I use Ableton Live 9 to make my music. I really like the look of Push, but is a tad too expensive for my budget. Therefore, I have been looking at the Maschine Mikro and the Launchpad.
I really like the drum rack integration and the scale note mode on the Push and can see them helping my production workflow. However, I am just wondering whether the Mikro or Launchpad can simulate the Push? I have looked at the Launchpad and the nativeKontol LPC script and seems to allow the Launchpad to emulate the parts of the Push that interest me. However, the Launchpad doesn’t seem to be velocity sensitive. The Mikro is, but not sure whether it can emulate the Push, particularly the drum and note modes?!
Any advice or recommendation would be gratefully appreciated!!
Neither is going to emulate Push right out of the box, though there’s probably some user scripts or max 4 live devices that can get you close with the Launchpad. That said, the Micro also comes with a HUGE library of sounds, and I believe Massive too. So you get a lot more bang for your buck.
Still, if your goal is to emulate Push, I say just keep saving until you can get one instead of settling halfway. It really does open up a whole new way of using Live.
I don’t think I would utilise most of the Push features, and it is mainly the drum rack and note modes I would need. Seems like the nativeKontrol LPC does this with the Launchpad:
However, if the Mikro can do it, then it is obviously a better built and more rounded device. Only looking at these two as a local store has B-stock of both for £90 for the Mikro and £80 for the Launchpad S, way cheaper than the £400 odd the Push costs.
I would recommend you to check out Launchpad95, it’s a device script for the launchpad, which mimics as many functions of the push as possible.
After playing with this for a few hours I made the decision to buy a Launchpad S.
It got the standard launchpad mapping inside of it for clip control and mixer section, it got 2 different kinds of note mode, device control, 2 kinds of sequencers and 2 spare pages for your own mappings/ max.
Only downside is the lack of velocity sensitive buttons like the push has, this means you have to set the velocity before you start playing.. and altho the mapping works fine maybe some real faders or knobs would’ve been useful on the launchpad but you can get a launchcontrol for nearly nothing.
The maschine mikro obviously doesn’t have the velocity problem,it has nice RGB buttons, but the mikro does not have very good mappings which emulates a push for ableton, I experienced a lot of crashes with the Mikro (might be better now tho).
Maschine does however come with some other cool functions.
Anyway if you want to come as close to a push as possible, in my opinion your best of getting a launchpad S, or wait a few months for cool Launchpad pro mappings to come out (push w/o encoders and a screen).
Just keep in mind it’s not a push and never will be a push.
It’s the same as the Launchpad Mini, only with full color RGB buttons (not touch sensitive).
But since a lot of people use alternate scripts for their launchpad(s) you’ll have to wait a few weeks maybe months for some cool scripts to come out for the mini MK2.
Some rumours go around that Novation is building a new script which got more to offer than the current launchpad script, just like they do for the launchpad pro.
But before you buy a mini, try it in a store first, the buttons are a lot smaller than the launchpad S… I ended up pressing several buttons at once when using my thumbs..
Big + on the mini mk2 is the price, which novation claims to be around €/$95,-
