Novation Launchkey 37 MK3 37-Key MIDI Keyboard Controller
The Novation Launchkey 37 MK3 is a three-octave MIDI keyboard controller with full-size keys: wide enough to play a left hand and a right hand, short enough to sit in front of a laptop screen. It is aimed at people who write at the keyboard first and want the right chords without having studied harmony.
What sets it apart
- 37 full-size velocity-sensitive keys: three octaves
- Three Chord Modes: fixed chord, scale chords, user chords
- Scale Mode that snaps every key to a note in your chosen key
- 16 RGB pads and 8 knobs
- Screen showing the parameter you are adjusting
- Four programmable Custom Modes
Three octaves, two hands
With 37 keys you can hold a bass note on the left and chords on the right without constantly shifting octaves. It is the size at which a keyboard becomes something you actually play, rather than a way to enter notes one at a time.
The unit is 55.5 cm wide and stays slim: 62 mm deep without the knobs. There are no faders, which keeps the top panel uncluttered.
Chords without the theory
Scale Mode maps each key to the nearest note in the selected scale, so wrong notes are off the table. The Chord Modes go further. Fixed Chord replays the same chord shape from any key; Scale Chord builds chords in the chosen key; User Chord keeps the chords you have recorded yourself.
The arpeggiator turns a held chord into a rhythmic pattern, and Strum Mode rolls it out like a guitar.
Specifications
| Keys | 37, full-size, synth action, velocity-sensitive |
|---|---|
| Pads | 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads |
| Knobs | 8, assignable |
| Faders | None |
| Display | 2 lines × 16 characters |
| Connectivity | USB-B, 5-pin MIDI out, sustain pedal input, Kensington lock |
| Power | USB bus |
| Size (W × D × H) | 555 × 258 × 77 mm (62 mm excluding knobs) |
What it's for
- Writing at the keyboard with chords and bass
- Learning scales and chords by playing
- A small laptop studio
- Arpeggios and patterns for electronic music
Compared with other manufacturers
Other manufacturers make keyboards of around three octaves; here is how they differ from the Launchkey 37 MK3:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Arturia | KeyStep 37 | 37 slim keys, polyphonic sequencer and CV/Gate outputs |
| Korg | microKEY2 37 | 37 mini keys, no pads or knobs |
| Akai Professional | MPK Mini Plus | 37 mini keys, 8 pads and a built-in sequencer |
| Native Instruments | Komplete Kontrol M32 | 32 mini keys, 8 touch-sensitive knobs, no pads |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Launchkey 37 MK3 have faders?
- No. In the third generation, faders only appear from the 49-key model up. The 37 keeps eight knobs, which are enough to adjust volumes and parameters one at a time.
- What is the difference between Launchkey MK3 and MK4?
- MK4 moves to USB-C, an OLED screen, pads that respond to pressure after the strike, and many more scales. MK3 connects over USB-B and keeps the essentials: pads, chords, scales, arpeggiator and DAW integration.
- Can I use an expression pedal with it?
- No: the rear socket is designed for a sustain pedal. Its MIDI message, CC 64 by default, can however be changed in Novation Components.
Avis clients
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