borunks
Hey all,
I am currently in the market for some device to compliment my Numark Mixtrack Pro. Namely I am looking for something that can easily add effects and put in samples to my mixes (since the Mixtrack Pro seems limiting in this area).
I was looking at the Novation Launchpad. Its style seems nice as far as being able to have pages for sampling, effects and so on. But is this the product that I am looking for? It uses ableton live, and I'm not sure if I can efficiently use the Launchpad and Mixtrack Pro at the same time.
I am currently in the market for some device to compliment my Numark Mixtrack Pro. Namely I am looking for something that can easily add effects and put in samples to my mixes (since the Mixtrack Pro seems limiting in this area).
I was looking at the Novation Launchpad. Its style seems nice as far as being able to have pages for sampling, effects and so on. But is this the product that I am looking for? It uses ableton live, and I'm not sure if I can efficiently use the Launchpad and Mixtrack Pro at the same time.
Posted Tue 24 Apr 12 @ 4:12 pm
Stretchincanada
the draw back from launch pad is that its missing the ability to be effective as a remix tool. When your mixing tracks you don't have time to do ten steps to raise a volume or adjust a effect.. I had mine a full hour and returned it to the store.. I bought a apc 40 and would never change.. The launchpad ableton only allows one bank as well . I filled pages with beats, samples. Then I remaped it for use here for video using the and 40. Machine was good too , the library was exellent but the controller was missing features. YouTube.. Launchpad vs apc 40 or machine..
Posted Tue 24 Apr 12 @ 11:29 pm
groovindj
Also look at the Novation Zero SL, Novation Nocturn, Akai LPD8, Akai MPD32, Korg NanoKontrol, Icon i-Controls.......
There are lots of alternatives that have buttons, pads, knobs and faders.
There are lots of alternatives that have buttons, pads, knobs and faders.
Posted Wed 25 Apr 12 @ 6:09 am
synthet1c
another warning... the lpd8's leds can be turned on with vdj, but they always turn off when you press the button so it severely restrict what the leds can be used for, but you can set them to toggle or momentary in the midi editor software that comes with the unit and not have any feedback from vdj.. I bought an mpk mini and learned the hard way LOL
but the novation nocturn looks like a great candidate for an effect controller. if you define it in HID you should get use of all 16 buttons (8 are normally used to control the novation software in the background) they all have leds, the 9 encoders are touch sensitive so you can activate effects on touch and you even get software feedback from led rings around the encoders... there is crossfader aswell but not sure what that would be suited to other than a crossfader...
be aware defining in HID will be a speed bump unless you find a manual with the required addresses, but still possible especially with the help of people like cstoll... before you consider buying one ask novation for the info otherwise as i said it'll be a speed bump as it's not natively supported.
but the novation nocturn looks like a great candidate for an effect controller. if you define it in HID you should get use of all 16 buttons (8 are normally used to control the novation software in the background) they all have leds, the 9 encoders are touch sensitive so you can activate effects on touch and you even get software feedback from led rings around the encoders... there is crossfader aswell but not sure what that would be suited to other than a crossfader...
be aware defining in HID will be a speed bump unless you find a manual with the required addresses, but still possible especially with the help of people like cstoll... before you consider buying one ask novation for the info otherwise as i said it'll be a speed bump as it's not natively supported.
Posted Wed 25 Apr 12 @ 6:34 am
borunks
tycoonentertainmentcanada wrote :
the draw back from launch pad is that its missing the ability to be effective as a remix tool. When your mixing tracks you don't have time to do ten steps to raise a volume or adjust a effect.. I had mine a full hour and returned it to the store.. I bought a apc 40 and would never change.. The launchpad ableton only allows one bank as well . I filled pages with beats, samples. Then I remaped it for use here for video using the and 40. Machine was good too , the library was exellent but the controller was missing features. YouTube.. Launchpad vs apc 40 or machine..
But if I use my Numark Mixtrack Pro with the Launchpad, wouldn't I be able to adjust my volume and EQ's on the Mixtrack and then use the Launchpad for sample bits and simple effects? Or is that unrealistic?
Posted Wed 25 Apr 12 @ 11:08 am
synthet1c
yes you can do that no problem, but effects with only buttons are very restrictive and you just end up with a mess of effects, it's all about subtlety and modulation if you want it to sound good... it's better to have a combination of both knobs and buttons so you can turn on the effect with the button and adjust the effect parameters with the knob/s, touch sensitive jog wheels are also awesome to use which is kind of like the nocturn...
you can modulate effects with buttons using the "repeat" verb but it's not ideal as you cant change it unless you change the mapping... and vdj only supports 12 samples at present so you have another 52 buttons with 3 led states doing nothing... seems like overkill to me
Another option could be the soon to be released behringer cmd pad controller or the native instruments F1 if you can define it... although these controllers are only 16 pads you can easily map shifts to multiply those 16 pads as many times as you like/need
you can modulate effects with buttons using the "repeat" verb but it's not ideal as you cant change it unless you change the mapping... and vdj only supports 12 samples at present so you have another 52 buttons with 3 led states doing nothing... seems like overkill to me
Another option could be the soon to be released behringer cmd pad controller or the native instruments F1 if you can define it... although these controllers are only 16 pads you can easily map shifts to multiply those 16 pads as many times as you like/need
Posted Wed 25 Apr 12 @ 11:28 am
borunks
So what would be the Novation Launchpad's actual use then? Or when would it be recommended?
