The next few pages give you an idea of what the controls on Launch Control 3 do. For DAW integration see Controlling your DAW with the Launch Control 3, for using Launch Control 3 in non-DAW applications, see Using Launch Control 3 outside of a DAW.
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Screen - displays important information.
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Page buttons - navigate through different parts of your Launch Control 3. The buttons light when available.
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Track buttons - move through tracks in your DAW.
To access Settings, go to a Custom Mode and hold both Track < > buttons for 300 milliseconds.
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Shift button - access Shift functions and preview controls without changing values (hold Shift and move a control).
Mode button - select what the Launch Control 3 is controlling, DAW Mixer, DAW Control, or a Custom Mode.
Hold Shift and Mode to access the Mode Settings Edit menu.
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Function button - in DAW modes, change what the button row controls.
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Encoders - assignable encoder controls.
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Buttons 1 - 8 - Solo / Arm or buttons in DAW mode, or assignable button controls in Custom Modes.
Page up and down are the first button pair under the screen, on the left-hand side of the Launch Control 3.
The buttons light when they're available and allow you to navigate through many areas of the Launch Control 3. For example, if you're at the first or last page, only one of the two buttons lights.
When you press either button, the screen shows what's changed.
The Track <> left and right buttons are the second button pair under the screen, on the left-hand side of the Launch Control 3.
The buttons light when they're available and allow you to navigate through many areas of the Launch Control 3. For example, if you're at the first or last page, only one of the two buttons lights.
When you press either button, the screen shows what's changed.
To access Settings, go to a Custom mode and press and hold both Track <> buttons for 300 milliseconds.
Note
The Settings menu is only accessible when you're using a Custom Mode. In either DAW mode, the buttons control Track navigation.
For more information, see Launch Control 3's Settings page.
Shift allows access to secondary functions on many buttons. Hold Shift, and press any button with a secondary shift function.
Shift is the left side of the third button pair.
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
When you hold the Shift button, any other buttons with an available shift function light up.
Mode lets you choose which mode the Launch Control 3 is in. The Mode defines the function of all the controls.
Your Launch Control 3 has two DAW modes (DAW Control and DAW Mixer), seven Custom Modes, and one Default mode (slot eight).
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DAW Modes map your Launch Control 3 to preset mappings in your DAWs, see Controlling your DAW with the Launch Control 3.
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You can edit the controls in Custom Modes, see Custom Modes.
To select a Mode:
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Press the Mode button to enter mode selection.
The 8 buttons light, the currently selected Mode is white, the rest are blue.
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Press a blue button to change the mode. The screen shows the name of the mode.
Mode can be a toggle (one press) or momentary (hold) button. You can switch modes multiple times using the buttons, and the other controls update in real time.
To change between DAW Control and DAW Mixer press the Function (DAW) button.
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Press the Mode button again to exit mode selection.
Using the Mode button momentarily
You can hold the Mode button to access Mode selection temporarily. While you hold it down you can change Modes and adjust controls. When you release the Mode button the Mode changes to the last button you pressed.
Hold Shift and press the Mode button to access the Edit menu for Custom Modes, via the Mode Settings menu. Each Custom Mode on Launch Control 3 has its own Mode Settings menu to configure how the Custom Mode interacts with the MIDI ports.
To enter the Custom Mode settings menu, hold Shift and press the Mode (Edit) button.
To exit Custom Mode settings edit menu, press the Mode button.
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To find a setting, press Page ▲▼ up and down.
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To adjust a setting, use the Track <> buttons.
You can change the following settings per Custom Mode. The button for the Custom Mode you're currently editing lights white. You can change which Custom Mode you're editing by pressing the Custom Mode buttons.
|
Setting |
Value range |
Description |
Default value |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Merge |
On Off |
On allows incoming MIDI data to merge with surface-generated MIDI (when you move a control on Launch Control 3) and be sent to that Custom Mode's MIDI output. |
On |
|
Merge Filter |
Off Ch. 1 - 16 |
Set which MIDI input channel to merge with surface-generated MIDI for that Custom Mode. Off allows all incoming MIDI In channels to merge with that Custom Mode's surface-generated events. |
Off |
|
Merge Out Ch |
As Input Ch. 1 - 16 |
Set which MIDI channel the Custom Mode MIDI data and incoming MIDI data goes out on. As Input doesn't alter the channel of the incoming MIDI data. |
As Input |
|
Output Port |
USB DIN 1 DIN 2 All |
Sets which port the Custom Mode transmits its MIDI data to. All sends the MIDI data to the USB and both DIN ports. If Merge is on, MIDI data at the In port will also be sent to your chosen Out port(s). |
All |
Important
The MIDI Thru Setting, in the Settings menu, has priority over Custom Mode settings.
If you enable MIDI Thru in the Settings menu, MIDI data at the MIDI In port is sent to MIDI Out 2/Thru regardless of the custom mode settings.
If the active Custom Mode is set to output on DIN 2 or All, and MIDI Thru is enabled, data from the Custom Mode won't be merged and sent from output DIN 2.
