Novation releases Novation Play, a new sample-based virtual synth instrument for macOS and Windows that is free for Launchkey MK4 owners.
In August 2024, Novation released the new Launchkey MK4 generation, featuring several clever additions. A full review can be found here. Each keyboard also ships with an impressive software bundle, including plugins from GForce Software, Orchestral Tools, or Kevgrand.
They announced a partnership with the latter in January 2025, and a joint development is now available. Novation has released Novation Play, a virtual instrument for macOS and Windows created in collaboration with the Swedish company Klevgrand.
Novation Play
Play is a new sample-based virtual synth instrument for macOS and Windows, featuring over 80 sounds. The sound library for Novation Play was created by sampling a collection of well-known hardware synthesizers from the Focusrite family.
This includes the Novation Bass Station II, Nova, and Peak, as well as Sequential’s Prophet 5, Prophet Rev 2, and the Oberheim OB-6.
The concept of this new free plugin is its deep, one-to-one integration with the Novation Launchkey MK4 MIDI controllers, and its hands-on, mouse-free workflow. A
You get a ready-to-use virtual instrument for any DAW where the parameters are pre-mapped to the Launchkey’s encoders for immediate tweaking—no need for extra mappings. The instrument also utilizes the drum pads of the MIDI keyboards, but not in the conventional manner.
Alongside note triggering, they can trigger four dedicated Pad FX with visual feedback, including chorus, cassette, spinner, and freeze. In addition to the Pad FX, Play includes a reverb, delay, and a one-knob compressor at the end of the signal chain.
Neat, the Launchkey MK4 controllers also handle the preset selection, using the encoder bank button. The presets are sorted by category, and the manager displays descriptive tags for each sound.
Don’t forget, your LK Mk4 also includes free plugins from GForce Software, Klevgrand, Native Instruments, and more. Highlights are the new Bass Station 2, the Axxess, and the Komplete 15 Select with Massive X.
First Impression
The plugin package that ships with the Launchkey Mk4 keyboards is already quite extensive. With the Play plugin, there’s an additional plugin on top that’s perfectly tailored to the keyboards. It’s excellent what Novation offers its customers here.
Novation Play is available now as a free download for existing Launchkey MK4 users. It runs as a VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS and Windows.
More information here: Novation
Novation Launchkey MK4 is available at my partners
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