Novation Release Novation Play - Free for Launchkey MK4 Owners

Novation has announced the release of Novation Play, a new virtual instrument available at no extra cost for new and existing owners of their Launchkey MK4 series of keyboard controllers.

Developed in collaboration with Swedish plugin developer Klevgrand, Play is a sample-based instrument featuring over 80 presets. The sound library was created by sampling a collection of well-known hardware synthesizers, including the Novation Bass Station II, Nova, and Peak, as well as Sequential's Prophet 5, Prophet Rev 2, and the Oberheim OB-6.

The core concept of Novation Play is its deep, one-to-one integration with the Launchkey MK4 hardware, which aims to provide a hands-on, mouse-free workflow. All sound parameters are pre-mapped to the Launchkey's encoders for immediate tweaking. The drum pads are used for more than just playing notes; they can trigger four dedicated 'Pad FX'—Chorus, Cassette, Spinner, and Freeze—and provide color-coded visual feedback on their status. Preset selection is also handled directly from the hardware using the encoder bank buttons. To round out the sound-shaping tools, Play also includes a master effects section with delay, reverb, and a one-knob compressor.

Lola Muresan, Product Owner for Novation Play, says:

We're proud to present Novation Play, our expressive and intuitive new instrument that brings decades of iconic, heritage synth sounds to Launchkey MK4 owners. We took a truly hands-on approach, spending weeks meticulously sampling Novation, Sequential, and Oberheim synths in order to showcase the beauty of each model. We've carefully shaped and curated each preset, and we're looking forward to hearing how artists bring them to life in their own unique ways.

Key Features:

• The voice of Launchkey MK4: Novation Play has been designed exclusively for Launchkey MK4, featuring intuitive, pre-mapped controls and visual feedback via the hardware's drum pads.

• 80+ sounds included: Select, tweak, and play expertly designed basses, leads, pads, FX, and drum kits directly from your Launchkey controller. All sounds are sampled from hardware synthesizers including the Novation Bass Station II, Nova, and Peak as well as Sequential's Prophet 5 and Prophet Rev 2, and Oberheim's OB-6.

• Four Pad FX: Add character to sounds with up to four creative effects at once, triggered from Launchkey's pads: Chorus, Cassette, Spinner, and Freeze.

• Delay, reverb, and compression: In addition to the Pad FX, Play includes a reverb, delay, and a one-knob compressor at the end of the signal chain.

• Visual feedback via Launchkey's pads: Play's four creative effects can be toggled on or off from dedicated, colour-coded pads, with status indicated by brightness.

• Hardware-based sound selection: Launchkey's encoder bank up and down buttons toggle through Play's preset list.

• Easy preset browsing: Play's dedicated preset browser sorts sounds by category and displays descriptive tags for each sound.

• Formats: Works as a standalone desktop app and as a VST/VST3/AU/AAX plugin.

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Pricing and Availability

Novation Play is available now and is free for all new and existing owners of Launchkey MK4. It can be downloaded from the "My Software" section of their Novation user account.