Launchpad Arcade – no hardware required!

Novation made a bold move when they launched their new web-based application – Launchpad Arcade.

Now anyone can rock out, anywhere!

The website’s landing page is laid out much like an actual Launchpad, alongside a host of sound banks for the user to load up and perform. The interface allows users to launch clips using the mouse, a series of hot-keys or even a Novation Launchpad that is connected to the PC!

Launchpad Arcade is a simple and fun way to get ideas going, if you’re stuck away from the studio or have some time to kill during a lunch-break. All you need is a web-browser with an internet connection.

The supplied sound banks are cleverly arranged through loops and one-shots, so very minimal setup is needed, just click and play.

Launchpad Arcade’s interface is similar to the clip launch view found in Ableton Live.

This makes it a great tool for getting comfortable with launching clips before diving headfirst into Ableton, where sessions would need to be prepared before performance.

It’s not just fun and games…

Launchpad Arcade’s sound banks are also available as Ableton Live sessions for when you’re ready to start arranging your track.

They offer sounds from various genres from Hip-hop and Trap to Dub and EDM. Once you’re familiar with the Launchpad ecosystem, grab yourself Ableton Live and one of the many hardware Launchpad options and start creating your own sessions from scratch.

Launchpad Arcade is also available to Android users through the web-browser, and Novation offer a free iOS app which expands on the already awesome feature-set.

All-in-all it is a fun system for beginners to advanced users, and anyone who has been looking at getting into remixing and music production but hasn’t yet taken the dive.

Launchpad Arcade – no hardware required!