The Launch Control 3 can control a range of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) using the encoders and buttons.
The encoders have two DAW modes, DAW Control and DAW Mixer, accessible using Mode + the Function button in the bottom left. In FL Studio, these modes also change the function of the buttons.
When you connect your Launch Control 3 to your DAW, the encoders default to DAW Mixer mode.
The following sections explain the Launch Control 3's Ableton Live integration.
When you connect your Launch Control 3 to Ableton Live it is automatically set up as a Control Surface.
Important
Ableton only supports the Launch Control 3 in Live 12 and above. Whilst you can use it as a generic MIDI controller, the functions described in this section won't work with older versions of Ableton Live.
If Ableton doesn't automatically detect your Launch Control 3 you need to set it up in the Link, Tempo & MIDI tab of Live's Settings menu.
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Go to:
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Windows: Options > Settings > Link, Tempo & MIDI
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Mac: Live > Settings > Link, Tempo & MIDI
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Set to Launch Control 3.
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Set the Input and Output dropdowns to LC3 In and LC3 Out.
Make sure you select the DAW Out and DAW In on macOS and Port 2 (MIDIIN2 and MIDIOUT2) on Windows.
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Close the Settings window.
When correctly set up, your Settings should look like this:
|
Windows |
macOS |
Press the Track buttons to move to the next/previous track.
Track buttons light to show you when you're able to move track. For example, if you're on Track 1, the < Track button wouldn't light as you can only move to the next track.
You can jump in banks of eight: hold Shift and press the Track buttons to move the selection up or down eight tracks. You can also use this to get to return tracks.
Shift lets you preview controls. Hold Shift and move a control; the screen shows you the value without changing it. You can also double-press the Shift button to latch it.
Tip
You can preview controls in any mode on the Launch Control 3.
The Launch Control 3 has two DAW encoder modes.
To change modes, press Mode and press Function. The screen shows DAW Control or DAW Mixer. Press Mode again to exit mode selection.
These modes change what the encoders map to.
In DAW Mixer mode, hold Shift and use the Page buttons to move encoder row 1 between Pan and your DAW's Send controls.
Encoder row 2 always controls the mixer volumes.
In DAW Mixer mode, the top encoder row controls Pan for the current track bank.
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When you move a Pan encoder, the screen shows you the track name and Pan position, L for Left, C for Centre and R for right.
The encoder LED changes colour to show the Pan position:
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Blue for left.
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Dim white for centre.
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Yellow for right.
In DAW Mixer mode, hold Shift and Press the Page down button to access the Send controls from the top encoder row.
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The encoders' LEDs light to match the colour of the sends in Live.
The Page buttons allow you to navigate through your different Sends.
As you change Sends, the screen shows the Sends' names.
In DAW Control mode, each encoder row controls a different set of settings:
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Device controls 1-8 – for the currently selected device.
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Device controls 9-16 – for the currently selected device.
What are Ableton Live Devices?
Every track in Live can host several devices. Devices come in three different sorts: MIDI effects, audio effects, and instruments
For more information see Ableton's Live user guide here.
Tip
Every track in Live can host several devices. Devices come in three different sorts: MIDI effects, audio effects, and instruments
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MIDI effects affect MIDI signals on MIDI tracks.
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Audio effects affect audio signals.
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Instruments, found in MIDI tracks, receive MIDI and output audio.
For more information see Ableton's Live user guide here.
When your Launch Control 3 is in DAW Control mode, the top two encoder rows map up to 16 controls in the currently selected device.
In this example, Launch Control 3 controls the device highlighted.
If your Device has more than 16 controls, you can move through them using the Page buttons.
To change the function, press the far-left button on the button row.
In Solo mode, the buttons toggle the solo state of tracks.
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Track 2 is soloed. |
In Live, track 2 is soloed. |
In Solo mode, the buttons light blue; bright blue when the track is soloed and dim blue when they aren't.
Tip
If your project is set to Cue mode, instead of Solo, the Solo function activates Cue. This allows you to preview tracks from a separate Cue output.
