Here's my review for the Novation Launchkey Mini MK3:
Pros:
- Ableton. Really helped my workflow in Ableton for sure. There's just so much it can do. I recommend reading the manual and watching tutorials on Youtube so you can use all the features. Great for a jam session.
- Lightweight, and very portable
- Pads are responsive to light touch
- Keys are small, but playable. Better than I expected.
- The coloured lights are a cool feature. They add a vibe for sure.
- The mod wheel and pitch bend strips work well. It takes some getting used to if you're used to a mod wheel, but it saves space.
- Comes with great included software, including Ableton Live Lite and a choice of one of the 4 Addictive Keys (I chose Mark One).
- It came triple boxed (thumbs up for Thomann.de, excellent service as always).
Cons:
- The build quality is a little light to match the light weight. Would recommend buying a bag for it.
- Pads are a little stiff to the touch.
- The buttons are a little flimsy but work well.
- Would be nice if the knobs were endless encoders, but this hasn't been a big issue for me.
- Velocity on the keys can be a little jumpy at times (noticed this on the black keys).
Overall:
- A great midi keyboard, especially for the price. It has so much going for it that I'd happily overlook the above cons.
- Highly recommend if you're an Ableton user.
- The portability is amazing.