Ableton Forum

Are they like a on/off thing or can you hold them down to sustain a note?

I was thinking that it would be a nice alternative to a keyboard MIDI controller, like a custom instrument until I can get a good synth or workstation keyboard.

Another question is, can you save different presets for different sets of notes, either in Ableton or with the Automap software?? I was thinking that it would be cool to assign the notes of a particular key to a horizontal row, with the vertical columns being the same notes in different octaves. But I want to know if I could save different sets of controls and easily switch them out if I change to a different project? So that each set would be a different key.

Also, does it support simultaneous presses so that chords can be played? Thanks!

It can be used as a midi keyboard, notes sustain and you can play chords with it. The big downside to using it as your main note in device is that it is not velocity sensitive and transmits all notes at velocity 127. Then again it took me a couple of years of playing keyboard to get past the stage where velocity sensitivity was something i switched off on keyboards.

Ok thanks. About the velocity, I was just reading about that on the Novation site. You can use the Ableton velocity plug in to control it:

http://www.novationmusic.com/answerbase ... php?id=540

Sort of. You can use the velocity device to add random variation to the launchpad fixed velocity output. The video is cool tho and I really rate the controller.

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

This is the best thing I ever bought and expands the launchpad facilities dramaticaly. Has sustain and pitch bend associated to buttons. I now don't need midi keyboard or mouse. Just launchpad on my lap and laptop sitting off to side. The step sequencer works a treat. The drums work how you would expect them to and one finger chords have saved me a heap of time.

£32.50 was a steal in my book for so many added features.

If I had a wish the launchpad would have programmable lcd name tags, below each button, that automatically changed depending on the view you are in or what you have assigned to a button. That would save memorising all the buttons. If the buttons weren't so close together I would create templates from acetate and scribble on them so I could interchange them for different parts of my process. I suppose another way would be to have screen shots in the tutorial window that changed when you changed views - might suggest that to designer.

Can you use it live or do you have to refer to the documentation quite regularly?

After reading through the documentation once or twice then it is absolutely fine for me.

Some of the modes I don't use so they're a mystery but the others are absolutely fine.

Also, I doubt if anyone knows but just thought I'd ask, does the Launchpad version of Lite have different instruments/presets and stuff than the M-Audio edition? I'm planning on upgrading to at least Intro anyway, but was just wondering if I should install the Launchpad edition in the meantime, and if I do will I lose any instruments or can they be installed separately?

I can post a few screens if anyone that uses the Launchpad edition has a minute to compare.

Read these two charts for the full answers about Intro vs. Launchpad Edition

Launchpad version vs. Live 8

Live Intro vs.Live 8

The main difference with Intro is you can have up to 64 tracks while Launchpad Ed. only allows 8. While that's significant, I'm not sure it's worth $100 when both have the same limitations on number of VST instances, scenes, FX, etc.

How is the Loopmasters sample pack that it includes, is it nothing but loops or various kinds of stuff in it?