press' and what does not. Pressing on the corner or edge of the pad yields a quick response with little pressure, but pressing on the middle of the pad will either cause it to rock back and forth from corner to corner or not produce a sound at all. The strange thing is that pressing on the middle of the pad causes it to compress just like a regular button, but no input will be received. What usually ends up happening is that either no sound will come out or rapid taps will take place as the pad rocks from side to side. Pressing hard enough on the middle of the pad can get it to work, but I'm afraid that I'll damage the lanchpad with that much pressure all of the time. As a piano player, the idea of being forced to play on only the corners and sides of each pad just feels downright wrong. Is this something that I'll need to get used to, or is it a problem with my launchpad?
i was wondering, this launchpad is made specifically for ableton? Because I tried to use my reason on it, and it works, but the lights dont come on when im using launchpad mini with reason, is there a way to see the lights using a different program such as reason?
it is made specifically to pair with Ableton, but you can use it with anything. To get LED feedback with other programs though, you need to go through some steps. Here's a guide for Reason:
Ableton Tutorial - Rewire Reason/Record & Launchpad Light Feedback
Can you please tell me which website you ordered the lauchpad on. Thanks.
he said it in the start of the video
Hi Chris I would start with NOVATION Launchpad, but I'm not sure how to choose a model if S? or MINI? Which of them is actually a novelty? I would like to form a hip hop music ") - Thanks for the answers
Hey Chris I have a question,Does the Launchpads,have to be turned on through the the computer.Thanks let me know.
If you're asking if they require a computer, then yes, you have to have them either hooked up to a computer or an iPad for them to function.
Alright Thx *****
I think the MIDIfighter 3D is pretty sweet. I have a MIDIfighter classic, and the arcade buttons have a really cool feel to them. They're a bit clicky for my taste though, so I mostly use it for triggering effects, and not finger drumming. The 3D accellerometer part is pretty nice too, though if you take a look on DJ Tech Tool's site, they also sell this thing called the Hot Hand which is a 3 axis accelerometer ring that you wear that turns your hand into a MIDI controller.
I wanted to know what you guys think; is smaller better, can ableton live lite 9 usually used for like people that play the launchpad a lot because I really want to get into ableton, also what do you think is better, the mini or the Big one(S). THANKS!
where can i get this oversea? im from brunei. is there any website i can get from which ship worldwide? thanks..
Hi Chris,would you recommend the mini or the S for youtube Launchpad covers?
Probably the S, it's brighter.
Would this be a good first launchpad?
I'm really confused about which one to get!
Help, this would be my first launchpad...
Mk2's my personal favourite even though I haven't got one, the mk2's good size and colours, and the pro is big and expensive, but better quality.
Is it a big problem for the size of the mini for finger drumming?
I'm thinking of getting one of these to just mess around with, do you recommend this to a first time user
hey m8. I never had any experience with launchpads.. so what would u recmmend me, the mini one or the regular please reply thanks
Hey man, I'm thinking to paint my launchpad aswell. Did you spray paint it? If yeah, which product have you used?
nothing special. Just your off the shelf Krylon.
thanks for the reply!
I'm glad i saw this vid, the launchpad mini comes by default on low power, now it's even brighter :P
Glad it helped!
+Galotex half-life fan?
I have a question for the Launch Pad S did its come with Ableton Live 8? and also did the Mini come with Ableton Live Lite?
no, none of the devices come with a full version of Ableton, they only come with a download code for Live Lite.
Should I get the s or mini I am 12 and have liked this type of thing for a while do you know what I should get I have the money just don't know.
Wich one do you recomend launchpad or launchpad-mini?
Do you know how to get a light show with this in Logic Pro X? If so, please help.
Can we play Launchpad s or mk2 project file with these mini?? Pls ans
Hello Chris, if I am a beginner, and new as it gets with launchpads. Do I need Anything else other than the pad? Thanks!
The KrazyKid what about software wise?
