Earlier this month Novation released their new launchpad, a grid instrument for Ableton Live.

The grid features 8×8 pads and is an essential tool for Ableton allowing you to launch clips, play drum racks and control your mixer all whilst the new RGB LED pads light up, creating lightshows.

Launchpad was designed for Ableton Live and integrates immediately with the software requiring no setup.

The Launchpad is also lightweight and powered by USB, so it is completely portable for on the move music creation and editing.

Here are the key features of Novation’s Launchpad Mk 2:

Control Ableton Live

Integrate immediately and seamlessly with Ableton Live, without any setup whatsoever. Just plug in and start making music.

Focus On Your Music

All 64 RGB pads light up to match the colour of your clips in Live and you can see at a glance what’s loaded, playing and recording.

Create Eye-Catching Performances

Bright, colourful pads make the unit stand out just from USB power, when you’re on stage or creating the exciting Launchpad light show videos that are all over YouTube.

Play Drum Racks

Use the grid to play drums and samples with pads pre-mapped to Ableton Lives drum rack.

Mix From Your Grid

Start and stop loops, arm tracks, and control volumes, pans and sends – all from your grid. Stay in constant control.

Build Your Own Creations

Use your Launchpad however you like with Max for Live. Turn it into a step sequencer, trigger videos from drum pads or use it to create just about anything you can imagine.

Throw It in Your Bag

Sleek, tough and lightweight, Launchpad is fully USB bus powered so you’ll never need to carry a power supply.

Build your Perfect Instrument

Combine more Launchpads or other Launch products to build yourself a fully hands-on Ableton Live studio, with Launch Control, Launch Control XL or Launchkey.

Make Music Straight Away

Comes with Ableton Live Lite, 1GB of Loopmasters samples, Novation V Station and Bass Station VST and AU plug-ins and support for Novation Launchpad App. 

The new  launchpad in action
The new launchpad in action

You can read more on their official website here.