Applies to Launchkey Mini MK3
This article shows how to use Components with Launchkey Mini MK3.
Components is a tool used to manage the firmware and templates on many of our products.
You can download a standalone version (see: Novation Components Standalone installers), or access the web-based version in browsers that support Web MIDI, such as Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge, from this link:
If using a browser, you may need to allow the page access to your MIDI devices, as prompted when first loading the page:
You do not need to log in to use Components, but doing so allows you to back up all of your data to your account.
You can make templates in the editor whether the Launchkey is connected to Components or not. To see if the Launchkey is connected, check the indicator in the top right corner - this can be one of three colours:
Red: means that the device cannot be seen by Components.
In this case, it could mean the device is not connected or not powered, or you are using a browser that does not support Web MIDI.
Yellow: means the device is connected and recognised, but is in the wrong state.
In this case, it could mean the Launchkey is in Bootloader mode. Pressing the Play button will let it start normally. If not, please try reinstalling the firmware from the 'Updates' tab in the User Menu:
Green: The Launchkey is connected and is ready to use.
You can click the Connection icon to find out more information.
When you first load Components, you'll be able to choose from either getting a Custom Mode from your Launchkey Mini, Creating a new Custom Mode or uploading one from your computer.
Custom Modes
This is broken down into 2 sections for the Pads, Pots, and the Sustain Pedal (accessed at the top of the window):
Along the top row you can name the template, save the template, send it to your Launchkey and customise how it appears in the Librarian on the left-hand side:
Librarian
Down the right-hand side of Components, you'll have access to your templates as well as the templates we have provided:
When you click a template, you'll see the details of the template, including all of its mappings:
The Custom Mode that comes on the unit out of the factory is the same one that shows when you create a new Custom Mode.
Note that the “Global Channel” for the controls refers to the channel of the keyboard, which is set on the hardware using Shift and Transpose and then pressing a pad.
Pads
On this screen you can edit the messages the pads send, the colour they turn when pressed (On Colour) and the colour they are when not pressed (Off Colour). To access each of the four Pad Custom Modes, press, and hold 'Shift' and select one of the pad labelled “Custom” in the bottom row.
You can set each pad to send a Note, or Control Change message.
You can also set the MIDI channel for each of the pads and select the behaviour between Momentary and Toggle.
Pots
This screen lets you edit the dials at the top of the Launchkey, you can set custom CC messages to be used for controlling hardware and software. These values can be accessed by holding 'Shift' and pressing one of the top-right four pads (one for each Custom Mode).
Sustain Pedal
This lets you customise the CC message sent by the sustain pedal, which by default is 64. Note that changing this message will change how it is received, so if it is not set to 64 it will not be interpreted as a sustain/hold command.
User Menu
On the top-right corner of the Components window, you'll find the User Menu. You can use this menu to check the firmware is up-to-date, calibrate the wheels, and reset the Launchkey to its Factory Settings:
On the Updates page, you can update and reinstall the firmware of your Launchkey. When you first get the Launchkey, it is worth checking here to see that you have the latest firmware. This will list all the changes we've made to the firmware, as well as the Release Notes. See this article for reference:
Updating firmware using Novation Components
A Factory Reset will restore all settings to their default state, reset all Custom Modes to their factory state, and enable the Mass Storage Device mode (MSD) used for Easy Start. See this article for reference:
For more detailed information about MIDI Messages, see this MIDI Association article: https://midi.org/about-midi-part-3midi-messages