The Novation Launchkey MK4 series expands the versatility of the renowned MIDI controller lineup with more than just upgraded feature sets. The new MK4 roster adds the Launchkey Mini 37 to hang with “veterans,” such as the Launchkey Mini 25, Launchkey 25, Launchkey 37, Launchkey 49 and Launchkey 61.

It's a flexible and multitalented crew, and the group’s practical elements include increased plug-and-play setup with most DAWs (including Abelton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reason and more); 16 velocity-sensitive pads; an improved arpeggiator; semi-weighted, lipped waterfall keybeds (49 and 61 only); an easy-to-read OLED screen; chord and scale modes; pads with polyphonic aftertouch and the 49- and 61-key models have the ability to split the keyboard into two independent zones.

The MK4 collection includes everything you need to get started—or to effortlessly integrate into an existing creative setup—with Ableton Lite, GForce synth bundle, Orchestral Tools Parallel Orchestras, Melodics curated lessons and more.

Here, Novation Lead Hardware Designer Danny Nugent spins the top hits of the new MK4 line.

What was your concept for freshening up the Launchkey line with the MK4?

Danny Nugent: We approached the Launchkey MK4 from a slightly different viewpoint. We said, “We're not designing a MIDI controller.” We wanted to design an instrument—something really playable and expressive. Some interesting decisions came out of that. First of all, the key bed was improved, and on the 49- and 61-key versions, it was given a semi-weighted feel. On the 49 and 61, we also moved the faders to the left-hand side. If you're doing film scoring, for example, you kind of want those orchestral expressions at your left hand, while you’re thinking about other elements using your right hand.

Pictured: Novation Launchkey MK4 49-Key

In addition, we are very aware that not everyone is a keyboardist. We learned that half of our Launchkey users are actually guitarists. Perhaps they buy it because they want to add some organ or synth to a song, so we try to give them ways to get stuff out, such as lots of chord modes and arppegiators. At the same time, we try to be educational. How can we help people learn and evolve?

We notice that you upgraded the 49- and 61-key beds with waterfall keys. Can you speak to that decision?

The waterfall keys [ie.–no lip, top edge rounded] are partly aesthetic. They look more like a piano, so that's a bit of psychology going on there. Maybe you think it's going to feel more like a piano than a standard synth with lipped keys. We want to give the impression that it feels and looks like a professional instrument.

How did you balance the needs of studio and live-performance applications with the MK4?

We know the majority of our customers use Launchkeys in the studio, but a lot of people are also playing live with them. The balance for that was to make everything more visible—like the crisp feedback of the OLED screen and our backlit buttons. On a dark stage, you can always clearly see what your buttons are saying. Also, when you do mapping with our component software, you can assign a name to everything. You can identify a control as a filter cutoff or a macro for effects.

What is the typical process for identifying upgrades when you’re developing the next generation of the Launchkey?

We do a lot of research reading YouTube comments and forum posts. We always read every comment. We also do a lot of user interviews. Our goal is to hear from the widest variation of users—people who use MIDI controllers, people in bands, film composers and people just starting out. We are less interested in what they want, and more concerned with what they are trying to do. We also want to know their pain points, such as not being able to see something onstage. A problem might be quite minor, but to that one person, it can be really important. So, from those conversations, we may pick up on something that's great for everyone.

Pictured: Novation Launchkey MK4 61-Key

What was your basic approach to the MK4’s Scale Mode?

Some people will think it's cheating to use Scale Mode—like, “You have to learn your scales. You have to go through all this.” But the scale mode is something you can lean on at first—which we feel is completely fine. Then, if you do want to learn scales properly, when you press the Scale button on the Launchkey, the keyboard is shown on the screen, along with the notes in the scale. You can follow along and learn that scale. There’s also the new filter mode. If you press a note that isn’t in the right key, it moves up or down to the correct pitch in the scale. It won’t play the wrong note.

Can you also speak about Chord Mode?