The Launch Control 3 has 16 endless encoders, in rows of eight, with LEDs that light depending on the mode.
When you move controls, the screen shows the name and value. To preview a control onscreen, without changing it, hold Shift and move the control.
The encoders have different modes, varying by DAW, or you can customise them in Custom Modes.
To learn more about encoder modes:
Tip
Endless encoders are rotary knobs that spin continuously. This stops jumps in settings when switching modes or tracks. Your Launch Control 3 always stays synchronised with your DAW or other devices.
At the bottom of your Launch Control 3 is a row of 10 buttons.
When your Launch Control 3 is controlling a DAW, the buttons act as Solo, Arm, Mute, or Select buttons. The far-left button toggles between the settings. See the following sections for more information:
When you're not using a DAW, the 8 buttons can send custom messages such as MIDI Notes, CCs, Program Changes, NRPNs, and keystrokes.
See Using Custom Modes on the Launch Control 3 for more information.
The Launch Control 3's Function button allows you to change what DAW mode the encoders and buttons are in.
To change DAW mode, press, or hold, the Mode button and press Function to cycle through the modes:
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DAW Control
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DAW Mixer
When the buttons are in Solo mode, pressing a button changes the Solo state of the corresponding DAW track.
When the buttons are in Arm mode, pressing a button changes the record arm state of the corresponding DAW track.
When the buttons are in Mute mode, pressing a button changes the Mute state of the corresponding DAW track.
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USB - USB Type-C to connect your Launch Control 3 to your computer using the included USB cable.
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MIDI Out2/Thru - 5-Pin MIDI DIN connector for either sending MIDI data independently of the MIDI Out, or sending a copy of the MIDI In signal.
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MIDI Out – 5-Pin MIDI DIN connector for connecting to external MIDI hardware.
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MIDI In - 5-Pin MIDI DIN connector for receiving MIDI data from external MIDI hardware (such as a MIDI keyboard) to your Launch Control 3 in a chain of equipment.
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- Kensington Lock, use a lock to secure your Launch Control and deter theft.
The MIDI ports allow you to use the Launch Control 3 in hardware and hybrid setups. For example, expanding the physical controls on a synthesiser, drum machine, or groovebox.
The 5-Pin MIDI DIN In port allows you to send data from other MIDI-enabled devices to your Launch Control 3.
For example, to use your Launch Control 3 with a MIDI keyboard and control multiple devices, or for daisy-chaining multiple Launch Control 3s to increase your control.
For more information, see section Using Launch Control 3 outside of a DAW.
The MIDI Out port allows you to send MIDI messages to external hardware with MIDI inputs. You can send MIDI messages from surface-generated events, e.g. encoders, and buttons, or merge data at the MIDI In port with the surface-generated events.
This is useful for adding extra control to hardware: synthesisers, drum machines, and grooveboxes, or having instant access to parameters without having to menu dive on your hardware instruments.
For more information, see section Using Launch Control 3 outside of a DAW.
The MIDI Out 2/Thru port allows you to choose between having a second MIDI out, or a MIDI Thru port. You can change this in the Settings menu.
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In MIDI Out 2 mode – the port works the same as MIDI Out, you can send MIDI messages from surface-generated events, or merge data at the MIDI In port with the surface-generated events.
This is useful when:
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you need to send MIDI messages to hardware independent of MIDI Out. For example, to control two devices using two Custom Modes. One device connected to MIDI Out and another connected to MIDI Out 2.
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In MIDI Thru mode – the port works by forwarding a copy of all the MIDI messages coming into the Launch Control 3's MIDI In DIN port.
This is useful when:
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your Launch Control 3 is part of a larger MIDI chain, and you need to transmit MIDI messages from a device, e.g. a keyboard, to two devices, one controlled by the Launch Control 3 and one controlled by the keyboard via the Launch Control 3. For example, a keyboard, to two devices, one controlled by the Launch Control 3 connected to the MIDI Out port, and one controlled by the keyboard via the Launch Control 3's MIDI Thru port.
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For more information, see Using Launch Control 3 outside of a DAW.
The Launch Control 3 has a USB 2.0 Type-C port. This allows you to connect your Launch Control 3 to your computer or a USB MIDI host.
The USB port has a few key purposes:
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It provides the Launch Control 3 with power, both when connecting to a computer, or in standalone mode.
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It sends and receives MIDI data, either to your DAW, MIDI applications or via a USB MIDI host.
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It allows you to install firmware updates and manage Custom Modes for your Launch Control 3 via Components.
Your Launch Control 3 can act as a MIDI interface and allow you to send MIDI data from your computer (e.g. sequencers and DAWs) to external hardware via the two DIN MIDI outputs.
The USB MIDI device on your computer shows each MIDI DIN port separately so you can send MIDI messages to each port.
Important
The Out 2/Thru port continues to follow the Thru setting. Data sent to DIN Out 2 won't be output if MIDI Thru is On in the Settings menu.
Custom Mode settings don't affect the MIDI data. If you set a Custom Mode to output on a DIN port and you send USB data to the same port, the Launch Control 3 merges the data.