Launchpad X is our essential grid controller for Ableton Live. Launchpad X will accelerate your music production and allow your live performances to become fast and tactile experiences.
Launchpad X makes launching clips in Ableton Live easy by bringing your Session View from the screen to your fingertips in full RGB colour. Take music-making further and build tracks with Launchpad X by using the powerful Note mode to lay down expressive beats and melodies with the velocity and pressure-sensitive pads.
This manual will help you understand every feature of your new grid controller and teach you how to take your production and performance to the next level with Launchpad X.
-
An 8×8 grid of 64 RGB LED back-lit pads.
-
Velocity and pressure-sensitive pads for expressive performance of your instruments.
-
Perform with Ableton Live by launching clips and scenes.
-
Capture MIDI and Record your playing in Ableton Live.
-
Plug and Play - USB bus-powered.
-
Powerful and versatile modes: Session, Note and Four Custom Modes.
-
Four modes: Session, Drums, Keys, and User.
-
Ableton Live Mixer – control Volume, Pan and Sends per track.
-
Direct access to performance controls with Stop, Solo, Mute and Record Arm buttons.
-
Powerful music production software included - Ableton Live Lite, as well as a range of high-quality instruments & effects.
-
Endless possibilities for controlling your software with Custom Modes.
We’ve made getting started with Launchpad X as easy as possible, whether you’re a brand-new beat maker or a seasoned producer. Our Easy Start Tool provides a step-by-step guide on getting set up that is tailored to your needs, whether you’ve never made music before or you just want to download your included software as fast as possible.
To access the Easy Start Tool, plug in your Launchpad X.
If you're on a Mac:
-
On your Desktop, find the Novation Easy Start icon and double-click it to open the folder “Launchpad X”.
-
Inside the folder, double-click the file: “Click Here to Get Started.url”.
-
You’ll be taken to the Easy Start Tool, where we’ll get you set up.
Alternatively, if you have Google Chrome open when you plug in your Launchpad X, a pop-up appears. Click on the pop-up to go straight to easy start.
Ableton Live (often referred to only as Live) is a unique and powerful piece of software for music creation. Ableton Live Lite is provided with your Launchpad X, which gives you all the tools you’ll need to get started with making your own music.
If you’ve never used Ableton Live before, we recommend visiting our Easy Start Tool (see Getting Started0. Here you’ll be guided through downloading and installing Ableton Live Lite. You’ll also find videos covering the software’s basic features, so you can get started making music in Ableton Live with Launchpad X.
With Ableton Live installed, get your Launchpad X up and running by plugging it into your Mac or PC’s USB port. When you open Live your Launchpad X will be automatically detected, and it will enter Session Mode.
More resources on using Ableton Live’s many functions may be found on Ableton’s site at:
You may register your Launchpad X and obtain your Ableton Live Lite license at:
Launchpad X is made for Ableton Live, but it may also be used as a controller for other software. If you’re using other music production software, visit support.novationmusic.com for more information on how to set up your Launchpad X.
For help getting started with your Launchpad, visit:
If you have any questions or need any help at any time with your Launchpad, visit our Help Centre. Here you can also contact our support team:
We recommend you check for updates to your Launchpad so you have the latest features and bug fixes. To update your Launchpad's firmware, you need to use :