nordmach.com

Updated as of Aug22/11

Novation LaunchPad: What is it about this piece of gear that I absolutely love so much? Is it the lights I wonder? I swear I haven’t been in love with any piece of hardware in a very long time! Ok, before the LaunchPad it was probably the Access Virus. But before that it was probably my Ensoniq ASR10. I found that sampler to be very freeing, very creative. And most of all fun to play with. VERY much like the LaunchPad! It’s so damn flexible! And I love how it keeps me away from my Apple trackpad at a gig. I have played with “touchABLE” which is designed for Ableton control on the iPad. Amazing control and flexibility. Blew me away the first time I played with it. And as much as I am a longtime Apple fan, since 1980’s w/the Mac SE with a single 800k floppy drive but in my opinion I don’t care for the non-tactile feedback the iPad gives in use for me. I am not putting it down in at all. It’s really something and I’m excited to see development in this area. Besides I move around a lot on stage and perspiration can cause issues when trying to perform a filter sweep etc. I would find myself going to the appropriate area on the iPad only to miss the moment, wipe my fingers on my shirt and quickly try again. I don’t have this problem with the LaunchPad at all. Hit a button, lights, action done!

I still own a Novation X-Station (also used on the gig) and it’s proven to be a really nice all around everything (desert island) kind of workstation really. So after my wife surprised me with a LPad birthday gift last year I’ve been addicted to this thing! So much so I’ve recently been getting into the Novation AutoMap software deeper and recently purchased the Nocturn 49key controller. For me those two controllers are limitless! I am also thinking of getting a second LPad for more control so I don’t have to worry about switching modes on the fly. Having each unit dedicated to specifics. (Update: As of Mar/11 - I just picked up a second one used).

Also so many amazing third party software additions available on the web. If you are interested in any of this further functionality check out. Again you do not need Max For Live for this either:

http://www.midikatapult.com/Katapult/Home.html

And this link below. nativeKONTROL - Amazing flexibility for getting around Ableton Live. Stray < the programmer has managed to keep everything as is for controlling Ableton but by using User Mode 1 & 2 he has added 8 more modes. Track, Device, Clip, Drum, Scale, Learn, MonoSeq & Global Mode. A lot perhaps to take in considering all you have is colored light feedback but laid out very logically. This software is so cheap and worth more IMHO. You do not need Max for Live for this:

http://www.nativekontrol.com/LPC-Live.html

This was a Novation demo of but make sure you watch this video it’s at the end of the demo but this guy jams on 6 LPads!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gABOBTxMSrI

And here is the explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cROiehduBQ

But who thought that a plastic box with rubber backlight LEDs based on the MIDI spec from the 80’s would be soooo much damn fun? It really is a instrument in itself!

Monome program MLR

http://www.anthonyarroyodotcom.com/theabletoncookbook/2010/08/12/how-to-use-ableton-to-mimic-mlr/

If you want to get really deep into what the LPad can do at the factory level (out of the box) also check these out:

http://thedspproject.com/novation-launchpad-advanced-configuration-pt1

http://thedspproject.com/novation-launchpad-advanced-configuration-pt2

http://thedspproject.com/novation-launchpad-advanced-configuration-pt3

http://thedspproject.com/novation-launchpad-advanced-configuration-pt4

http://thedspproject.com/launchpad-led-feedback

Some more links you might find helpful:

http://nckn.de/2009/08/tutorial-automap-in-ableton-live-with-novation-nocturn/

http://nezoomie.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/launchpad-mixed-goodies-apps-videos-codes/

http://thestudiosessions.co.uk/

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=131553

http://nezoomie.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/novation-released-launchpad-programming-guide-and-protocol/

http://mattnasty.com/

http://www.illuminatedsounds.com/?p=796

http://www.anthonyarroyodotcom.com/theabletoncookbook/2010/11/05/3-tricks-for-using-launchpad-with-ableton-live-drum-racks/

http://post.monome.org/comments.php?DiscussionID=6245&page=1#Item_1

Great free sequencer/remix type software here. Great fun! You do not need Max for Live for this:

http://www.aurexmusic.com/launchpad

Plus aurex just added this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFajsMga-o0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

And for something different:

http://www.rngtng.com/launchpad/

Even more:

http://alphapadstepsequencer.blogspot.com/2010/11/alphapad-english-version.html

http://code.google.com/p/monomeemu/

http://noisychristiansdistro.blogspot.com/2009/12/nonome-monome-emulator-for-novation_21.html

http://rngtng.github.com/launchpad/

http://youproduce.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10726:-novation-launchpad-tutorials&catid=53:ableton-live&Itemid=225

http://little-scale.blogspot.com/search?q=launchpad

http://vodpod.com/watch/5676665-novation-launchpad-ripple-based-sequencer

http://djfrobot.blogspot.com/2010/03/novation-launchpad-as-monome-tutorial.html

http://www.five12.com/

Complete teardown:

http://www.illuminatedsounds.com/?p=583