Launch Control 3

Launch Control 3 puts physical control on your DAW, plugins, and MIDI hardware from a footprint under 10 inches wide. Sixteen endless rotary encoders with RGB status indicators and adjustable acceleration curves handle pans, sends, and plugin parameters, while eight assignable buttons switch track focus and cover solo, arm, and mute. The OLED display names each parameter as you move it, so you always know what you are changing.

DAW integration covers Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, and Cubase out of the box, with Mackie HUI support for everything else. Custom Modes, built in Novation Components, store seven user-defined layouts on the unit for plugins, outboard synths, and effects units, including menu-based parameters that are otherwise buried.

It also works with no computer connected. Power it over USB-C and route directly to hardware through 5-pin MIDI In, Out, and Out2/Thru, with filtering and routing options for multi-device chains. Hybrid setups can mix DAW control, plugin parameters, and external gear inside one Custom Mode.

The chassis is compact and sturdy at 1.07 lb, so it fits a crowded desk, a rack shelf, or a gig bag alongside a laptop and a keyboard. USB-C bus power means one cable in most setups, and the unit is class compliant with recent Mac, Windows, and iOS devices.

Software included: Ableton Live 12 Lite for recording and performing with up to eight tracks of MIDI or audio, Cubase LE 14 for recording, editing, and mixing, plus Klevgrand Fosfat, Baby Audio Parallel Aggressor, and Output Movement. Novation Easy Start walks through drivers, setup, and downloads. Novation hardware carries a three-year warranty.