
zones allows you to play drums on the bottom half, and synths on the top, up to 8 channels can be mapped to zones.

The biggest feature is the ability to use hardware MIDI synths TOGETHER with softsynths, and the ability to set each synth up to a specific range of keys. Every feature is integrated STRONGLY with one another, it's STUPID intuitive, and once it's actually set up you will be able to open your live template, load up a VST onto the premade channels, and literally start producing. Like I almost never touch my mouse and keyboard anymore, the SL is LIGHTYEARS ahead of every other keyboard controller I've used. What this means it at any time you can either be controlling 8 channels in live (EVERY aspect) on the MIDI mode, and then all of lives clip/transport functionality as well. It allows you to use both the midi AND incontrol modes. even though I might buy one again down the road. I couldn't live without a Launchpad, but I could live with Push 2. Launchpads are really useful for Session View / clip launching and Scene launching. Or get the Launchpad Mini MK3 and the Launchkey MK3.
#Novation launchkey 49 mk2 review pro
Launchkey MK3 is about $200, and the LP Pro MK3 is only $350. they're dope, in addition to an Ableton-supported midi keyboard. a Launchpad Pro (original) or Launchpad Pro MK3.
#Novation launchkey 49 mk2 review install
It's annoying, but you can definitely install a demo of Live Lite and get all the new scripts that way.Īnother thing you could consider, price-wise.

This way you'll have all entirely new versions of the scripts, and support of the SL MK3 or Launchkey MK3. One thing you could do is install a demo of Ableton Live Lite (ideally 10.1.25 or so), and grab the MIDI Remote Scripts folder (ALL contents) and put all those folders in your Ableton 9.7 MIDI Remote Scripts folder. They only work with version 10.1.3 or above for the SL MK3, and the Launchkey MK3 I think requires 10.1.6. If you're using Ableton 9.7, I will say right up front that you won't be able to use the Launchkey MK3 or SL MK3 with it. One's for mainly hardware step-sequencing use, and the other is for controlling plugins and my DAW (Reaper, mainly. That's why I have two of them in the studio.

and you can save Sessions (which can contain sequences, if you want, or just layouts of the Tracks / Templates). Each track / Template can be on its own MIDI channel, and each track can literally have a completely different Template on it. The 8 tracks / Templates are really handy. It's small enough to gig with and it's hella powerful. I think the 49-key is the best bang for the buck. It's pretty nice, though it can get confusing. So each custom mode can be loaded independently of the other. It has 4 custom modes- buttons/faders, drum pads (or function buttons, if you want them to be), and the knobs. It's expensive but I love customizing the hell out of MIDI controllers. So no good, usually.ĭo a lot of research on the SL series. I never have enough up front to buy gear outright.

For the 49-key, I got it when it was on sale from Sweetwater for $499, and used a 6-month payment plan on that. Paid it off on a 12-month payment plan so it was only like $50 a month. I got my SL MK3 from American Musical Supply, blemished box. Glad it was helpful! To answer your question, depends on your finances.
