It has been 12 years since Novation released a controller in this form factor – Launch Control MK3 is a significant update that shares many of the features introduced in its bigger brother, the Launch Control XL MK3, in a much more compact form factor.
It now comes with a screen that, while small, lets you preview parameter names and see their values, so you’re not in the dark about what you’re controlling. New RGB LEDs also help identify what you’re controlling and give a hint at its value.
Launch Control MK3 also comes with automapping integrations with multiple DAWs, and you can program your own custom modes to control software and hardware gear – with new physical MIDI ports making it easier to hook up external gear and control hidden parameters that may not have on-panel controls.
In this video, I take a look at it in depth, combining it with DAWs and hardware, and also show you a web script I made to enhance it, and any other MIDI controller with automation, snapshots, randomization and morphing:
TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:10 Screen
2:20 Encoders
3:10 RGB LEDs
3:45 vs XL MK3
4:30 Build
5:20 I/O
6:25 DAWs
6:45 HUI (Reaper)
7:10 Ableton
8:55 User modes
9:55 Components
11:35 Synth params
13:50 Write an app!
15:00 Motion rec
16:05 Morph
16:30 Random
18:10 Setup
19:20 Settings
20:00 Pros & cons