Applies to:
- Launchkey MK2 and Launchkey Mini MK2
- Launchkey MK3 and Launchkey Mini MK3
- Launchkey MK4 and Launchkey MK4 Mini
Launchkey MK2/MK3/MK4 and the included software give you everything you need to learn to play keys.
Launchkey is a MIDI controller which doesn't have any built-in sounds. In this article, we'll show you how to set the Launchkey up with some great sounds, and then point you towards some excellent tutorials for learning how to play the piano.
Connect your Launchkey to your computer using the provided USB cable. At this stage, it will light up, but it won't make any sound - depending on the Launchkey you have, please select the relevant option below to start playing sounds using your Launchkey.
Launchkey MK2 + Launchkey MK3
Playing Piano with Addictive Keys
Your Launchkey MK2/MK3 comes with a free piece of software called 'XLN Addictive Keys', a library of piano sounds you can play with any MIDI controller. It works inside music-making software like GarageBand and Ableton Live, but it also works standalone if you don't want music-making software.
Follow the steps in this video to install XLN Addictive Keys:
Once installed, You can open 'XLN Addictive Keys' like any other program on your computer by searching for it in the Start menu (PC) or the Spotlight search (Mac).
XLN Addictive Keys setup
Once you've opened Addictive Keys, click on 'Audio MIDI Setup' in the top left corner. Select the device you want to use to listen back to your piano sounds, for example, the built-in speakers in your computer or your audio interface:
You can now experiment with the settings to get the sound you want.
Learning Piano with Melodics
Melodics is an interactive way to learn the piano. It is a desktop app that makes mastering your Novation controller easy, exciting, and fun. You will find it under the My Software tab of your account, and you can narrow down the search by using the 'Tutorials' filter.
Using Melodics, you can learn music theory and also practice songs using your Launchkey.
The following article walks you through how to use Melodics in more depth: Novation // Melodics
Launchkey MK4
Playing Piano with Parallel Orchestra
Your Launchkey MK4 comes with a free piece of software called Parallel Orchestra, a free collection of sounds created by Orchestral Tools exclusively for Launchkey MK4 owners. Parallel Orchestra offers six expressive instruments - an inspiring palette of sounds from piano, strings, and percussion to ambient textures and a full, dark orchestra that you can play with your Launchkey. It works inside the free Orchestral Tools' SINE Player app.
To access Parallel Orchestra, register your Launchkey MK4 in your account at this link:
https://id.focusritegroup.com/en/getstarted/register/product
Then, follow the 'How to claim your software' steps on the 'Orchestral Tools: Parallel Orchestra' page, found under the 'My Software' section of your account, at this link:
https://id.focusritegroup.com/en/software/orchestral-tools-parallel-orchestra
Once installed, you can open the SINE Player app like any other program on your computer by searching for it in the Start menu (PC) or the Spotlight search (Mac).
SINE Player – Parallel Orchestra setup
Once you've installed SINE Player and downloaded Parallel Orchestra, open the SINE Player app with your Launchkey connected via USB to your computer. Then, follow these steps:
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Click on the 'Options' tab at the top of the app window.
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Under the Audio Settings section, select the Device you want to use to listen back to your sound, for example, the built-in speakers in your computer, or your audio interface.
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Under the MIDI Devices section, make sure the Launchkey MK4 MIDI Out port is set to On (it's Off by default).
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Click on the 'Library' tab at the top of the app window.
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In the Parallel Orchestra section, click on 'Browse'.
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In the instrument list that appears below, double-click one of the six available instruments to load it (e.g. '01 Delicate Piano').
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You'll see the keyboard populating at the bottom of the app window.
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You'll see your instrument loaded in the Loaded Articulations section on the right-hand side of the window.
If you're not hearing your instrument playing when pressing the pads in Chord Map or Drum Mode, make sure to set the MIDI channel for the Chords/Drums to MIDI channel 1 in the Launchkey's Settings menu. Chord Map outputs on MIDI channel 3 by default, whilst Drum Mode outputs on MIDI channel 10 by default.
You can find a video below for further guidance on using the SINE Player app:
Learning Piano with Melodics
Melodics is an interactive way to learn the piano. It is a desktop app that makes mastering your Novation controller easy, exciting, and fun. You will find it under the My Software tab of your account, and you can narrow down the search by using the 'Tutorials' filter.
Using Melodics, you can learn music theory and also practice songs using your Launchkey.
The following article walks you through how to use Melodics in more depth: Novation // Melodics