Thanks a lot for this video man. I haven't done a lot of research yet on the Launchpad S Vs. mini, but you answered most of my questions. Jam on!
So quick question. I'm basically a huge noob when it comes to this sort of stuff but does the launchpad have a speaker or is that your laptops speaker playing the music when you hit a button?
The Launchpad is just a controller with a grid of buttons. It makes no sounds itself. You have to use it with a computer that has MIDI software to receive it's control messages, or hook it up to an iPad with the Launchpad App.
Think of it like a MIDI keyboard. It has keys, but only triggers other devices to make sounds.
Hey Chris I was just thinking of getting the Launchpad Mini. I have never owned a Dj pad before though so I am inexperienced. I was wondering how good the software it comes with is and if it is fairly easy to learn to use as a beginner. Is the software a full version or only a light version with some features thanks!
It's only an intro version of Ableton Live that comes with it, but it's enough to get you started. Ableton isn't the only software you can use it with.
I like having the 72 buttons on the LP, plus is mostly silent. Also, with Automap, you can map the buttons to notes, CC's AND keystrokes, which is especially killer. Try using it with Photoshop or Premiere, or even mapping key combinations for games.
Please everybody reply even if you are geusing i dont care, what is the best free or between 0 and 10 dollars software for the launchpad mini on mac?? Sorry for my english im dutch
Hey,
I wanted to ask you that
Would you think that the buttons for launchpad s is a bit hard to press
it's not that they're hard to press, is that the action isn't a smooth up and down action. Unlike MPC, or Push pads, Launchpad buttons actually depress up and down. There's a silicone spring device under each button that pushes up on the button, and then the conductive contact underneath. Because it's silicone, there's nothing to guide the button up and down, so sometimes it catches the edge of the silicone and you get a misfire, or what feels like a double tap, almost a soft crunch as the button slips off of the edge of the plastic moulding. I've gotten around this by using two fingers, one on the opposite corners of the button to push down on it. The mini does not have this problem because the buttons are smaller, but they may be too small for some people's liking.
Is there a launchpad mini mkII or am i just getting completely wrong?
When for the Launch Control mini? or even better an all-in-one controller?
Dear Chris!
Thanks for the tutorial! I'm wondering - the mini launchpad is quite cheap here in my country. Also there is a nice pack of Launchpad S + NOVATION Launch Control (+ nice leather cases for them). Can you make a tutorial on how to use them both? I'm thinking about buying the pack... But I'm beginner and I think it will be better to go for a mini, just to understand how those devices work. :) Any advice?
Thank you!
Thank you, I had no idea about the low / high power mode..... My mini came with the Low power mode by default which was hard to see.
Can you explain the firmware and reboot buttons please? Thank you.
+ThisWayOut So, the bootloader is what you get into to view power modes, switch MIDI channels and all that, The bootloader button and firmware buttons at the bottom just tell you which version of the bootloader and LP firmware you're running, and these are most likely for support, not anything functional that you can use.
You can find out more information in the Advanced Features Guide here: global.novationmusic.com/support/downloads/launchpad-mini-advanced-features-guide
Is it worth it to upgrade from launchpad mini mk2 to launchpad mk2
Can you help me I am new to using launchpad and have it on iPad but if I get launchpad mini can I plug it in to my computer just with USB and not get any abletion will It still be able to make sound and music or do I have to get abletion and what is abletion please help Chris 😞
The mini is better for dj-ing I assume cause its more portable. I'm thinking of getting a mini
USB Mini B Cables (or whatever they call them) are used as phone chargers too, so they are usually in the phone section at BestBuys, but they are way over priced. I found one at a garage sale for $0.25.
Where did you buy lanch pad mini?
Can we buy this online
Just to know, is the Launchpad Mini programmable ? I read somewhere that it wasn't, but I found it weird that you can program a beat on the S and not on the Mini...
neither one is programmable per se - they're really just controllers, fairly generic at that. The programmability comes from the scripting in Ableton. There are some third party scripts that give it even more functionality.
