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DJ Tech Reviews

Novation Launchkey Mini 25 MK4

A small DAW controller with deep Ableton Live control and well-liked pads; the mini keys are its weak point.

Novation Launchkey Mini 25 MK4 from above, with its pads, encoders and mini keys

Photos: Novation

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3 of 3 reviews recommend it

See reviews
Best for
Making tracks in a DAW on a small desk or on the move.
Skip it if
You want to learn piano or play two-handed parts on full-size keys.

The Internet’s Opinion

From 3 professional reviews and 11 owner reviews: a fair amount of evidence.

All three professional reviews recommend it as a compact controller with deep Ableton Live control, responsive pads and useful chord and scale tools; the repeated reservation, from reviewers and owners alike, is that the mini keys are less playable than full-size ones.

3 recommend0 mixed0 avoid

What people praise

  • Compact and light enough to travel or sit beside a laptop
  • Tight Ableton Live control that sets itself up
  • Also controls other DAWs and hardware synths well
Show 4 more
  • Responsive, playable pads
  • Useful chord, scale and arpeggiator tools
  • Endless encoders and easily mapped custom modes
  • Solid build for the price

What to know first

  • Mini keys are less playable and feel light or cheap
  • DAWs other than Ableton Live take more set-up or behave unevenly
  • No aftertouch on the keys, only on the pads
Show 2 more
  • Small OLED display
  • Encoders feel a little stiff or plasticky
See the 3 reviews behind this

3 professional reviews (3 recommend, 0 mixed, 0 avoid); 11 owner reviews read at Thomann and Guitar CenterCompiled 2026-11-07How this is compiled

Prices

Before you buy

Released
August 2024
Status
Current

Works with

  • Ableton LiveLive Lite included

    Novation provides a custom script for Ableton Live 11 or later, and Ableton Live Lite is in the software bundle; Live gets Sequencer, Drum Rack and Clip modes on the pads. Manufacturer spec sheet (Novation), checked 2026-11-07

  • Logic ProScript download

    A custom DAW script for Logic X and 11, downloaded from Novation's downloads page and installed once. Manufacturer spec sheet (Novation), checked 2026-11-07

  • CubaseCubase LE included

    A custom script for Cubase 11 and 12 (Mac and Windows downloads), and Cubase LE is in the software bundle. Manufacturer spec sheet (Novation), checked 2026-11-07

  • FL StudioCustom script

    Novation lists FL Studio among its custom DAW scripts. Manufacturer spec sheet (Novation), checked 2026-11-07

  • Reason, Bitwig Studio and ArdourCustom integration

    Novation lists custom integration for Reason, Bitwig and Ardour; other DAWs work through HUI. Manufacturer spec sheet (Novation), checked 2026-11-07

  • Hardware synths3.5 mm MIDI out

    The 3.5 mm TRS type-A MIDI out sends MIDI to synths and other MIDI hardware; a 5-pin DIN adapter is needed for gear without a TRS input. User manual (Novation), checked 2026-11-07

You’ll also need

  • USB-C to USB-C cableFor USB-C-only laptops

    The box has a USB-C to USB-A cable only; MusicTech notes many buyers will need a C-to-C cable. MusicTech, checked 2026-11-07

  • Sustain pedalNot in the box

    The 6.35 mm sustain input takes sustain pedals and momentary footswitches; expression, soft and sostenuto pedals are not supported. User manual (Novation), checked 2026-11-07

  • Carrying caseSold separately

    MusicTech regrets that no simple zip case is included for travel; Novation and third-party cases are sold separately. MusicTech, checked 2026-11-07

Key specs

Keys
25 synth-style mini keys
Action
Synth action, velocity-sensitive
Pads and controls
16 RGB velocity-sensitive pads with polyphonic aftertouch, 8 endless rotary encoders, pitch bend and modulation touch strips, 128 × 64 monochrome OLED display, transport, octave and track navigation buttons
Connections
USB-C, 3.5 mm TRS (type A) MIDI out, 6.35 mm sustain pedal input, Kensington slot
Power
USB bus powered; power supply not included
Dimensions
338.5 × 176.8 × 49 mm
All 10 specifications
Weight
0.78 kg
In the box
Launchkey Mini 25, USB-C to USB-A cable (1.5 m)
Software
Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, Komplete 15 Select, Novation Play, GForce synths, Klevgrand instruments and effects, Orchestral Tools Parallel Orchestra, Melodics lessons
Warranty
36 months from purchase

10 of 10 figures sourced; hover one for its source

Our take

Rory TassellWritten from the sources on this page, not from a loan unit.

All three professional reviews recommend it: it is small enough to travel, sets itself up in Ableton Live and handles other DAWs and hardware synths, and reviewers and owners like its pads and chord and scale tools. The repeated reservation, from two reviews and five of 11 owners, is the mini keys, which play less easily than full-size ones. Buy it to make tracks on a small desk or on the move; to learn to play, choose full-size keys.

What it is

Status, November 2026: current. Novation still lists the Launchkey Mini 25 in its MK4 range.

What it is

The Launchkey Mini 25 MK4 is a USB MIDI controller for music software: it has no sounds of its own, and the bundled Novation Play instruments are what give it a voice. Novation announced the MK4 range in August 2024, per MusicRadar. It has 25 synth-style, velocity-sensitive mini keys, 16 RGB pads with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch, eight endless encoders, pitch and modulation touch strips and a 128 × 64 OLED display (Novation product page). Built in are a generative arpeggiator with a step editor, a Scale mode with 30 scales and three chord modes.

It is powered over USB-C and has a 3.5 mm TRS MIDI out for hardware synths and a 6.35 mm sustain input; it measures 338.5 × 176.8 × 49 mm and weighs 0.78 kg. The box holds the controller and a USB-C to USB-A cable, so a laptop with only USB-C ports needs another cable. The software bundle includes Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, Komplete 15 Select, Novation Play and Melodics lessons, and Novation's warranty runs 36 months.

Ableton Live recognises it automatically, while MusicTech found Logic and Cubase need a script download and some set-up. Reviewers and owners praise the pads and the chord tools; the most repeated complaint, from two reviews and five of the owners read at Thomann, is that the mini keys feel light or are harder to play than full-size keys.

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