Reddit reviews Novation Launchkey 49 USB Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live, 49-Note MK2 Version

Desktop replacement. Use Lightroom to edit Nikon raw images to post on Flickr and 500px as well as stock photography for Getty Images. OneNote for notes,sketching,diagrams,etc.... Cover for reading Comics. Document creation and reading ebooks,manuals,PDF's & Magazines. Use Ableton 10 Live to drive my Novation Launchkey Mk2 49 USB Keyboard Controller. As using to learn to play piano on.

Using Microsoft Dock to drive dual 23" displays and a couple of external usb drives as my desktop. Using Concepts & Autodesk Sketchbook trying to learn to draw and paint. Maybe? if I can stick with it. Stellerium to learn about the stars. Play a few older games like Splinter Cell series or Half Life 2. Great to be able to unplug from desktop and head out the door continuing to work with whatever I'm doing.

Take the complaints with a grain of salt. As the numbers are minuscule compared to number of total users. And people often don't chime into forums or reddit saying Hey I Got a Good One. Being a very dense compact design does lead to more failed units. That's why I opted to buy at Microsoft store and add Microsoft Complete to give me the most coverage.

Get the Launchkey.

I personally use the 49 key Novation Launchkey and it works with assigned mappings in Ableton right out the box.

Not exactly weighted keys but responds to how hard you strike each key.

Highly recommend. Just about $200 currently

Novation Launchkey 49 USB Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live, 49-Note MK2 Version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVK2A3I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wv4FzbBAH83WY

i bought the oxygen 49 and it has 9 faders and 8 knobs with a couple macro buttons. works fine for me. can get it for around 150 bucks now.

also i heard good things about the launchkey

Didnt realize this was a rule, my bad!

Equipment I use:
-----------------------------
Software:
---------------
Ableton Live 9 - https://www.ableton.com/en/
OBS(Capturing webcam and computer screen) - https://obsproject.com/
SoundToys - http://www.soundtoys.com/
Serum - https://www.xferrecords.com/products/serum
Rob Papen - https://www.robpapen.com/
Adobe Creative Suite(Which I got for free :) - http://www.adobe.com/
ProTools(Sometimes)- http://www.avid.com/pro-tools
Thing that makes my screen look cool: https://justgetflux.com/

Hardware:
----------------
Audio Interface: https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-UMC-404HD-Audiophile-Preamplifiers/dp/B00TTX73YA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1529749195&sr=8-2&keywords=behringer+interface

Midi Keyboard - https://www.amazon.com/Novation-Launchkey-Keyboard-Controller-Ableton/dp/B00VVK2A3I/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1509296474&sr=8-7&keywords=akai+keyboard

Microphone-(Unfortunatly the cool one broke, I sent phantom power to it at the wrong time:( - https://www.amazon.com/MXL-990-991-Recording-Microphone/dp/B0002GJI3C/ref=sr_1_26?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1509296556&sr=1-26&keywords=mxl+condenser

Speaker Monitors -(They must not sell my version anymore, but here is the companies website) - http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/range_intros/Speakers_and_Monitors.shtml

Dish out for a mid-range keyboard with knobs and sliders that comes with some lite software bundled. Something like this. I'd recommend looking for one that comes with Ableton Live Intro/Lite, the one I linked is a great package, comes with some extra plugins as well. It'll have all you need to get started, and you can search the web for some free synth plugins to extend the library a bit!

I am going to settle with this or this when I ^finally get Ableton.

If you don't need the keys to be weighted, I'm a huge fan of Novation's Launchkey series!! They've got pads, faders, and a decent amount of keys for a great price.

AND if you're looking to get into Ableton Live, the control functions are amazing. It's like you have a mini launchpad built into your keyboard.

https://www.amazon.com/Novation-Launchkey-Keyboard-Controller-Ableton/dp/B00VVK2A3I

Plug headphones into the headphone jack of the scarlett 2i2. You'll hear the output of your DAW. You can play the (USB connected) MIDI keyboard and use sounds from your DAW. Your guitar can connect to the scarlett which will pass the sound to the DAW. So you'll be able to hear the guitar and keybaord realtime (mix them in your DAW) and/or record them both in your DAW.

If you don't have a DAW, [some MIDI keyboards come with a lite version of a DAW]
(https://www.amazon.com/Novation-Launchkey-Keyboard-Controller-Ableton/dp/B00VVK2A3I/ref=asc_df_B00VVK2A3I/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312199306469&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=332089929400902524&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016977&hvtargid=pla-362879270111&psc=1)

>Software for Mac and PC, Including: Ableton Live Lite

I'm not the best for advice since my primary use is for composing (I was raised on guitar rather than piano), but I'd go with something like the Nektar Impact LX49 or the Launchkey 49 Mk2.

Personally, I'd go with the Oxygen 49 since it's 6 pounds instead of 9. Again, I'm probably not going to be much help since I'm saving for a keyboard workstation that has to do double time as a live performance tool.

If you really want help, gearank.com has decent recommendations for just about everything.

I am torn. first midi keyboardm will be used for opz, op1. softysnths.

Novation Launchkey 49 USB Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live, 49-Note MK2 Version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVK2A3I/ref=psdc_11973721_t3_B06Y4CKTTL

ton of value at 170, leaning this way, power usb but a powered usb hub would be needed :(

​

Arturia KeyLab Essential 49 Keyboard Controller

this is normally 250 and is now 200 on sale...good general controller, decent software

https://www.amazon.com/Arturia-KeyLab-Essential-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B06Y4CKTTL/ref=pd_cp_267_1/140-1578307-0745027?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06Y4CKTTL&pd_rd_r=f333d616-3b47-4c06-8232-a1a770a8e58e&pd_rd_w=NOp4N&pd_rd_wg=0Azmm&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=RDQQ57HW63M57P0SPYFT&psc=1&refRID=RDQQ57HW63M57P0SPYFT

Most DAWs like Ableton and FL don't really require an equipment thanks to VSTs and plug-ins (been using nothing but my laptop's keyboard as my main input for years now), but it does help if you have a controller to work with.

If you're new into the production scene, I would recommend this. It already has a few drum pads there, so you won't need to spend more money on another drum pad. Borrowed it from a friend a while ago, and it's pretty good for its price.

That one works with pretty much any DAW, but it works best with Ableton. Another alternative would be this. Best thing about this one is that you can practically bring it with you anywhere (perfect for the road)

If you only want a drum pad, get this. It's the most common drum pad out there, so if you need any tutorial on how to use it, you won't have a hard time finding one.

Ableton. Some midi controllers (Novation Launchkey Novation Launchkey Mini) and audio interfaces(Focusrite 2i2 ) come with a free lite version.(there are more things that come with it, those are just the three I can think of right now) Or you can buy the "Intro" version for $99. A site that I like for Instruments is called VST 4 Free