Performing Live: Using the Novation Launchpad X as a Grid Sequencer & Clip Launcher

The Novation Launchpad X is one of the most expressive and popular grid controllers on the market. With its 64 velocity-sensitive, RGB backlit pads and sleek circular command buttons, it is widely loved by live performers and studio musicians.

While most grid controllers require heavy background drivers or software installs, the closeby.1 Web MIDI Sequencer integrates natively with the Launchpad X directly in your browser. The moment you plug it in, closeby.1 takes control of the device, configuring it as an interactive multi-track grid, keyboard controller, and pattern/scene clip launcher.

In this guide, we will show you how to connect, set up, and perform live using the Novation Launchpad X with closeby.1.

Step-by-Step Connection & Setup

Connecting your Launchpad X to closeby.1 is entirely plug-and-play:

Connect: Connect the Launchpad X directly to a USB port on your computer using a USB-C cable.
Open closeby.1: Navigate to closeby.1 in Google Chrome or any Web MIDI supported browser.
Automatic Sync: The sequencer instantly detects the controller, configures it into Programmer Mode, and lights up the grid.
Header Control: Look at the top right header of the closeby.1 interface: you will see a green LPX ACTIVE connection badge and a CONFIG LPX button next to it. Tap CONFIG LPX at any time to open the native settings dialog and switch layout modes.

Global Navigation and Command Buttons

The circular buttons along the top row of your Launchpad X are mapped to global navigation, layout selection, and transport controls:

Physical Label	Action	LED Color	What It Does
Session	Switch to Multi-Track View (Matrix)	Cobalt Blue (Active)	Views step grids for all 8 tracks simultaneously
Note	Switch to Single-Track View (Note)	Cobalt Blue (Active)	Plays notes/chords and inputs them into the active track
Custom	Switch to Pattern Launch View (Session)	Cobalt Blue (Active)	Triggers and queues patterns/scenes live
Capture MIDI	Play / Stop Transport	Green (Playing) / Red (Stopped)	Starts and stops the sequencer playback engine
Up Arrow (▲)	Transpose Octave Up	Green	Transposes note keyboard up 1 octave (Note Mode only)
Down Arrow (▼)	Transpose Octave Down	Green	Transposes note keyboard down 1 octave (Note Mode only)
Left Arrow (◀)	Previous Page	Green	Scrolls step grid back by 8 steps (Matrix Mode only)
Right Arrow (▶)	Next Page	Green	Scrolls step grid forward by 8 steps (Matrix Mode only)

🕹️ The 3 Layout Modes & Workflows

1. Multi-Track View (Session Mixer & Step Grid)

Activated by pressing the Session button on the top row.

This layout allows you to view and edit notes across all 8 sequencer tracks at the same time.

The Grid: Each row represents a track (Row 8/Top is Track 1, Row 1/Bottom is Track 8) and columns 1 to 8 represent the sequencer steps.
White Dim: Represents an empty step.
Bright Track Color (Mint Green, Cyan, or Amber): The start of a note.
Dim Track Color: Sustained notes that span across multiple steps.
Dim Red Pad: If a track is muted, its notes are flagged in dim red at their start positions.

🎚️ Side Button Workflow (Session Mixer Mutes):

The 8 circular side buttons on the right-hand side toggle the Mute status of their corresponding tracks. The labels printed on the hardware chassis map to tracks 1 to 8:

Volume ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 1
Pan ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 2
Sends ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 3
Device ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 4
Stop Clip ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 5
Mute ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 6
Solo ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 7
Record Arm ➔ Mute/Unmute Track 8

2. Single-Track View (Note Keyboard)

Activated by pressing the Note button on the top row.

Note mode turns your Launchpad into a musical keyboard for write-recording notes and drum triggers directly into the currently selected track.

🎹 Melodic Tracks (Synth / Bass):

The grid displays a chromatic scale.
Bright White Pads represent the Root Note of your chosen scale.
Dim Blue Pads represent the notes that fit inside your chosen musical scale.
Pressing pads triggers the synth sounds and adds notes to the step sequencer.

🥁 Drum Tracks:

The bottom-left 4x4 grid becomes a drum pad layout representing your samples (Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, etc.).
Pressing pads triggers the drum sample and inputs a trigger at the active step.

🎚️ Side Button Workflow (Track Selection):

The 8 circular side buttons on the right let you switch your editing focus to a different track (Track 1 is Volume, Track 8 is Record Arm).

3. Pattern Launch View (Session Clip Launcher)

Activated by pressing the Custom button on the top row.

This layout provides a dedicated performance environment for launching and queueing patterns, designed for live sets. Rows 1 to 8 represent your Tracks, and Columns 1 to 8 represent Patterns A to H.

💡 Clip Color Codes:

Unlit (Off): Locked/Distant empty pattern slots.
White Dim: Next available empty pattern slot (press to select, allowing you to start recording notes).
Dim Track Color: Pattern contains notes, but is not currently playing.
Bright Track Color: Active pattern that is currently playing.
Flashing Amber: Queued pattern (waiting to transition at the next bar boundary).

🔀 Clip Launching Workflow:

Select Pattern: Tap any illuminated pad to switch that track to that pattern.
- If the sequencer is playing, the pad will flash amber and queue up, switching perfectly in sync at the end of the current measure.
- If the sequencer is stopped, the switch happens instantly.
Safe Fills: You can only select empty slots that immediately follow a populated pattern (lit in white dim), preventing you from accidentally jumping to a silent empty slot during a live set.

🔲 Side Button Workflow (Scene / Section Launch):

The right-hand circular side buttons act as Scene triggers to launch entire pattern columns at once (e.g. pressing Volume launches Pattern A on all tracks, pressing Pan launches Pattern B on all tracks, etc.). Note: Tracks that do not have notes in the launched scene will ignore the trigger and keep playing their current pattern, maintaining the groove.