FLpad 8×8 grid comes to FL Studio — can you add a grid to a speedrun?

The Novation Launchpad grid has its original lineage in Ableton Live integration. But it’s now come to the land of Fruity Loops. FLpad is available in both a standard, velocity-sensitive model and an FLpad mini. For a user base known for shortcuts and speedrunning, can finger-drumming and pad programming find a home?

Novation’s Launch Control XL 3 fader box, the update we were waiting for

An affordable bank of faders and controls is so sought-after that Novation could have just slightly refreshed Launch Control XL to some applause. But XL 3 does more than that: it’s a fully fleshed-out update with deeper control, more buttons and transport, more customization, a display, and now full-sized 5-pin MIDI I/O.

Peter Kirn - May 8, 2025

Novation Circuit Tracks update follows Circuit Rhythm – here’s what to know

Okay, this is not a drill – time to hit the studio, load up all those firmware updates, hit the books, hone the chops, work on the tracks, finish the tracks and new jams. Invite friends (uh, once the chops are up). And so we’ve got a new Circuit Tracks update (the dark gray one) with musical workflow updates from Novation, right on the heels of the epic Circuit Rhythm update (the silver one). Go!

Peter Kirn - December 23, 2022

Novation’s Launchpad 2.0 adds widgets that adapt to your DAW shortcuts, expands customization

Peter Kirn - July 4, 2022

Novation Circuit won’t stop: 1.6 does panning, dimming, Micro Steps

Peter Kirn - September 26, 2017

Novation’s Circuit tools now work without needing the Internet

Peter Kirn - April 11, 2017