Learn more in Ableton Live's user manual here Soloing and Cueing.
In Arm mode, the buttons toggle the record arm state of their respective tracks.
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Track 3 above is record armed. |
Track 3 in Ableton is record armed. |
In Arm mode, the buttons light red– dim red if the track isn't armed and bright red if the track is record armed.
Mute mode changes the function of the bottom row so they show the mute status of each track. Pressing a button mutes, or unmutes, a track.
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Tracks 4, 7, and 8 are muted. |
Tracks 4, 7, and 8 muted in Live. |
In Mute mode, the buttons light orange; bright orange when the track is active and dim yellow for muted tracks.
In Select mode, the buttons select tracks in your DAW for playback and deeper device control.
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The Select button lights match the Track colours in Live. |
The track colours in Live. |
In Select Mode, the buttons light up as the tracks' colours.
The selected track lights full brightness, the other tracks are dim.
When you select a track, the screen shows the track's name.
The following sections explain the integration the Launch Control 3 has in Logic Pro.
When you connect your Launch Control 3 to Logic Pro, and you have the script installed, it is automatically set up as a Control Surface.
If Logic Pro doesn't automatically detect your Launch Control 3, you need to set it up in Control Surface Setup.
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Download the Launch Control 3 script for Logic Pro from the downloads page here:
Install the script from your computer's downloads folder.
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Open Logic Pro, the Launch Control 3 should be automatically setup.
If not, go to:
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Logic Pro (in the top menu bar).
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Control Surfaces.
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Setup…
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Click Launch Control 3 in the right-hand side of the window.
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Set the Input and Output dropdowns to LC3 In and LC3 Out.
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Close the Control Surface Setup window.
When set up, your MIDI Settings page should look like this:
Press the Track buttons to move to the next/previous track in Logic Pro.
When you move tracks, your Launch Control 3 's screen temporarily shows the new track's name.
Track buttons light to show you when you're able to move track. For example, if you're on Track 1, the < Track button wouldn't light as you can only move to the next track.
Shift lets you preview controls. Hold Shift and move a control; the screen shows you the value without changing it. You can also double-press the Shift button to latch it.
Tip
You can preview controls in any mode on the Launch Control 3.
The Launch Control 3 has two DAW encoder modes.
To change modes, press Mode and press Function. The screen shows DAW Control or DAW Mixer. Press Mode again to exit mode selection.
These modes change what the encoders map to.
In DAW Mixer mode, hold Shift and use the Page buttons to move encoder row 1 between Pan and your DAW's Send controls.
Encoder row 2 always controls the mixer volumes.
In DAW Mixer mode, the top encoder row controls Pan for the current track bank.
The encoder LEDs light red when they're controlling Pan.
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When you move a Pan encoder, the screen shows you the track name and Pan position, L for Left, C for Centre and R for right.
In DAW Mixer mode, Press the Page down button to access the Send controls from the top encoder row.
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The Page buttons navigate through the different Sends.
As you change Sends, the screen shows the Sends' names.
In DAW Control mode, each encoder row controls a different set of Logic Pro settings:
Encoder row:
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Smart controls for the currently selected plugin.
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Logic EQ controls.
The top encoder row controls Logic Pro's Smart Controls for the current plugin.
If the plugin/instrument has more Smart Controls, you can use the Page buttons to move pages.
When you move an encoder, your screen shows you the name of the track, the parameter, and the value.
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Tip
You can access Logic Pro's Smart Controls in the top left corner of Logic or using the shortcut 'B' on your Mac's keyboard.
Mixer EQ mode adds an EQ plugin to the selected track if one isn't already present.
