Controlling your DAW with the Launch Control 3

When you connect your Launch Control 3 to Ableton Live it is automatically set up as a Control Surface.

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.

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.

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.

DAW Mixer encoder mode

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.

Ableton Live Pan controls in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, the top encoder row controls 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 LED changes colour to show the Pan position:

1. Blue for left.

2. Dim white for centre.

3. Yellow for right.

Ableton Live Send controls in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, hold Shift and Press the Page down button to access the Send controls from the top encoder row.

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.

Volume controls in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, the second row of encoders always controls the fader volume of the current track bank.

Ableton Live DAW Control encoder mode

In DAW Control mode, each encoder row controls a different set of settings:

1. Device controls 1-8 – for the currently selected device.

2. 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.

Ableton Live Device encoder controls

Tip

Every track in Live can host several devices. Devices come in three different sorts: MIDI effects, audio effects, and instruments

• MIDI effects affect MIDI signals on MIDI tracks.

• Audio effects affect audio signals.

• 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.

Moving between Devices

If your Track has more than one Device, hold Shift and press a Page button to move to the next Device (Page down) or previous Device (Page up).

Tip

Ableton Live adds a small blue hand icon to the top bar of the device you're controlling.

To change the function, press the far-left button on the button row.

Solo mode

In Solo mode, the buttons toggle the solo state of tracks.

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.

Record Arm mode

In Arm mode, the buttons toggle the record arm state of their respective tracks.

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

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.

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.

Select mode

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

DAW Mixer encoder mode

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.

Logic Pro Pan controls in DAW Mixer mode

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.

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.

Logic Pro Send controls in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, Press the Page down button to access the Send controls from the top encoder row.

The Page buttons navigate through the different Sends.

As you change Sends, the screen shows the Sends' names.

Volume controls in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, the second row of encoders always controls the fader volume of the current track bank.

Logic Pro DAW Control encoder mode

In DAW Control mode, each encoder row controls a different set of Logic Pro settings:

Encoder row:

1. Smart controls for the currently selected plugin.

2. Logic EQ controls.

Logic Pro Smart Control and EQ controls in DAW Control mode

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.

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.

EQ encoder control

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
1	Band 2 Frequency	Low Shelf
2	Band 2 Gain	Low Shelf
3	Band 4 Frequency	Low Mid
4	Band 4 Gain	Low Mid
5	Band 6 Frequency	High Mid
6	Band 6 Gain	High Mid
7	Band 7 Frequency	High Shelf
8	Band 7 Gain	High Shelf

To change the function, press the far-left button on the button row.

Solo mode

In Solo mode, the buttons toggle the solo state of tracks.

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.

Record Arm mode

In Arm mode, the buttons toggle the record arm state of their respective tracks.

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

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 blue when you mute track and dim blue for active tracks.

Select mode

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.

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.

When correctly set up, your MIDI Remote Manager page should look like this:

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.

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.

DAW Mixer encoder mode

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.

Cubase Pan controls in DAW Mixer mode

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.

Cubase Send controls in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, Press the Page down button to access the Send controls from the top encoder row.

The Page buttons navigate through the different Sends.

As you change Sends, the screen shows the Sends' names.

Volume controls in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, the second row of encoders always controls the fader volume of the current track bank.

Cubase DAW Control encoder mode

In DAW Control mode, each row of encoder controls a different set of settings relating to Cubase:

Encoder row:

1. Cubase's eight Track Quick Controls for the selected track.

2. Cubase's Channel EQ for the selected track.

Cubase's Track Quick Controls in DAW Control mode

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.

Cubase Channel EQ DAW Control mode

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
1	Band 1 Frequency	Lo Freq
2	Band 1 Gain	Lo Gain
3	Band 2 Frequency	LMF Freq
4	Band 2 Gain	LMF Gain
5	Band 3 Frequency	HMF Freq
6	Band 3 Gain	HMF Gain
7	Band 4 Frequency	Hi Freq
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.

Solo mode

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.

Record Arm mode

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

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.

Select mode

In Select mode, the buttons select tracks in your DAW for playback and deeper device control.

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.

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.

When set up, your MIDI Settings page should look like this:

Windows

Mac

The Track buttons behaviour changes depending on which mode you're using, DAW Control or DAW Mixer.

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.

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.

FL Studio's DAW Control mode

Launch Control 3's DAW Control mode assigns the controls to FL Studio's Channel Rack.

• The encoder rows control:

  1. Plugin parameters

     Channel Rack Pans.

  2. Channel Rack volume.

  The Page buttons change the function of encoder row one.

• In DAW Control mode, the buttons control either Channel Rack Select or Channel Rack Mute/Solo.

  The Function button changes what the buttons control.

Controlling FL Studio's Plugin parameters

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.

Controlling FL Studio's Channel Rack Pan

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.

Using the buttons in FL Studio's DAW Control mode

In DAW Control mode, the buttons control either Channel Rack Select or Channel Rack Mute/Solo.

The Function button changes what the buttons control.

FL Studio's DAW Mixer mode

Launch Control 3's DAW Mixer mode assigns the controls to FL Studio's Mixer.

• The encoder rows control:

  1. Mixer Pans

     Mixer Track Parametric EQ

  2. Mixer volume

  The Page buttons change the function of encoder row one.

• In DAW Mixer mode, the buttons control Mixer Select, Arm, or Mute/Solo.

  The Function button changes what the buttons control.

Controlling FL Studio's Mixer Pan

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.

Controlling FL Studio's Track EQ

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
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

Using the buttons in DAW Mixer mode

In DAW Mixer mode, the buttons cycle through, Arm, Mute/Solo, and Select for FL Studio's Mixer. Press the Function button to cycle through each setting.

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:

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:

HUI integration in most DAWs isn't automatic; you'll need to change some settings to get your Launch Control 3 to work.

When HUI implementation varies by DAW, but generally you can control the following: