Novation - Launchkey 49 MK4 + Komplete 15 Standard Upgrade

The Novation Launchkey 49 MK4 isn't a gadget for the attention-starved pianist. With its 49 velocity-sensitive keys, OLED display and 16 backlit pads, this keyboard lets you keep your hands on the controls without ever looking up from the mix. Designed for Ableton but not sectarian, it integrates equally well with Logic, FL Studio, Reaper and others. The knobs, encoders and buttons let you map everything without going through three hidden menus. And with its USB-C port, pedal input and MIDI DIN output, it won't let itself be thrown off by slightly awkward set-ups.

The other half of the duo is not to be outdone: Native Instruments' Komplete 15 Standard Upgrade makes even seasoned producers dizzy. You'll find over 95 premium instruments and effects, from the cult Massive X synth to the vintage Guitar Rig 7 Pro rack simulator, not forgetting the percussion of the Abbey Road 60s Drummer. All served up on a consistent interface, with installation via Native Access and full compatibility with the main formats (VST, AU, AAX).

This pack is not a simple juxtaposition of hardware and software: it's a coherent, almost complicit ecosystem. The Launchkey 49 MK4 is fully compatible with the NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) protocol, which means that its encoders and display interact directly with Komplete 15's virtual instruments. You can browse your sound banks, control your parameters and trigger your pads with almost organic fluidity. No more juggling between mouse, keyboard and whimsical inspiration: everything happens under your fingers, in a permanent dialogue between hardware and software.

And for those wondering what we do with all this: the answer is "a lot of noise and a bit of magic". This duo is cut out for multi-genre production, from neo-soul beats to ambient textures, via dirty techno or music with images. You can compose, sequence, mix, tweak: anything is possible with 50,000 sounds and a keyboard that won't make any comments. Ideal for the home studio, this pack is also great for live use, especially if you like to press frantically on pads in the hope of impressing someone in the audience.

With Ableton Live 12 Lite and Cubase 14 LE included, your Launchkey 49 MK4 comes into its own. You can go from ideas in your head to complete arrangements in no time. Ableton opens the door to fluid, spontaneous creation, ideal for capturing the inspiration of the moment, while Cubase gives you a palette of precise tools for sculpting and finalising every detail of your tracks.