Anyone who has been around digital music for any part of the last 20 years knows the name Novation. They hit the scene first as a maker of inexpensive and portable MIDI keyboard controllers, but over the years have grown to be SO much more. Now they are out with their latest cool product – LaunchPad. Let’s take a quick look!

Here is a snippit from the press release:

The Novation Launchpad is an easy-to-use audio controller that plugs into your computer and comes complete with Ableton Live performance software. Launchpad couldn’t be easier to use. It consists of an 8-by-8 panel of simple buttons, each of which can be used to launch an audio event – a sound sample, a rhythm, melody loop, and more. Start a rhythm from the library of provided samples, then layer additional sounds on top, edit to taste and, voila! You’ve created a song. You can even use your computer’s microphone input to add live vocals or other sound sources.

Launchpad is a powerful tool designed for real musicians doing live performance of computer-based music. But it’s so reasonably priced and easy to use, Launchpad’s biggest audience will likely come from outside the music industry – in dorm rooms, living rooms and basements. Multiple Launchpads can be connected at the same time, so people can create Launchpad bands where one person launches rhythms, another bass lines, and a third melody samples; it is the ultimate in improvisational performance. Getting started is easy: Just load the Ableton Live8 program into your computer, plug Launchpad into the USB port, and you’re ready to go. The color-coded buttons tell you what’s happening in real time. When a button is yellow, it means a sound clip is loaded. Press the button; it turns green to show the sound is playing. A red light indicates the clip is recording.

My first thought was that this was a product designed to bridge the gap for those without much musical training looking go go beyond the typical Rock Band experience without starting back at ‘guitar 101′. The press release confirmed that by opening with a shot at those very music games:

Playing along with The Beatles and Aerosmith on ersatz instruments is fun, but Novation is ready to take music lovers to the next level. Launchpad by Novation makes it possible for anyone to create music – real music, and have a blast doing it. In fact, the Launchpad may very well be an example of how music will be made in the 21st century.

While it touts ‘no musical talent required’, I would argue that the video below makes a compelling case of why anyone – musicians included – would find this a compelling product.

The LaunchPad comes along with software that is compatible with Windows or Mac OS X, and the entire package sells for a list price of $199.

For more info head to Novation Music