Novation Launchkey 88 MK3 review

Launchkey 88 MK3 is the long-range earlier model in the Launchkey MK3 family. Novation's US page identifies the exact configuration as SKU/MPN NOVLKE88MK3. This specification-based assessment does not claim a keyboard was used, weighed or tested.

Full note span, but not a weighted-piano promise

The 88-key MK3 has a velocity-sensitive semi-weighted keybed and four velocity curves. Novation describes its feel as piano-like; that phrase is the manufacturer's characterization, not a measured force curve or evidence of acoustic-piano hammer action. It gives a player a broad physical range that can reduce octave shifts during passages spanning bass and upper registers. If most parts are recorded in layers, or the stand and desk cannot support an instrument this long, the extra notes may not be worth the installation burden. The physical range and preferred touch are separate buying questions.

The manual's dimensional table gives a 1270 mm (50.00-inch) width, 258 mm (10.16-inch) depth and 87 mm (3.43-inch) height. It prints a mass of 8.3 kg and 18.08 lb, which are inconsistent conversions; the exact product page does not supply a weight. This review therefore leaves mass unresolved rather than turning one figure into a confident claim. Plan for a full-length support surface, cable exits, hands and pedal clearance; a 50-inch body is not a 50-inch complete installation.

Pad expression is separate from key aftertouch

The exact 88 configuration adds sixteen velocity-sensitive pads that Novation describes with polyphonic aftertouch. That is pressure-sensitive pad behavior, not proof that the 88 keyboard keys themselves send aftertouch. Its keys are described as velocity-sensitive with four response curves, and the reviewed documentation does not establish key aftertouch. A host instrument must also support the incoming pad expression for pressure gestures to change sound. If the intended control is pressure after playing a key, this spec does not answer that need.

Eight knobs and nine faders with buttons sit alongside pitch and modulation wheels, transport controls, display and Custom Modes. The pads can handle clip, drum, chord or custom assignments depending on mode and host. Novation also documents scales, chord modes and an arpeggiator with adjustable behavior. These features make the controller broader than a basic keybed, but don't imply that all controls are pre-mapped identically in every DAW. The manufacturer materials reviewed do not specify a sound engine or audio output; this is a controller, not a standalone sound source.

Computer and external-MIDI connections

Launchkey 88 MK3 uses USB Type-B for a computer, draws bus power from the connected host in the computer arrangement and is supplied with a 1.5-metre USB-A-to-B cable. It also has a direct five-pin DIN MIDI Out. This lets the computer/DAW connection and external hardware MIDI path coexist. A newer laptop with USB-C only may require a different cable or adapter; the keyboard's connector remains USB Type-B.

For standalone routing, the v6 guide says to power the controller from a standard USB supply rated at 5 V DC, minimum 500 mA, and connect the DIN output to a MIDI device. DIN sends control messages, not audio. Any receiving synthesizer or sound module needs its own power and separate audio route to a monitoring system. The exact page also documents a 6.35 mm sustain input. Before selecting a stand, account for the instrument's full length, cable path, pedal and the support surface under the keybed.

Host integration and everyday control

Novation positions this generation around Ableton Live integration and lists additional support for Cubase, Logic and Reason, with HUI for compatible other DAWs. Check the exact downloads page for current software requirements and setup steps; historical manuals can describe host versions that no longer reflect current recommendations. HUI is useful for common transport and mixer workflows but does not make every DAW's plug-ins map in the same way. Novation Components can configure user modes, but that flexibility requires actual template setup rather than guaranteeing the desired mapping out of the box.

How it compares with the newer 88s

The Launchkey 88 MK4 keeps a semi-weighted long keybed while updating its computer connector to USB-C and documenting pressure-responsive pads. In the current reviewed library, the two Arturia 88s are separate alternatives: KeyLab Essential 88 is 49.53 inches wide, while the non-Essential KeyLab 88 uses a fully weighted Fatar keybed and a 50.98-inch body. Those figures point to different support and playing requirements. MK3's exact 50-inch body does meet a 50-inch bare-body cap by definition, whereas MK4 at 50.16 inches does not. A 50-inch setting leaves no nominal body margin at all, so neither the arithmetic nor an image proves a practical fit.

Choose the MK3 when the documented 88-note semi-weighted arrangement, pad aftertouch and DIN route align with the actual host and rig—and when the older model's port generation is acceptable. It is a poor match for a verified USB-C requirement, an unknown stand load, a sub-50-inch body limit or a need for keyboard-key aftertouch. Check exact seller suffix, guide, cable and current compatibility information before comparing the offer. The width guide explains how to use published body sizes without treating them as complete installation allowances.

Novation US Launchkey 88 MK3 page · official 88 MK3 downloads and guide · Launchkey MK3 family page.