Novation Launchkey 37 MK4

I've bought the Launchkey 37 in first place to be able to control Ableton Live more or less without a mouse - and in this regard, I am more than satisfied. It enables me to control everything I desire, directly from a controller. Additionally It has many useful features, like Arpeggiator, Scale and Chord Map – which I discovered recently – and everything is surprisingly readable on its quite small display. Regarding its portability, it’s not that small – but it has 37 full sized keys – which are a pleasure to play and comparable to other synths, in that price range. Although it’s lightweight, it gives a feeling of quality – especially the knobs and endless encoders. I have to use to the drum pads a bit, which are much softer than on the AKAI MPK II series. All-in-all a very good buy, and totally recommend to anyone trying to get a controller for Ableton, with just enough keys to play along.

Very nice midi keyboard, easily accessible features, but be aware, it has lots of amazing features but they only work with Ableton (step-sequencer and other). I did not know this before buying, so I returned it and bought the Native Instruments Kontrol 49 instead, since I don't use Ableton, but I do use Kontakt. I felt the 37 keys on Novation Launchkey was also not enough for testing and sound production, even though I do not know how to play with both hands. 49 keys are better for testing sounds imho. Also I didn't like the buttons (not pads, but the buttons) on Launchkey because they are indented and under too much silicone, I like them more on NI Kontrol because they are not indented, they have a more noticeable "click" so you know when you pressed them. The actual keys are a bit nicer on NI Kontrol also, and it's cheaper. If you use Ableton this is a great buy, otherwise not so much.

The Launchkey 37 MK4 has exceeded all my expectations. The keybed feels great, the pads are responsive, and the knobs and faders provide excellent hands-on control. It integrates seamlessly with Ableton Live, making music production and hybrid live performances much faster and more enjoyable.

The new workflow improvements, scale modes, chord features, and deep DAW integration make it incredibly inspiring to create music. Everything is well built, reliable, and easy to customize for different projects.

Whether you're producing in the studio or performing live, the Launchkey 37 MK4 is an outstanding MIDI keyboard. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a professional controller with excellent build quality and workflow.