Novation Launchpad SFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 48 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment17%
PROS 17%
CONS 83%

Rank based on 48 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want an affordable clip-launcher and don't mind troubleshooting drivers
  • You're comfortable digging into MIDI channel settings to fix LED feedback
  • You mainly want simple clip triggering and volume/control adjustments in Ableton

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need plug-and-play reliability without driver/USB port troubleshooting
  • You require notes/clips to stop instantly on button release out of the box
  • You're concerned about long-term support since the unit is discontinued

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
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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
31Mid
Novation Launchpad S
Enjoyable once configuredImproved LED responsivenessGood value if found cheapDriver and device recognition problemsNo momentary trigger by defaultLEDs fail to illuminate
Novation Launchpad S
Enjoyable once configured
Improved LED responsiveness
Good value if found cheap
Driver and device recognition problems
No momentary trigger by default
LEDs fail to illuminate

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Getting the Launchpad S recognized and working is the most common struggle reported. A large share of comments describe the unit not appearing as a MIDI input or output, drivers failing to install, or the device vanishing from Device Manager entirely despite reinstalling drivers many times. Others report lights doing a 'firework show' on connection but never registering properly inside Ableton, needing multiple software restarts, or working fine on one computer but not another, suggesting inconsistent USB or driver behavior.

Many users can't get pads to stop sound when releasing the button. Several commenters describe triggering a drum rack or clip and having the entire sample or chord play out fully instead of stopping when the pad is released, resulting in overlapping, messy audio. Users tried adjusting attack/release envelopes as a workaround, but multiple people across different videos ask the same unanswered question, indicating this momentary-trigger behavior is a persistent point of confusion rather than a one-off setup mistake.

LED feedback and lighting behave unpredictably for many owners. Problems range from LEDs not illuminating at all, to only a few top buttons lighting dimly, to full LED feedback breaking after switching from PC to Mac. One user fixed missing feedback by changing the MIDI channel to 5, while another noted only three colors displayed correctly in User 1 mode. On the positive side, some praised the improved LED responsiveness versus the original Launchpad and the documented Full Power Mode for brighter lights when powered directly.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?