MusicRadar Verdict
The Launchkey MK4 49 and 61 keyboards provide a full range of controls for instruments and DAWs, along with a semi-weighted keyboard that’ll please the players among us. The trade-off in portability is worth it.
Pros
- +
Nice, playable, semi-weighted keys.
- +
Maintains the same comprehensive control surface as the rest of the range.
- +
Excellent software bundle.
Cons
- -
Semi-weighted keyboards are heavier.
- -
Could do with more/larger text or illumination on control surface.
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Novation Launchkey MK4 49 and 61: What is it?
The Novation Launchkey MK4 range of keyboards/controllers presents six options: Mini 25 and 37, synth action 25 and 37, and finally, the ones we’ve got here, the Launchkey 49 (four octaves) and 61 (five octaves), both with full-size, semi-weighted keys.
Broadly speaking, all of the MK4s share common features, with a few variations as they scale up. We’re reviewing the 49 and 61 together, and you can click on the links to read our reviews of the Minis and the 25 and 37 models.
The box contains the keyboard, USB cable, and details for downloading the free software bundle and firmware updates. Alongside the larger keys, the top panel features (from left to right) pitch and modulation wheels, octave buttons, nine faders and buttons, an OLED display, scale and chord buttons, eight continuous encoders, 16 velocity sensitive Launchpad-style pads, and an assortment of other buttons, some of which we’ll come back to.
The rear panel features a USB-C connection, MIDI output, sustain pedal input, and a Kensington lock slot.
The software bundle includes Ableton Live 12, and plugins from Klevgrand, GForce, Orchestral Tools, as well as free music lessons from Melodics. It’s an excellent package, same as with the rest of the Launchkey range, although we felt it’s more biased towards general production rather than specifically keyboard playing.
Novation Launchkey 49 and 61 MK4: Performance and verdict
We installed everything, connected the Launchkey to a MacBook Pro M3 (it’s powered by USB), then opened Ableton Live 12.1 Suite and browsed some piano presets. The semi-weighted keys are credible and add authority, especially when playing sounds that correspond to real-world instruments that might have similar keys.
Then we had some fun time creating instrument racks, especially with the 61 – using racks and splits works so well when there are more octaves to play with. The Live control elements integrate nicely, covering mixer, device parameters, track and scene navigation, and more. Live users also benefit from the Launchkey’s onboard step sequencer, which automatically creates a MIDI clip as a sequence is constructed with the pads.
Other onboard features are available to all users, such as the arpeggiator, and the chord detector, which uses the OLED to display a little graphic, and the name of any chord that’s played. Scale mode locks the keyboard to a selected scale, and notes outside that scale are either muted or forced into correct pitches. The pads can be used to play drums or chords, and in chord mode, fixed chords assign a chord to the keys, all of which provides some different ways to play accompaniments. Incidentally, not only are the pads velocity sensitive, they will do aftertouch too, if you want it.
The 49 and 61 both have that array of nine faders, and they are really useful for managing track levels (which is the default function), and helping you play more easily while running your software, and the entire interface benefits from the OLED moving closer to the centre, bringing everything visually more into line; a small improvement, but yes, we can be picky.
There are buttons below each of the nine faders, covering custom functions and also being the place to organise keyboard splits – there are two Parts available, which can be used to split or layer the keyboard, accessed via the Shift and Fader buttons, and the length of each keyboard split is user-definable.
Beyond Ableton Live, we used the Launchkeys with Logic Pro, and assorted plugins including SynthMaster 3, as well as with hardware sound sources like the Akai Pro MPC One+; they are excellent all-around controllers.
User customisation is available through the Components app, where custom settings for encoders, pads, faders, and buttons can be created and combined; these new configurations can be sent to the keyboard hardware, and archived on the computer.
You’re definitely in the driver’s seat with these keyboards, and they serve perfectly as flagship models in the Launchkey series (unless an 88-key version appears). If you’re more of a synth player, you might be content with the 25 and 37 versions, but if you’re somebody who’s likely to be playing more ‘traditionally’ musical parts, while still needing to hold the reins on a DAW or plugins, or a hardware rig, the Launchkey MK4 49 and 61 are going to float your boat.
MusicRadar verdict: The Launchkey 49 and 61 MK4 keyboards provide a full range of controls for instruments and DAWs, along with a semi-weighted keyboard that’ll please the players among us. The trade-off in portability is worth it.
Novation Launchkey MK4 49 and 61: The web says
"Most producers need a tactile everyday keyboard hooked up permanently to their DAW and ideally some well-thought-out transport and control features too. The revamped Launchkey 61 delivers both, and at a sensible price."
MusicTech
Novation Launchkey MK4 49 and 61: Hands-on demos
Novation
Sanjay C
Gear4music Synths & Tech
Yaahn Hunter Jr.
Dom Sigalas
Novation Launchkey MK4 49 and 61: Specifications
- 49 or 61 semi-weighted keys
- 16 velocity and aftertouch pads
- DAW integration for Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase-Nuendo, FL Studio, etc
- 128 x 64 OLED display
- Pitch and modulation wheels
- Transport controls
- Capture MIDI button
- Fixed chord mode
- Scale mode
- Chord detector
- Chord map
- Software bundle includes Ableton Live 12 Lite, GForce synths, Orchestral Tools, Kievgrand plugins, Melodics lessons
- USB-C connection (bus-powered)
- MIDI 5-pin output
- Sustain pedal socket
- DIMENSIONS: 49 key version: Width 730mm, Depth 263.5mm, Height 93mm. Weight 4.08kg. 61 key version: Width 895mm, Depth 263.5mm, Height 93mm. Weight 4.78kg.
- CONTACT: Novation
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