Novation Launchpad X

The reason to buy an X over a Mini, and the only thing anyone really argues about. The facts aren't in dispute: 64 RGB pads with velocity, pressure and polyphonic aftertouch, larger and closer-pitched than the previous generation's. Every editorial source calls the action light and super-sensitive, and most owners agree — finger drummers rate them highly and several call them the best pads they've played. But a consistent minority report a dead zone at the light end, where a fingertip tap either doesn't register or comes through very quiet, and the grid wants a flatter, firmer press. The split looks like playing style rather than faulty units: the people who notice it are mostly arriving from Novation's own softer Launchkey pads, and a self-described hard tapper in the same thread noticed nothing at all. Worth knowing that Novation exposes both a velocity curve and an aftertouch threshold, and that the pads run a touch small for large hands.

A consistent highlight, and the main reason people pick it over an Ableton Push. At 241 × 241 × 17.5 mm and ~0.82 kg it's markedly slimmer than the Launchpads it replaced, runs on USB-C bus power with no wall wart, and slips into a bag with a laptop. Owners specifically call it the one they'd rather carry to a gig than more expensive hardware. It is, of course, still a good deal bigger than the coaster-sized Launchpad Mini.

“this latest Launchpad is considerably thinner, more lightweight and all-round sleeker than the controllers that preceded it.”

MusicRadar

“Great pads, solid build quality, very light and easy to pack in a bag with a laptop too.”

tacocat · Thomann

Broad agreement that the hardware is well made: the MkIII redesign is much slimmer than the outgoing models without feeling flimsy, the mode and function buttons have a definite click, and owners describe the build as great and solid. Nobody reports the diagonal-bend wobble that turned up on a review unit of its smaller sibling.

“The X is indeed super-thin, but not at the cost of fragility. Impressively, the pads now transmit velocity, pressure and aftertouch, making it a more useful and playable proposition than might be expected.”

MusicTech

“The hardware design on these new Launches is lovely. They are way slimmer than the previous generation.”

Sound On Sound

Its strongest practical argument. In Ableton Live it's plug-and-play, and the X matches the Launchpad Pro's instrument-track integration: a Notes view that follows your armed track, 16 scales, root-note selection, and one-press Capture MIDI. Logic Pro Live Loops is officially supported, and Bitwig has since added native support, so the old "it's an Ableton-only device" line has softened — anything else runs through the four Custom Modes you build in Novation's Components editor. The small caveats: Sound On Sound's X needed selecting in Live's settings where the Mini and Pro auto-configured, and mode toggling is a long-press affair that loses the quick "peek" other grids offer.

“As with previous incarnations, this is still primarily an Ableton Live controller, and users of that DAW benefit from simple plug-and-play compatibility.”

MusicRadar

“The X now matches the Launchpad Pro's instrument track integration and scales features, making it a well-rounded Live controller for both composition and performance.”

Sound On Sound

“note that these days Launchpad X is also natively supported by Bitwig, so you can also use it without the drivenbymoss plugin. In which case you can pretty much just follow Novation's own docs, just ignore that they keep talking about Live”

pschon · r/Bitwig

Everything happens on the grid — there are no knobs and no faders at all. The X folds mixing into a dedicated Mixer view toggled from the Session button, with Volume, Pan, Sends and Track Arm on the scene buttons, and it uses velocity cleverly: press a pad harder for an instant jump, softer for a slow fade, then tap up to four times to nudge in finer steps. Reviewers think it works better than it has any right to while agreeing it's no substitute for real rotaries, and it costs you something — with Mute, Solo or Stop active you lose scene launching, which you don't on the Mini or Pro.

“Given that we’re talking about simple rows of eight square pads, the mixer functions work pretty well – tapping with greater velocity will create faster fades or pans.”

MusicTech

“It's a clever use of the available pads, but it means that you lose access to Scene launching when Mute, Solo or Stop are active, which you don't on the Mini or Pro.”

Sound On Sound

The clearest limitation, and the one con reviewers keep landing on. The back of the X has a USB-C socket and a Kensington lock slot — and that is the entire list. There's no MIDI out, no 5-pin DIN, no sustain or footswitch jack, no Bluetooth. It's bus-powered and class-compliant, so it's a one-cable device that works off a laptop and can run on iOS through a camera adapter or powered hub, but it sends MIDI over USB only: you can't patch it straight into a synth or drum machine. If driving outboard gear matters, that's the Launchpad Pro MK3's job — it's the Launchpad with TRS MIDI in and out.

“It’s just a slight shame the unit has no MIDI Out, allowing these to be patched directly to hardware.”

MusicRadar

“Connection (and power) is via USB‑C. A single B‑to‑C cable is included with the X and Mini, and you also get a C-to-C with the Pro.”

Sound On Sound

A useful starter bundle headed by Ableton Live Lite, which is a real part of the value if you don't already own a DAW — plug in, register, and you can start. Beyond that it's a handful of plug-ins rather than a headline act. The contents have drifted over the X's long life (2020 reviews list Splice and Sound Collective; Novation currently lists the AAS Session Bundle, XLN Audio's Addictive Keys Studio Grand and two Klevgrand plug-ins), so check what's actually current when you buy.

“Both Launchpads include a downloadable software bundle, featuring the inevitable copy of Ableton Live Lite.”

MusicTech

“For existing Live users, the bundle includes other enticements, such as two months’ subscription to the Splice online sound library, Sound Collective membership, and various plug-ins from AAS, Klevgrand, Softube, and XLN Audio.”

MusicTech

Well regarded rather than a steal. At roughly $200 it sits between the ~$110 Launchpad Mini MK3 and the ~$350 Launchpad Pro MK3, and the consensus is that it's the right stop for most Ableton users: the velocity pads justify the step up from the Mini, while the Pro's sequencer and chord mode mostly earn their money if you work without a computer. Owners rate it highly and Launchpad Pro owners in the same threads openly wonder whether their upgrade was worth it. The honest caveat is that it's not a reason to abandon a grid you already own, and the compact price brings real restrictions.

“As a neat, compact tool for those who want to perform with Live’s Session view, the Launchpad is still the king.”

MusicRadar

“Launchpad X by Novation is a budget-friendly and performance-oriented pad controller for Ableton Live, but the compact form factor and lower price tag come with some restrictions compared to larger controllers.”

Xander Ewald