When you're in EQ Mixer mode, the encoders map to the following EQ controls:
|
Encoder |
Parameter |
Screen Name |
|---|---|---|
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1 |
Band 2 Frequency |
Low Shelf |
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2 |
Band 2 Gain |
Low Shelf |
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3 |
Band 4 Frequency |
Low Mid |
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4 |
Band 4 Gain |
Low Mid |
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5 |
Band 6 Frequency |
High Mid |
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6 |
Band 6 Gain |
High Mid |
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7 |
Band 7 Frequency |
High Shelf |
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8 |
Band 7 Gain |
High Shelf |
To change the function, press the far-left button on the button row.
In Solo mode, the buttons toggle the solo state of tracks.
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Track 2 is soloed. |
Track 2 is soloed in Logic. |
In Solo mode, the buttons light bright yellow when the track is soloed and dim yellow when they aren't.
In Arm mode, the buttons toggle the record arm state of their respective tracks.
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Track 3 above is record armed. |
Track 3 in Logic is Record armed. |
In Arm mode, the buttons light red– dim red if the track isn't armed and bright red if the track is record armed.
Mute mode changes the function of the bottom row so they show the mute status of each track. Pressing a button mutes, or unmutes, a track.
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Tracks 4, 7, and 8 are muted.
In Mute mode, the buttons light bright blue when you mute track and dim blue for active tracks.
In Select mode, the buttons select tracks in your DAW for playback and deeper device control.
The Select button lights match the Track colours in Logic Pro.
In Select Mode, the buttons light up as the tracks' colours.
The selected track lights full brightness, the other tracks are dim.
When you select a track, the screen shows the track's name.
The following sections explain the integration the Launch Control 3 has in Cubase.
Cubase is set up so when you connect a Launch Control 3 it's automatically detected as a MIDI Remote.
If Cubase doesn't automatically detect the Launch Control 3, you need to set it up in the MIDI Remote menu.
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Download the Launch Control 3 script for Cubase from the downloads page here:
Install the script from your computer's downloads folder.
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Open Cubase and go to:
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Click Open MIDI Remote Manager
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Set the Input and Output dropdowns to LC3 In and LC3 Out.
Make sure you select the DAW Out and DAW In on macOS and Port 2 (MIDIIN2 and MIDIOUT2) on Windows.
When correctly set up, your MIDI Remote Manager page should look like this:
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Windows |
macOS |
Press the Track buttons to move to the next/previous track in Cubase.
When you move tracks, your Launch Control 3 's screen temporarily shows the new track's name.
Track buttons light to show you when you're able to move track. For example, if you're on Track 1, the < Track button wouldn't light as you can only move to the next track.
Shift lets you preview controls. Hold Shift and move a control; the screen shows you the value without changing it. You can also double-press the Shift button to latch it.
Tip
You can preview controls in any mode on the Launch Control 3.
The Launch Control 3 has two DAW encoder modes.
To change modes, press Mode and press Function. The screen shows DAW Control or DAW Mixer. Press Mode again to exit mode selection.
These modes change what the encoders map to.
In DAW Mixer mode, hold Shift and use the Page buttons to move encoder row 1 between Pan and your DAW's Send controls.
Encoder row 2 always controls the mixer volumes.
In DAW Mixer mode, the encoders can control Pan for the current track bank.
|
|
|
When you move a Pan encoder, the screen shows you the track name and Pan position, L for Left, C for Centre and R for right.
The encoder LEDs light red when they're controlling Pan.
In DAW Mixer mode, Press the Page down button to access the Send controls from the top encoder row.
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|
|
The Page buttons navigate through the different Sends.
As you change Sends, the screen shows the Sends' names.
In DAW Control mode, each row of encoder controls a different set of settings relating to Cubase:
Encoder row:
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Cubase's eight Track Quick Controls for the selected track.
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Cubase's Channel EQ for the selected track.
When the encoders are in DAW control mode, the top row maps to the eight Cubase Track Quick Controls for the currently selected track.
Cubase Quick Controls are per-track. The encoders map to the selected track's Quick Controls.
Tip
To set up Quick Control assignments for each track in Cubase see the Track Quick Controls section in the Cubase User Guide.
You can see the Quick Controls assignments in the MIDI Remote section of Cubase.
When you move an encoder, the screen shows the Quick Control's name and value.
