Upgraded MIDI Mixer by Novation: A Detailed Look at the Novation Launch Control XL Mk3
The Novation Launch Control XL Mk3, the latest edition of the company's premier MIDI controller, has made a significant entrance into the market with its impressive upgrades and enhanced features.
This versatile controller boasts eight 60mm faders, 24 endless rotary encoders with RGB feedback, and 16 assignable buttons across two banks. A key improvement is the addition of a crisp OLED display, providing real-time parameter information, which enhances usability during performances and production.
The Launch Control XL Mk3 offers deep DAW integration with Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, and others, plus 5-pin MIDI In, Out, and Thru ports alongside USB-C connectivity, enabling flexible hybrid setups with hardware and software. Up to 15 custom mappings can be created via Novation Components software. Transport controls like Play/Stop and Record are now built-in for streamlined control.
Notable enhancements over previous versions include the addition of full-size MIDI DIN ports (In, Out, Thru), the OLED display, RGB LEDs on encoders, and the ability to change modes (presets) directly on the hardware itself. The controller is USB bus-powered but also supports mains power for hardware use, increasing versatility.
The Launch Control XL Mk3 is adaptable to virtually any MIDI-compliant software and can be used to map buttons to keystrokes or control streaming software like OBS. Its versatility across DAWs and different setups justifies its higher price compared to some competitors.
The controller features a sleeker, more elegant, and minimalistic design compared to its predecessors. Its main rivals in the mixer-style MIDI controller market are the Korg nanoKONTROL Studio and the Akai MIDImix. The Korg nanoKONTROL Studio offers wireless Bluetooth operation but has smaller, less precise controls, especially for live use. The Akai MIDImix is more affordable but lacks the Mk3’s build quality, RGB feedback, and deep Ableton integration.
The Launch Control XL Mk3 includes an array of faders, rotary knobs, and illuminated pads. It comes bundled with Ableton Live Lite, Klevgr. Fosfat, BABY Audio Parallel Aggressor, Output Movement, and Cubase LE.
While the Launch Control XL Mk3 lacks velocity or pressure support for more expressive performance, its improved software editor allows for adjusting parameters, including minimum and maximum ranges, for each knob, fader, and button, and it displays their CC values. The controller has undergone significant improvements for DAW control and standalone usage, making it a flexible tool for studio and live setups.
In summary, the Launch Control XL Mk3 improves tactile control with longer faders and endless encoders, adds a clear OLED screen for intuitive feedback, expands hardware connectivity with MIDI DIN ports, and enhances on-device customization and transport control, making it a valuable addition to any musician's arsenal.
- This controller, compatible with streaming software like OBS, is not only adaptable to various MIDI-compliant software but also suitable for controlling smart-home devices as it functions as a versatile gadget.
- As technology advances, the Launch Control XL Mk3, with its array of faders, rotary knobs, and illuminated pads, offers a smart-home device user a degree of control that transcends music production, making it an appealing gadget in the world of gear.
- In addition to its enhanced features for music production, the Launch Control XL Mk3, with the ability to control streaming software, can be considered a suitable plugin for the streaming needs of modern tech-centric musicians.