Does it come with ableton live? or some music production software?
Mark Marquette - it comes with a code for Ableton Live Lite, which you download and activate with the code that comes in the packaging.
Hi Chris,
I am wondering how the Novation Launchpad mini (and Launchpad S) hold up over time and use. I saw another review discussing potential connection issues with the Launchpad USB connection over time ...
Let me know....
Thanks..Bob
I'm not a huge fan of the Micro USB on the Mini, I've already had one cable go bad, and that thin connection is stable, but it's not going to stand up to any major abuse. I wouldn't travel with the cable plugged in, that's for sure. The S and older models are fine though, standard female USB square connectors recessed in the plastic housing and should be fine.
Hi! im 13 years old and do you think i could double tap with the mini? Is it hard to push the buttons and is it any diffrence about how hard you have to push the buttons between the launchpad S and mini? Is it possible to do the light effects with the mini? and can i download more sounds to the buttons if im tired of the basic sounds or is it not possible to change the sounds and move around the sounds from a button to another? How high are the buttons up from the launchpad, any diffrence between s and mini? :))))) Can i put same sound on 2 buttons? is it diffrent material on the button, and what material? :)
Is Ableton Live Launchpad edition good enough to play songs with? like will i be able to drag samples in and stuff
It's pretty basic, but yeah you can, and you can still do a lot with it. Ableton doesn't have a listing for it on their site, but the features are almost identical to Live Intro. You can hit up the Ableton site for the comparison chart between the editions.
***** Think ill just get the mini then with the ableton standard :)
Is the Novation Launchpad Mini a good product to start with, when you never used a DJ pad before?
I would be at least familiar with using MIDI controllers before you buy any type of launchpad, because that's what it really is: a surface controller. It enhances what you're already doing. Most people see the launchpad in a video and think that they want to get one, but they don't realize that it's all of the software and configuration that happens in the background that make all of the awesome music. So, if you're not already using some sort of DJ or musicmaking software, the launchpad is probably not the best place to start.
The exception would be if you had an iPad. When you connect the launchpad mini to an iPad, there's free software that you can download off of the app store and you can start using it immediately.
Are they both the same in performance? Like, the Mini is exactly the same as the S, but smaller?
Yes, both identical in performance and features, the Mini is just smaller.
im getting a Launchpad mini for xmas
ok
Same I think..
I am beginner in launchpad so can I buy this
does the mini mk2 launchpad work with Android's unipad?
Yes, theres a few bugs here and there but it works perfectly
Hey Chris Hahn I might be getting a computer soon and I was going to get a launchpad I was wondering what do u think would be a good starter the mini or the s thanks.
I think the mini is a better starter, plus it's cheaper.
Can you connect the launchpad mini with traktor pro ? thanks.
How do you do the little patch on 12:35 minutes? i buyed one and its my first experience so can you please help me? :D
if you're talking about the rainbow wash that comes up when I plug it in, that's not a patch. That's built into the firmware when you plug the Mini in. The S model doesn't do this.
does the launchpad mini play any project? i mean if someone plays a song on a launchpad mk2/pro on youtube and leaves a project file, can the mini play it? thanks in advance.
yes, it really doesn't matter what Launchpad you use. Think about the project as a piece of sheet music, and the launchpad as a piano. Just like you can take any sheet of music and play it on any piano, you should be able to plug in any kind of launchpad and play the same project. Since you're not loading anything onto the launchpad, it's just acting like a controller, so it doesn't matter what you plug it into as long as it has some kind of MIDI control.
I read all the comments to find the answer to my question but I'm not satisfied with anyone. If I want to "play" with the launchpad and just play some music projects (like dubstep, finger drumming) should I take the S or the Mini. I think the mini have the buttons too close each other and that may be uncomfortable when playing with my hands near and fast. But also you said that those buttons are better than the bigger ones. What do you think? Thanks and sorry for my english!
should i buy this or bigger one, and i use fl studio 12
It doesn't work too well - I tried to produce with my launchpad and fl studio but since you don't have the session mode thing and the performance mode is not even close as good as the one in ableton live (imho) it is much more comfortable to produce loops / samples FL and then just play them in Ableton Live.
