Novation Launchpad Pro Scale Mode helps you write music
The Novation Launchpad Pro has just received an update which will be a welcome addition to producers who don’t know their A minor from their A major. In other words for producers who are not familiar with their musical scales.
Known as Scale Mode, this new firmware update to the Novation Launchpad Pro gives the user the option to choose a scale in Ableton Live and these notes will then be mapped out on the 64 pads making it easier to write melodies and press chords. The concept is straight forward enough since all the pads that are active on the grid controller will all be in key since they are part of scale you have selected.
This new Novation Launchpad Pro is not just for ‘non musos;’ it’s actually an awesome tool for any musician who wants to experiment with any 1 of 32 different musical scales and modes which can take one’s music productions to a far more eclectic place than the standard major and minor scales.
The original Note mode which used a ‘chromatic fourths’ layout which required a level of expertise in knowing where the notes were is still available for those who use this, but having scale mode will no doubt even enhance users of this format, even if it’s only for reference purposes.
The 64 touch sensitive pads on the Novation Launchpad Pro also have overlap options which enable the relative positions of the notes of each row to be offset which will change the chords generated, depending on the finger positioning.
Novation Launchpad Pro not the first
Whilst new to the Novation Launchpad Pro, the Scale Mode, under different names is available across numerous controllers and indeed within DAWs nowadays. It is, of course, a feature of Ableton Live, hence this new feature update on the Launchpad. But Native Instruments introduced something similar on their Kontrol S Series Midi keyboard range. You should read James Copeland’s (Broken Toy / Sad Paradise / James Copeland Music) review on these awesome controllers.
Akai have done something similar with their Advance midi controller range too.
Cubase have something called Chord Track which too will help you with your musical scales and modes.
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