Launch Control XL MK1 and MK2 feature HUI integration, which means you can use it to control the Mixer in Cubase, Logic or Pro Tools*.
*Due to the Pro Tool's HUI implementation, the Launch Control XL pot centre detent doesn't correspond to the centre position of Pro Tool’s pan pots. The controls still work relatively well to turn pans left and right. HUI is designed to work with encoders for pan and send controls. The Launch Control XL has pots rather than encoders, which have an absolute position. To make these work, we ‘emulate’ the operation of the encoders in firmware.
The pan and send controls don’t have pot pick-up, they move immediately from whatever position they are in. This is great if you want to make a small adjustment, but you may find you hit the end of the pot’s physical travel before the virtual control on-screen. To correct this you may need to turn the control from one end to the other to reset the range. You will need to do this when you first load a session, when you bank tracks (9-16, 17-24 etc.), or when you change from pan to send a, send b, etc.
Installation
To use your Launch Control XL MK1/MK2 as a HUI control surface, you need to install the latest firmware version. Most units will have this, but you can check this using Components.
If using a Mac:
- Open the ‘Audio MIDI Setup’ application on your Mac
- Select ‘Window’ > ‘Show MIDI Studio’
- Ensure the Launch Control XL is showing two MIDI ports - ‘Launch Control XL’ and ‘HUI’ as shown below:
If you only see one MIDI port, select ‘Configuration’ > ‘New Configuration’ and name the new configuration ‘HUI’.
Once this is done, the Launch Control XL should show the two MIDI ports.
DAW Setup
Cubase
To set the Launch Control XL up as a HUI control surface in Cubase, navigate to ‘Devices’ > ‘Device Setup’ > ‘MIDI port setup’. Ensure your ports are set as shown below, the ‘LaunchControl XL HUI’ port MUST NOT have ‘in ‘all MIDI ins’’ enabled:
Click the small ‘+’ icon in Cubase's ‘Device setup’ window and select ‘Mackie HUI’. Now, in the ‘Mackie HUI’ tab, set the input and output port to ‘Launch Control XL HUI’ as shown below:
Note: The ‘Launch Control XL HUI’ port may show as ‘MIDIIN2’/’MIDIOUT2’ or something similar on Windows.
Logic Pro X
To set the Launch Control XL up as a HUI control surface in Logic, navigate to ‘Logic’ > ‘Control Surfaces’ > ‘Setup’. Select ‘New’ > ‘Install’ > select ‘Mackie Designs | HUI | HUI’ from the list and click ‘Add’.
Now, select the ‘HUI’ device in the ‘Logic’ > ‘Control surfaces’ > ‘Setup’ window and set the input and output port as ‘Launch Control XL HUI’ as shown below:
Pro Tools
To set the Launch Control XL up as a HUI control surface in Pro Tools, navigate to ‘Setup’ > ‘Peripherals’ > ‘MIDI Controllers’. Set a MIDI controller ‘Type’ > ‘HUI’, ‘Receive From’ > ‘Launch Control XL HUI’, ‘Send To’ > ‘Launch Control XL HUI’ and ‘#Ch’s’ > ‘8’ as shown below:
Due to the Pro Tool's HUI implementation, the centre detent of the Launch Control XL pan pots will not directly correspond to the centre position of Pro Tool’s pan pots.
Pro Tools will also not allow the 4th dial in the second row to be assigned to parameters, as it treats the message as the park of a bank select fine message.
Note: The ‘Launch Control XL HUI’ port may show as ‘MIDIIN2’/’MIDIOUT2’ or something similar on Windows.
Studio One
To set the Control XL up as a HUI control surface in Studio One, navigate to the Preferences menu > External Devices > Add... > From the list select the Mackie folder > HUI > Set receive from to Launch Control XL HUI. Set Send to to Launch Control XL HUI > Click OK.
Note: The ‘Launch Control XL HUI’ port may show as ‘MIDIIN2’/’MIDIOUT2’ or something similar on Windows.
Reaper
Open Reaper with Launch Control XL connected to your computer via USB, then go to:
Reaper > Settings... > Control/OSC/web
Click 'Add' and select HUI (partial):
Under 'MIDI input', select Focusrite - Novation - Launch Control XL HUI
Under 'MIDI output', select Focusrite - Novation - Launch Control XL HUI
Click 'OK'. The Control/OSC/web window should match the following:
Click 'OK' to close the window.
Note: The ‘Launch Control XL HUI’ port may show as ‘MIDIIN2’/’MIDIOUT2’ or something similar on Windows.
Functionality
- The top two rows of pots are MIDI mappable, they have no default functionality.
- The third row of pots can control the pan, send A, B, C, D or E. You can choose which parameter you want to control using the ‘Device’ button.
- The Sliders control track volume.
- The upper row of buttons is used for track selection.
- The lower row of buttons is used for Mute, Solo or Record Arm. You can choose which parameter you want to control using the ‘Mute’, ‘Solo’ and ‘Record Arm’ buttons on the right-hand side of the unit.
- The ‘Track Select’ buttons can be used for switching between banks of 8 tracks in your DAW.