Novation Launchpad Pro MK3From real comments

Verdict distilled from 37 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment38%
PROS 38%
CONS 62%

Rank based on 37 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a standalone MIDI grid controller/sequencer with chord, note and scale modes for creative sketching
  • You're invested in the Ableton Live ecosystem and want tight integration
  • You value ongoing firmware support and are willing to work around current limitations

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need to record chord or note mode performances directly into the sequencer
  • You require 8 sequencer tracks, more than 32 steps, or more than 16 scales out of the box
  • You rely on clearly visible pad colours in low light or on camera

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Premium
Novation Launchpad Pro MK3
Standalone sequencer with chord/note/scale modesDeep Ableton Live integrationSparks creative workflowBugs and hardware issuesPad colours hard to seeOnly 4 sequencer tracks
Novation Launchpad Pro MK3
Standalone sequencer with chord/note/scale modes
Deep Ableton Live integration
Sparks creative workflow
Bugs and hardware issues
Pad colours hard to see
Only 4 sequencer tracks

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The sequencer, chord, and note modes don't talk to each other the way users expect. Multiple commenters note that chords and notes played in Chord or Note mode cannot be recorded into the sequencer, which several call surprising and frustrating given how central these features are. Requests for tie notes between patterns, independent mutation depth control, and non-quantised recording (like the Circuit's) suggest the sequencer feels underdeveloped relative to competing standalone gear despite ongoing firmware updates.

Track and step limits frustrate producers wanting bigger arrangements. Several users are unhappy that the sequencer only offers 4 tracks instead of 8, and that 32 steps feels restrictive for anyone making longer patterns, with one asking for 128 steps to cover 8 bars. Comparisons to the Novation SL MK3 and Squarp Pyramid highlight that competitors offer more channels, and requests for program changes and NRPN support suggest standalone sequencing feels feature-limited for advanced dawless workflows.

Pad colour visibility and reduced scale options are recurring complaints. Many users say the pastel, low-contrast lighting makes it hard to distinguish pad colours, especially in tutorial videos and low light, undermining a core visual feature. Others note the custom scale system dropped from 32 scales on the original Launchpad Pro to 16 on the MK3, and that adding custom scales requires tediously dragging note widgets one by one, calling the custom mode interface a disaster.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?