Can you use Launchpad MK2 or other project files on the launchpad mini?
Probably yes
Yes, but the lights will be diferent
to be more specific, the MK2 has full RGB LED's, and the Mini has multicolors, but it's more like red, green, and yellow. A grid is a grid though, visually it translates.
it is too small to make music as M4Sonic or ? because the music that he uses are very fast / responsive. it is not too difficult ? ( Sorry for my very bad english I'm french )
+RainbowKkiller No, it's just a more compact version of the normal launchpad. Not at all slower or worse. It might be more difficult for some people because it's smaller, but it is more than likely capable of playing M4SONIC or something equivalent to it. Also, your English is very good :D
I'm a beginner DJ in the EDM world, which launchpad (mini or s) would you recommend for a newer DJ with a low budget
I'm in the same situation than you, and I recommend you the mini if you have a low budget. For beginners, there are no real differences except the size, but it doesn't really matter.
+Paul Forveille thanks paul
I just got my Launchpad Mini, it's really amazing !
I'm not sure what you mean about the cable being hard to find it's like the most common USB cable you can buy
Hey Chris Hahn im completely new in this field..but the launchpad has blown my mind..i wanna get one and learn how to play it! should i go for a mini or the launchpad S?? and as im a beginner i dont have any knowledge about piano or dj ing. will that cause a major problem? please suggest me! thank u! regards! :)
Unfortunately, the Launchpad isn't really what i'd call an entry level piece of gear despite the fact that it's so inexpensive. I wouldn't let that hold you back though, if you have an interest in making electronic music, i'd start with learning about Ableton Live, Reason, or FL Studio, and then after that, start looking at controllers like the Launchpad. Think of the Launchpad as an extension of the computer. You still have to know how to program beats and make songs, the Launchpad just gives you a way to touch the music, in a way.
can i put the launchpad mk2 file into mini?
steven pu yes
As I was looking to buy a lanchpad mini, I saw a sentence saying that the mini version is for the ipad. But it can be used on the pc without buying any additional adapets right?
Yes. It's straight USB. Only the iPad requires the camera connection kit.
***** Thanks mate, take care :)
So will it work the same as the regular launchpad? Let's say I want to play a project file someone made. I could play it on the mini?
yeah, whatever you're doing in Ableton is independent of the controller, it'll work no matter if you plug in different versions of the LP, or the Ableton Push, or APC40, etc.
+Chris Hahn Is there the same amount of buttons, like could i follow a tutorial on the regular launchpad for my mini?
yup, same amount of buttons. Just smaller. :-)
You can even play with your computer keyboard, just u need to configure your Ableton.
im on a pc and i dont have ableton but i wanna buy one of these and mix. What shud i do?
Just subscribed.I'm going to be purchasing the mini soon and I REALLY want to start making ambient music like "ESPRIT 空想 - summer night" and "RIVKA- Better Days" . Which software do you think is best for beginners? and what things should i learn before going into this?. Thank you for your time :)
A little complain on the review....the launchpad mini's cable is a Usb-MiniUsb and it is the same as most of the android phones on the market so you can easly find them in a phone store. Is not so rare as you said. By the way good review :)
Can't come by those cables easy? Its the same cable that virtually every smart phone uses. It just has a right angle head on it.
How do i conect LP mini to My iPad? PLEASE help me. Thx
blohell, i'm assuming you have the camera connection kit, and have that hooked into the Mini's USB cable, correct?
is that cable just a USB to Micro-USB?
im getting back into beat production & DJing & Mixing, should i use this or a actual mixer
it really depends on your style. These pads are not velocity sensitive, so not the best for detailed beat entry. You can use this to control the mixer, but honestly, nothing makes up for actual faders and knobs.