After giving it its first firmware update earlier this year, Novation has given its Launch Control XL 3 a whole new baby sibling with the Launch Control 3.
Designed for additional hands-on control with DAWs plugins and hardware both in studio and stage environments, the Launch Control 3 arrives as the latest addition to Novation’s line of compact control surfaces, bringing a number of upgrades and modern features. It’s essentially a downsized version of the Launch Control XL 3 with a similar sleek aesthetic vibe, eschewing its faders for a knob-and-button-only control surface.
Novation Launch Control 3: features and specs
DAW integration is the bread and butter of the Launch Control, so like its big brother the Launch Control XL, this new unit is compatible with most major workstations, with “deep integration” with the likes of Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase and Bitwig. The unit also features Mackie HUI support for Pro Tools.
At the core of the interface sit 16 endless rotary encoders/knobs, which can be assigned to pan tracks, tweak send levels, or set to control whatever parameters you like. Each of these is customisable using adjustable acceleration curves, and has its own RGB status indicator. You can also store up to seven Custom Modes, and manage them via Novation’s Components hub.
There’s also eight assignable buttons which can be used to Solo, Arm, Mute or Select tracks, or indeed mapped to specific functions to suit your own workflow.
The front face of the Launch Control 3 features a crisp OLED display, too, offering “detailed, real-time feedback” of any parameter adjustments.
You can also connect a host of hardware to the Launch Control 3, too, with 5-pin MIDI In, Out, and Out2/Thru options available offering connectivity to other devices without a computer.
Finally, the Launch Control 3 also comes with a host of additional software, including entry-level DAWs Ableton Live Lite and Cubase LE, plus Klevgrand Fosfat percussion enhancer, Baby Audio Parallel Aggressor and Output Movement.
Pricing & availability
The Launch Control 3 is available now for pre-order, both direct from the Novation website and via select authorised retailers. Shipping is expected to begin in late March 2026. Price-wise the Launch Control 3 clocks in at $169.99 / £ 129.99 / €126.
Learn more at Novation.
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