Posted Wed 25 Apr 12 @ 3:14 pm
synthet1c
ableton clips... you could simulate extra samples by mapping in load commands eg
sampler 1 load "filepath/to/sample.vds" & sampler 1 play
it loads instantly so an acceptable trade off, or if you are using one shot samples mpc style you could use the 99 decks... there is "load_deck_set" and "save_deck_set" that saves the information from the decks... the only problem is you cant record a loop of what you are playing, to free you up to do other things... so it's fun for a minute but you cant do other things to build a song ala equilibrium on youtube...
although now i think of it again you could probably activate looproll or beatmasher single on all the decks your playing to record onto all of them an 8 beat loop... you could even have a click track in your headphones to keep you in time and incorperate beatlocked looping samples to the click track... you know it could actually work... I might have to experiment a little...
sorry to go off an a tangent LOL... but if you want to do that, thats why you would want a launchpad... if you want to control things like filter, flanger, reverb, bit crush, transpose, delay, echo you really are better off with knobs so you aren't always making the same sound with the effects... buttons are great for changing the size of effects like rolls, delay, lfo... thats why it's best to have both in a dedicated effect controller...
Ihave been putting together a mixtrack mapping in the past, it's a shame they used encoders for the effects as the limit what you can do a little, especially as I have started to map 2 effects to either side of a knob with 50% being both off eg filter/flanger.
sampler 1 load "filepath/to/sample.vds" & sampler 1 play
it loads instantly so an acceptable trade off, or if you are using one shot samples mpc style you could use the 99 decks... there is "load_deck_set" and "save_deck_set" that saves the information from the decks... the only problem is you cant record a loop of what you are playing, to free you up to do other things... so it's fun for a minute but you cant do other things to build a song ala equilibrium on youtube...
although now i think of it again you could probably activate looproll or beatmasher single on all the decks your playing to record onto all of them an 8 beat loop... you could even have a click track in your headphones to keep you in time and incorperate beatlocked looping samples to the click track... you know it could actually work... I might have to experiment a little...
sorry to go off an a tangent LOL... but if you want to do that, thats why you would want a launchpad... if you want to control things like filter, flanger, reverb, bit crush, transpose, delay, echo you really are better off with knobs so you aren't always making the same sound with the effects... buttons are great for changing the size of effects like rolls, delay, lfo... thats why it's best to have both in a dedicated effect controller...
Ihave been putting together a mixtrack mapping in the past, it's a shame they used encoders for the effects as the limit what you can do a little, especially as I have started to map 2 effects to either side of a knob with 50% being both off eg filter/flanger.
Posted Wed 25 Apr 12 @ 9:47 pm
rewind1989
I've got mixtrack pro and lpd8 and just recently got novation launchpad and I'm having real problems setting the novation launchpad up I managed to get the launchpad working with ableton but when ableton isn't open none of the lights will come on the launchpad I've been searching the web to find a way doing it but don't find much that helps ?
Posted Fri 07 Dec 12 @ 3:49 am
jusblaze246
If all u want to do is fire samples and effects why dont u just buy as many Korg Nanopads as u need. Nanaopad original has 12 pads, Nanopad 2 has 16 pad. $45 and $60 respectively....U could buy 2 for the same price as 1 Launchpad.....Imo the L pad is WAYYYY OVERKILL for your application of triggering only. L Pad is more of a production tool/performance tool. Plus better spend a good 6 mos. learning Ableton. No thanks.....Looks sexy, but unneeded for what u are saying u need.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=korg+nanopad&sprefix=korg+nanopad%2Caps%2C386
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=korg+nanopad&sprefix=korg+nanopad%2Caps%2C386
Posted Fri 07 Dec 12 @ 12:26 pm
SuperAceMan
The great thing about VirtualDJ is that just about any device can be mapped providing it uses the proper protocols.
Have a look at this thread: http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/167182/Hardware_Technical_Support/Novation_Launchpad_Mapping___Definition.html
You will first need to have a Pro Full license registered to your profile in order to download the mapper. Once you have downloaded and installed it, you will not require Ableton in order to use it.
rewind1989 wrote :
I've been searching the web to find a way doing it but don't find much that helps ?
Have a look at this thread: http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/167182/Hardware_Technical_Support/Novation_Launchpad_Mapping___Definition.html
You will first need to have a Pro Full license registered to your profile in order to download the mapper. Once you have downloaded and installed it, you will not require Ableton in order to use it.
Posted Fri 07 Dec 12 @ 1:09 pm