As with most producers nowadays, I have a hybrid studio setup. The convenience of digital with the still desirable analog sound, and hardware control. I’ve been looking for a long time for a controller that successfully ties control of most of the elements of my studio into one box, that doesn’t break the bank.
I feel that finally, the system is able to be bridged and controlled well, with the third iteration of this Launch Control XL MkIII MIDI controller from Novation. In use for the past few weeks, I’ve found it to be a very versatile piece of equipment, and there are probably hundreds of use cases for it where it would excel. However, in this review I’ll talk more about how it fits into my workflow, composing music with both software synths, plugins, as well as hardware analog gear that is MIDI controllable.
TL;DR: The Verdict
The Novation Launch Control XL MkIII is a high-utility bridge for producers tired of “mouse-clicking” their way through a hybrid studio. By providing a unified interface for both VSTs and analog hardware, it brings much-needed consistency to the creative process.
The Good:
- Hybrid Powerhouse: Dual 5-pin MIDI outs and USB-C allow simultaneous control of hardware synths and DAWs.
- OLED Feedback: Clear labeling on the screen saves you from memorizing dozens of custom mappings.
- Rock-Solid Build: High-quality faders and knobs with improved, finer response for precise tweaking.
- Software Integration: The Components software makes complex MIDI CC and NRPN mapping surprisingly simple.
The Not-So-Good:
- No Soft Takeover (Yet): Parameters can “jump” to the fader’s physical position rather than catching up smoothly (Pickup Mode).
- Non-Capacitive: You have to move a control to see its label on the screen; you can’t just touch it to preview.
Price: $249.99
Best For: Producers looking to unify their workflow across hardware synths (Moog, Prophet, etc.) and software (Omnisphere, Ableton).
Build Quality and Connections
I won’t spend much time on the description of the gear – It has knobs, faders, and buttons; the build quality is very good, with just the right amount of stiffness and movement to feel like solidity under your fingers. They’ve just updated the knob response to allow finer control, which made a lot of difference. I also personally really like the design – it’s much nicer, and more modern, to my eyes than the last iteration. One huge addition that really made it stand out was 5-pin MIDI at the back. I can connect concurrently to the Computer with USB-C, and also with all the synths dotted around my studio with two hardware MIDI outs, routed through my MIDI box.
But it starts getting properly interesting with the included software..
Mapping it all out
The challenge with hybrid studios is consistency of interaction with different elements of the studio. You automate filter sweeps on a soft synth with a mouse, or map MIDI to your controller. But then you have to reach somewhere else to do the same thing on your moog, and then again and again depending on what you’re using.
It might seem like a small detail,, but it really affects the speed that you write music with. The reason I liked the Launch Control XL is that through the software, you can standardize your control surface across all these devices, permanently.
Instead of relying on each synth’s panel or GUI, you can map the same basic controller layout to multiple instruments, or plugins.
The software that enables all this is called components. It comes as a download with purchase of the Launch Control XL. Once loaded up, it finds the hardware automatically, and gives you a graphic image of the Launch Control. Simply clicking on the images you can assign any midi CC, or NRPN control to that particular knob, fader, or button. Once you’ve created your control preset, you can save it in the software, and then load it up into one of 16 slots.
One element I particularly liked about the Launch Control XL was the small OLED screen. It looks like it won’t be useful, but you can label every control in the software, and once using the presets while working, you can glance at the screen to confirm you’re using the right control. Very useful!
In my studio I have a prophet 6, Korg Mono/Poly,, and Moog sub37, and they now all have their own Launch Control preset. I press two buttons, and the Launch Control now is set up for that particular instrument. But so I don’t have to remember what controls what, I know that the same particular fader will control the LP cutoff on any of the synths. Same with all the similar parameters across the instruments. (Envelopes, resonance, detune, etc etc)
It sounds silly, but it really has increased both the speed at which I work, and perhaps more importantly the quality of performance I send into the DAW. I’m able to manipulate the sound of the instrument as I record, rather than playing the MIDI, then going back over the recording automating all the parameters I want to. Automation is the same, so I can tweak it once recorded.
If you’d rather see the gear in action, here is my hands-on video review of the Launch Control XL 3.
Hardware and Software controlled simultaneously!
Ok, so that might be a slight exaggeration, but it’s only slight. In the video above, I show how I switched from controlling my prophet 6 to create a pad, and by pressing 2 buttons, immediately was in control of Spectrasonics Omnisphere, controlling the Global effects page of a string patch. Spectrasonics have worked hard on incorporating maps for all well-known MIDI controllers. So I didn’t even need to spend time mapping a preset out for Omnisphere, it was literally plug and play, controlling envelopes, filter, reverb, distortion. And then I could quickly flip back to controlling the prophet, to tweak an element of the sound.
I can’t emphasize how amazingly efficient this is, and how unnecessarily excited I got while using it.
Workflow Improvements
After integrating the Launch Control XL into a hybrid studio, several workflow improvements become obvious.
Less Mouse Usage
The biggest change is reduced reliance on the mouse. I HATE having to use a mouse, and have always preferred directly tweaking parameters on my synths. Now I can tweak parameters on every soft and hard synth I have, without having to move from the desk!
Faster Sound Design
As a follow up for that, I’ve always been able to design my sounds quicker on hardware synths, as I can change parameters as I think about it. Being able to do that with my softsynths is… well, game-changing.
Consistent Control Layout
Using the same controller layout across multiple instruments builds muscle memory. I found myself pretty quickly reaching for the same fader or knob across my instruments.
Final Thoughts
In an era where many studios combine analog hardware with powerful software instruments, having a unified control surface can dramatically improve workflow. I believe the Novation Launch Control XL MkIII provides exactly that, without costing an arm and a leg.
It is a well-designed, quality piece of gear, and the software has proven to be intuitive and stable. That said, there are a couple of “niggles” I hope they address in future firmware updates:
- Soft Takeover (Pickup Mode): I would love to see a “Soft Takeover” or “Pickup” mode implemented for the faders. Currently, parameters can jump to the fader’s physical position rather than catching up to the software value smoothly. I know this is a common challenge when bridging software and analog hardware, but it would be a game-changer for performance.
- Capacitive Touch: Currently, the OLED screen only displays the control label once you move a fader or knob. While this is likely a hardware limitation, having capacitive touch sensitivity—allowing you to brush a control to see its label before moving it—would be the ultimate quality-of-life improvement.
Regardless, for hybrid studios, this level of versatility is invaluable. While it may lack some of the premium aesthetic polish of much more expensive control surfaces, its practicality and adaptability make it one of the most useful controllers available for producers who want hands-on control across their entire studio ecosystem.
For anyone juggling hardware synths, software instruments, and a DAW simultaneously, the Launch Control XL can easily become the central command hub of your studio.
The Launch Control XL MkIII retails for $249.99. You can find more information here
