Today Novation announced Launchkey 88 – Novation’s first 88-key MIDI keyboard controller.
They say that the Launchkey 88 “elevates musical performance and song writing” with 16 velocity-sensitive pads and an 88-key semi-weighted keybed designed to capture the player’s expression.
The entire Launchkey range has deep integration with Ableton and a continuum of sizes including the portable Launchkey Mini, 25-, 37-, 49-and 61-key models. An 88-key MIDI keyboard has often been requested by the Novation community, and now Launchkey 88 fulfills this need and brings a premium 88-key keybed, created with Novation’s 30-year history of MIDI keyboard design.
Premium keys. Launchkey 88’s premium semi-weighted keybed sets it apart from the rest of the Launchkey range. Launchkey 88 features Novation’s best feeling keymech to date, which developers say is “the result of meticulous refinement and testing.”
Versatile connectivity. Launchkey 88’s connectivity makes for dynamic live performances when controlling external synths and hardware. Performance eatures include the powerful Arpeggiator, Scale mode, and three Chord modes.
Deep integration with Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase and more allows creators to work uninterrupted, and essential mixer, transport and navigation controls aid in easy music making for all other major DAWs, including Studio One, Pro Tools and Reaper, via HUI.
With a comprehensive software bundle – including Ableton Live 11 Lite, virtual instruments, plug-ins and sample packs–musicians can start creating immediately.
Pricing and Availability
Novation Launchkey 88 is available now and is priced at £379.99 (Inc. VAT) / €369.74 (Ex. VAT) / $399.99. Product specs and additional information is on the Novation website.
I’m going to try to make a habit of trying to find the source of manufacturing for each new product announcement.
Novation (now owned by Focusrite) is a company that makes great kit. They support their products brilliantly for a long time with firmware and free spare parts even after they are discontinued, This is great for the environment and their customers’ investment.
However, they are mostly manufactured in China.
Focusrite plc make the following statement on their website:
“To create opportunities and stamp out discrimination, we need to strengthen and grow. To offset bias and create true equity, we need to uncover and improve. To truly remove barriers to creativity in racial and ethnic minority groups, we need to inspire and educate. We’re going to advocate for marginalised groups and amplify their voices.”
This is entirely incompatible with Focusrite plc’s support of China’s totalitarian regime.
The violent quashing of democracy in Hong Kong ( https://www.foxnews.com/world/china-democracy-dismantled-hong-kong-2021) and brutal oppression of the Uyghur people ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-8df450b3-5d6d-4ed8-bdcc-bd99137eadc3 ) should not be (12db low pass filter) swept under the carpet.
Don’t do business with China if you value freedom of expression and democracy.
Novation should do better and try harder to stick to the values they espouse.
“Don’t do business with China if you value freedom of expression and democracy.”
While that sentiment may be well-intentioned, 100% of the synths that you purchase depend on Chinese parts, thanks to globalization.
So “Don’t do business with China” is a fantasy, it’s a matter of degree.
You’d be wise to back up your statements with evidence.
You say 100% of synths?
China don’t have a monopoly on components. Not by a long chalk.
https://www.statista.com/chart/25552/semiconductor-manufacturing-by-location/
Only a tiny fraction of soft synths contain any Chinese components.
Over 50% of the world’s electrical components are made in China:
https://intrepidsourcing.com/industry-reports/electronic-components-assembly-industry-report/
Chinese-made parts, like resistors and capacitors, are in just about everything. American made synths are full of Chinese parts. Remember when Moog had to raise prices, because Trump’s tariffs increased the prices of Chinese parts by 25%?
You joke about soft synth not containing Chinese parts, but you can’t name any hardware synth makers that don’t use Chinese parts.
Jert, you made the point about ‘100% of the synths that you purchase depend on Chinese parts’.
It’s for you to prove that, not for me to prove the opposite.
I would most certainly agree that it’s a matter of degree. Whether there are a handful of synths that contain no Chinese parts or 100, I’d take any device that is 5% Chinese made over an 80% one. Just like I’m happier to drive my diesel car 3000 miles a year instead of 20000.
My point is that companies like Novation most certainly have a choice where they source their components and where they do their assembly. China do not have a monopoly, but they can be the cheapest due to government strategies.
China’s growth in the electronics market is fundamentally due to western companies overlooking China’s utterly disgraceful human rights and for the consumers of the devices to not kick up a fuss.
How about the fact that Foxxconn is the largest technology producer and service provider. This includes but is not limited to integrated chips, memory, digital storage, from the bottom of the barrel to workstation grade, from the chips in EVERY MODERN GRAPHICS CARD and gaming consoles, to the very consoles themselves and nearly everything in between.
While based in Taiwan, they are the largest private employer of Chinese peoples. That’s from Wikipedia AND if you’re remotely in the PC component scene a widely known fact that no amount of mental gymnastics can circumvent.
You might dismiss this as directly unrelated to keyboards, it shouldn’t require too much brain power to see how the reliance on PC components in the manufacture, distribution and end usage of said keyboards negates this petty attempt to virtue signal.
What amazes me about this most is the $400 price tag. Given that I have a K2700 in the only space in the studio that could accommodate an 88-key board, I’ll definitely have to pass on this. If Novation has improved the action of the keybed over the Mark III boards, I can see how this might be attractive to a lot of people, especially at the price. I find the advertisement video a bit lame, though.
At first I was like “what? no aftertouch?” But then I saw $399. It’s not for me, but at that price point, I’ll bet they sell a lot of these.