When the encoders are in DAW control mode the second row maps to the Cubase Channel EQ for the current track.
When your encoders are in Mixer EQ Mode, the encoders map to the following:
|
Encoder |
Parameter |
Screen Name |
|---|---|---|
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1 |
Band 1 Frequency |
Lo Freq |
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2 |
Band 1 Gain |
Lo Gain |
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3 |
Band 2 Frequency |
LMF Freq |
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4 |
Band 2 Gain |
LMF Gain |
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5 |
Band 3 Frequency |
HMF Freq |
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6 |
Band 3 Gain |
HMF Gain |
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7 |
Band 4 Frequency |
Hi Freq |
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8 |
Band 4 Gain |
Hi Gain |
Tip
To open the Cubase channel strip, go to the MixConsole and click the Edit Channel Settings button for the track you want to adjust.
To change the function, press the far-left button on the button row.
In Solo mode, the buttons toggle the solo state of tracks.
Track 2 is soloed.
In Solo mode, the buttons light bright pink when the track is Soloed and dim pink when they aren't.
In Arm mode, the buttons toggle the record arm state of their respective tracks.
Track 3 above is record armed.
In Arm mode, the buttons light red– dim red if the track isn't armed and bright red if the track is record armed.
When you change the record arm state, the screen shows the track name you changed.
Mute mode changes the function of the bottom row so they show the mute status of each track. Pressing a button mutes, or unmutes, a track.
Tracks 4, 7, and 8 are muted.
In Mute mode, the buttons light bright yellow when you mute a track and dim yellow for active tracks.
The following sections explain the integration the Launch Control 3 has in FL Studio.
FL Studio is set up so when you connect a Launch Control 3 it's automatically detected.
If FL Studio doesn't automatically detect your Launch Control 3, you need to set it up in MIDI Settings.
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Install the latest version of FL Studio to make sure you have the latest script installed.
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Open FL Studio.
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Go to: Options > MIDI Settings.
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Set the following using the Port field and the Controller type drop down.
Output
Using the Port field set:
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LC3 1 MIDI to a port, e.g. 23.
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LC3 DAW (macOS) or MIDIOUT2 (LC3 1 MIDI) (Windows) to a different port, e.g. 37
Input
Using the Controller Type drop-down set the following and match the port numbers to the Output above:
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LC3 1 MIDI Out to Novation Launch Control 3 MIDI and port 23.
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LC3 DAW In (macOS) or MIDIIN2 (LC3 1 MIDI) (Windows) Novation Launch Control 3 DAW and port 37.
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When set up, your MIDI Settings page should look like this:
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Windows |
Mac |
The Track buttons behaviour changes depending on which mode you're using, DAW Control or DAW Mixer.
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In DAW Control mode, the Track buttons navigate FL Studio's Channel Rack. Holding Shift and pressing the Track buttons selects the next/previous channel.
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In DAW Mixer mode, the Track buttons navigate FL Studio's Mixer in banks of eight tracks. Holding Shift and pressing the Track buttons selects the next/previous tracks.
Shift lets you preview controls. Hold Shift and move a control; the screen shows you the value without changing it. You can also double-press the Shift button to latch it.
Tip
You can preview controls in any mode on the Launch Control 3.
In FL Studio, the two DAW modes on Launch Control 3 change the controls between FL Studio's two mixers, the main mixer and the Channel Rack.
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DAW Control mode controls FL Studio's Channel Rack.
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DAW Mixer mode controls FL Studio's Mixer
Launch Control 3's DAW Control mode assigns the controls to FL Studio's Channel Rack.
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The encoder rows control:
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Plugin parameters
Channel Rack Pans.
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Channel Rack volume.
The Page buttons change the function of encoder row one.
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In DAW Control mode, the buttons control either Channel Rack Select or Channel Rack Mute/Solo.
The Function button changes what the buttons control.
In DAW Control mode, encoder row 1 controls up to eight parameters of the currently selected Channel Rack plugin.