There is a whole map of chord banks with excellent voice leading that all sound great together. You can jump around, and you can also choose whether to use really basic chords or go experimental with variation levels. Think of Level 1 as basic pop, Level 2 as getting into that Lizzo “Juice” area where you get some chords outside the scale, and Level 3 is perhaps like Radiohead modulations. Above that, you're getting to jazz and neo soul—which is perfect for hip hop. For film scoring, there are some very lush chords available. Someone described them as ‘expensive’ chords. We really pushed it to see just how far we could go, because what frustrated me about earlier chord modes was that you couldn’t play chords outside the scale. Now, if you want a chord set to be more adventurous, chord mode will start adding chords with different suspensions that are outside the scale. Take it all the way to the max level, and it's almost like it's full jazz harmony. In fact, this is the first time I've been able to play jazz on the keyboard.

Pictured: Novation Launchkey MK4 Mini 37

We also put a Chord Detector in the keyboard that identifies all of the chords within a chord map, and shows you the notes you need to play on the keyboard. So, you might find a progression you like, teach yourself how to play it and then add your own chord or an extension. Again, it may feel like cheating to some, but we hope you will take what is provided and evolve it into your own idea. That’s what we want to encourage.

Previous Launchkey versions have been strongly associated with Ableton Live, but it seems like you've put a lot of thought into how the MK4 integrates with other DAWS, as well.

It's still a great Ableton controller, but, for this, we wanted to expand beyond Ableton. There are a lot of people buying Launchkey because it's a good MIDI controller, and we’ve been speaking to all the DAW companies in order to integrate with their DAWs. We actually have a dedicated team working on that. So, this is not just an Ableton controller like the first Launchkey. It's now a controller that's great for any DAW.

What can someone expect from the Launchkey MK4 if they are buying it as their first MIDI controller for their DAW?

If it's your first MIDI controller, you just want it to work seamlessly. We've put a lot of effort into automatically connecting to your DAW when you plug in the controller. It will configure everything you need to have set up. Then, the screen will appear, all your buttons will just be automatically mapped and it'll be ready to go. We've also spent a lot of work on teaching people how to use our controller this time, such as our Easy Start Journey that provides tailored lists of videos based on what you want to do, the type of music you want to make and the DAW you're using.

Are there any other features you want to mention?

We improved the arpeggiator and made it a lot more exciting to play with. In pattern mode, you can insert rests, as well as tie notes together and add accents. If you want to get that Tangerine Dream, Berlin School sequencing, you can do that with the arpeggiator now. We thought about how modes could interact, as well. For example, you can run the arpeggiator through Scale Mode, mutate arpeggios, add in new notes and always stay in key.

Pictured: Novation Launchkey MK4 Mini 25 Rear Panel I/O's

Also, the drum pads are vastly improved over the MK3. I'm biased, but they are the best drum pads I've played—just for the sensitivity and being able to play ghost notes. I can even play the [Bernard] Purdie shuffle on the drum pads—which is really fun to groove out to. The new onboard arpeggiator features are incredible, and we now have USB-C connectivity.

Speaking of features, there’s no onboard sequencer in the MK4, right?

No. I think the reason for that is we realized you probably want the sequencer to be where your sequencers live, and that’s usually in your DAW software. There are already a lot of features in the Launchkey and they obviously take up memory. This is one reason why we favored the integration of the sequencer in your DAW. For the Arpeggiator, however, we wanted it onboard because it can be a bit more creative—especially with the mutate feature. With sequencing, you kind of know what you need to put in. But the Arpeggiator can produce something you didn’t expect, inspiring happy accidents with your music that perhaps even become the hook for your song. We felt this was more important than offering something that was already in the computer on the keyboard.

It just struck me while talking about “mutate” how you can use language within a product to inspire people.

It’s interesting. We have to consider the Launchkey is used by everyone from complete beginners to professionals, and, for new users, how can you explain things in a more compelling way? We could have called the mutate function “note randomization,” but that phrase doesn’t have the same emotional pull. Music creation should be about having fun, and it’s certainly more fun to mutate your arpeggio than add some note variation.

Is a particular feature often inspired by wondering how you can do something?

Definitely. We challenge ourselves constantly. We ask, “How can we make this more playable? What can we add to this? How can we do the unexpected?” Believe me, it's a good day in the office when people are meant to be doing their work, but they can’t stop playing with the arpeggiator or chord modes.