Novation LaunchControl XL Mk3 Review: A Versatile Hub for the Modern Studio

Novation has long been a name synonymous with intuitive and powerful MIDI controllers, and with the latest iteration, the LaunchControl XL Mk3, they’ve once again raised the bar. Positioned as a significant evolution in their lineup, this controller bridges the gap between dedicated Ableton Live control and a universal hardware hub, making it a very strong contender in its class for producers with hybrid setups.

First Impressions

Upon first glance, the LaunchControl XL3 presents a slick and refined aesthetic, a notable departure from its predecessor but bringing the product in line with their current design language seen on the new LaunchKey Mk4 series which we reviewed here. The updated hardware and sleek new design are immediately apparent, bringing the controller firmly into the modern era. The inclusion of a compact yet informative OLED display (the same as on the LaunchKey) is a very welcome addition, providing essential visual feedback that reduces reliance on your computer monitor. This, combined with the full-size MIDI DIN In, Out, and Thru ports, instantly signals that this is more than just a DAW accessory; it’s at home with both your computer and in your hardware rig. The build quality feels robust and premium, a reassuring tactile experience that suggests durability for both studio and stage environments. The unit really feels like it could be tossed around with little regard to it's safety, and still come out completely unscathed. The overall footprint is compact enough to fit into most studio setups without dominating desk space, yet substantial enough to feel like a serious piece of equipment.

Key Features

The LaunchControl XL3 boasts a comprehensive set of features designed to streamline interaction with your DAW of choice, or add additional control and functionality to your hardware. At its core are 24 endless rotary encoders, a major improvement over the old fixed-range pots. While the inclusion of endless rotaries is a welcome addition, we were initially confused as to why there isn't an option for relative incremental values though. Novation, however, has indicated that this functionality should be addressed in a future update, which is a promising sign of their commitment to user feedback. Each encoder is accompanied by an RGB LED, providing clear visual indication of its current value and ensuring precise control, especially crucial for live performance and intricate automation. Below these are eight sturdy 60mm faders, offering enough travel for decent mix adjustments, allowing for nuanced control over levels and sends. Despite being a DJ style performance design, the operation is smooth enough that they're more than adequate for finer adjustments in DAW for controlling banks of volume sliders with precision. Complementing these are two rows of eight assignable, LED-equipped buttons that are firm and responsive, which can be assigned to pretty much anything from triggering clips, muting tracks, or executing custom key commands. They don't have much travel and are more 'squishy' than 'clicky', so perhaps not ideal for performance orientated tasks such as playing drum samples, but they do feel robust and their flexibility and visibility is definitely a plus.

Another significant upgrade is the dedicated transport section for play, stop, and record functions. This small but impactful inclusion further streamlines DAW integration, allowing users to stay focused on their performance without constantly reaching for their mouse or keyboard. For connectivity, the full-sized 5-pin DIN MIDI In, Out, and Thru ports open up a wealth of input and output options, allowing the XL3 to function as a powerful standalone hardware controller for DAWless setups. This means it can seamlessly integrate with your hardware synths, drum machines, and other MIDI-equipped gear, offering a tactile control experience even without a computer. It can be powered via USB when connected to a computer, or with a standard USB phone charger for standalone use with hardware, providing flexibility for various studio configurations.

In Use: Workflow and Customization

In the studio, the LaunchControl XL shines, proving itself to be an indispensable tool for a variety of production workflows. For Ableton Live users, the experience is seamless; simply plug it in, and it’s instantly mapped to your session’s mixer, sends, and pans, allowing for immediate hands-on control. The track focus buttons facilitate effortless navigation through your project, enabling quick adjustments across multiple tracks without breaking your creative stride. We had a similar experience with Bitwig's integration which is excellent in our opinion. It's default script features a DAW and Device Mode, giving you detailed control over DAW settings like loop location and length, tempo, Quick Controls for devices plus the ability to switch devices in a rack, plus a while lot more. Novation has provided official scripts for Logic Pro and Cubase, and its HUI compatibility ensures it can handle basic mixer duties in Pro Tools and other DAWs. This broad integration makes it a versatile tool for various production environments, ensuring that producers are not locked into a single ecosystem.

For users wanting to dive deeper and customize their controllers further, the Novation Components software makes this process easy. With Components, you're provided with a hub for all your Novation controller products and provides a clear interface to navigate between your gear (or even gear you don't, just to test out mapping setups). Outside of it's DAW modes, the LaunchControl is a blank canvas, with up to 15 layers of control available as custom layouts, accessible via the mode buttons along the bottom, transforming the controller into a bespoke interface for your specific needs. This means you can map faders to synth envelopes, assign knobs to intricate effect parameters, and program buttons to trigger program changes or other MIDI messages. Buttons can even be assigned to regular keyboard strokes and commands. This deep customisation is what truly makes the LaunchControl XL a universal tool, allowing you to create dedicated controllers for specific hardware synths or drum machines, breathing new life into your existing gear.

The drag-and-drop interface of Components makes the mapping process incredibly straightforward, even for those new to MIDI customization. There is a ton of options for colorizing and naming controls, and thoughtfully, selecting multiple controls makes editing large numbers of MIDI assignments easy all at once. Again, the one downside we experience here was the lack of a relative mode for controls though. The specific case we ran into, was trying to set up a rotary to control gain on an EQ plugin in Bitwig, or browser scrolling functionality via DrivenByMoss' excellent Custom Flexi script. In the case of the EQ, it became necessary to always chase the current value to pick up the control, as the rotaries always output absolute values despite physically being endless. Browser scrolling also required the control to output values relative to it's current position. This is no doubt something that can be implemented via a future firmware update however, and Novation have indicated that they are aware of this.

Conclusion

The Novation LaunchControl XL 3 is a fantastic update that addresses nearly every shortcoming of its original while adding powerful new features that redefine its role in the studio. It has evolved into a versatile hub for the modern studio, catering to both software-centric and hardware-based workflows with equal prowess. The informative OLED screen, comprehensive full MIDI I/O, and the precision and feel of the controls provide an exceptional level of control and feedback.

While the street price of around $249 might be a step up from older models and budget alternatives, the enhanced functionality, robust build quality, and the sheer versatility offered by the LaunchControl XL more than justify the investment. We felt it represents and excellent value considering the quality and flexibility on offer. The ideal user for the new LaunchControl XL is undoubtedly the producer with a hybrid setup. Someone who seamlessly blends the power of a DAW with the tactile joy of hardware synths and drum machines. That said, it's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a more tactile experience while working completely in the box too. If you value deep control, extensive connectivity, and versatility in a compact and road-ready form factor, this is arguably one the best compact controllers on the market. It's a highly recommended upgrade, even for users of previous versions, offering a polished and refined experience that will undoubtedly streamline your workflow and ignite your creative spark.

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Pros

Swiss army knife controller with a ton of flexibility and control.

OLED display and LED visual feedback is excellent.

Tons of connectivity for connecting to additional hardware.

Build quality is incredibly solid, and it looks great too.

Novation Components Software is a pleasure to work with.

Native DAW integration is top notch.

Cons

Pricewise, it's a step up from the old model.

No option to switch between Absolute and Relative control modes yet.

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