The number of controls varies by plugin, but the LEDs light for encoders with available parameters.
In DAW Control mode, press page down to control the Channel Rack Pan with encoder row 1.
If less than eight Channels are in the Channel Rack, only encoders with available pan controls light red.
Launch Control 3's DAW Mixer mode assigns the controls to FL Studio's Mixer.
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The encoder rows control:
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Mixer Pans
Mixer Track Parametric EQ
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Mixer volume
The Page buttons change the function of encoder row one.
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In DAW Mixer mode, the buttons control Mixer Select, Arm, or Mute/Solo.
The Function button changes what the buttons control.
In DAW Mixer mode, the encoders can control Pan for the current track bank.
When you move a Pan encoder, the screen shows you the track name and Pan position, L for Left, C for Centre and R for right.
In DAW Mixer mode, the encoders can control FL Studio's Mixer Track Parametric EQ.
The first six encoders light purple, to show the available controls, and map to the following EQ controls:
|
Encoder |
Parameter |
Screen name |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Band 1 Frequency |
Low Shelf |
|
2 |
Band 1 Level |
Low Shelf |
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3 |
Band 2 Frequency |
Peaking |
|
4 |
Band 2 Level |
Peaking |
|
5 |
Band 3 Frequency |
High Shelf |
|
6 |
Band 3 Level |
High Shelf |
|
7 |
Not used |
Not used |
|
8 |
Not used |
Not used |
You can use your Launch Control 3 in a range of other DAWs. The HUI integration allows you to use some main features of the Launch Control 3 without dedicated scripts.
Note
The features in HUI mode are different from the common DAW control section.
HUI (Human User Interface) is a MIDI protocol allowing MIDI controllers to communicate with DAWs without custom controller scripts. If there's no dedicated script, your DAW may support HUI.
This lets your controller handle basic functions like:
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Mixer control (volume, pan, mute/solo)
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Track selection
You can use your Launch Control 3, via HUI, in many DAWs. We've outlined the setup in the following DAWs, but the steps are similar in most DAWs:
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Reaper (partial HUI)
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Studio One
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Pro Tools
HUI integration in most DAWs isn't automatic; you'll need to change some settings to get your Launch Control 3 to work.
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Go to Reaper > Settings… > Control/OSC/web
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Click ‘Control/OSC/web’.
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Click 'Add' and select HUI (partial).
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Select Focusrite - Novation - Launch Control 3 - DAW Out under ‘MIDI input’:
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Select Focusrite - Novation - Launch Control 3 - DAW In under ‘MIDI output’:
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Click 'OK'.
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Click 'OK' to close the window.
DAW Control
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Click 'Studio One' at the top of the screen.
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Click 'Options'.
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Go to 'External Devices'.
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Click 'Add'.
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Select the 'Mackie > HUI' option on the left-hand side menu.
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Set 'Receive From' and 'Send To' to the Launch Control 3's DAW ports (second entries):
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MIDIIN2 and MIDIOUT2 on Windows.
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DAW on Mac.
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Click 'OK' at the bottom of the window.
You should now be able to control the mixer.
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Go to Pro Tools > Setup > Peripherals…
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Click the 'MIDI Controllers' tab:
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Under ‘Type’, select HUI:
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Under 'Receive From', select:
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Windows: Predefined > MIDIIN2(Launch Control 3 MIDI) [Emulated].
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macOS: Predefined > Launch Control 3 DAW Out
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Under 'Send To', select
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Windows: Predefined > MIDIOUT2 (Launch Control 3 MIDI) [Emulated].
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macOS: Predefined > Predefined > Launch Control 3 DAW In.
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If set up correctly, the settings should match the following, with '# Ch's' set to 8:
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Click 'OK'.
When HUI implementation varies by DAW, but generally you can control the following:
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Navigation– Track < and Track > move between tracks.
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The top row of encoders controls Pans and Sends.
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The bottom row of encoders controls Volume.
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The buttons control Solo/Arm/Mute/Select.