Applies to:
- Launchkey MK4
- Launchkey MK4 Mini
- Launch Control XL 3
- Launch Control 3
- Launchpad X
- Launchpad Mini MK3
Launchkey MK4, Launchkey MK4 Mini, Launch Control XL 3, Launch Control 3, Launchpad X, and Launchpad Mini MK3 can send keystroke commands in the same way a computer keyboard can.
On these products, pads, and fader buttons can send either keystroke commands or keystroke combinations, which is useful for shortcuts such as copy and paste, or to mimic transport controls for DAWs that don't feature an integration, for example.
This article demonstrates how to create a custom layout for triggering shortcuts within a DAW. You can also find a video tutorial here:
Although the article looks at how to use this to control the keyboard shortcuts in Logic with a Launchkey MK4, this method can be applied to any DAWs or software application, using any of the applicable MIDI controllers listed above.
Selecting the shortcuts to use
The first step is to know which shortcuts you want to control from your MIDI controller. For example, a list of keyboard shortcuts available for use in Logic Pro for Mac can be found here:
support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/logicpro/lgcp02bf31b6/mac
In Logic, using B on a computer keyboard shows the Smart Controls – this is useful as Smart Controls are controllable from the encoders of Launchkey. Similarly, access to the Mixer view with X can be used to see any changes made with the faders, for example.
Adding the shortcuts to your MIDI controller
The keyboard shortcuts are configured as part of the Custom Mode slots. To create the Custom Mode in Components, click 'Manage Launchkey MK4':
You may be asked to update your firmware before doing this, if your firmware is not up-to-date.
Once you're in the 'Custom Modes' view, click 'Create Custom Mode':
For this example, we'll customise the Launchkey's pads to send keystroke messages. To do this, select the 'Pads' option:
Keystrokes can be sent from pads (Launchkey MK4, Launchkey MK4 Mini, Launchpad X, Launchpad Mini MK3) and fader buttons (Launchkey MK4 49 and 61, Launch Control XL 3 and Launch Control 3).
To have a pad send a Keystroke, click on one of the pads to select it, and set the 'Message Type' option to 'Keystroke'. Then, click the 'Key Combination' box and enter the desired key (e.g. B), or key combination (e.g. Shift + T), on your computer keyboard to assign the selected pad to that function.
In this example, the top-left pad has been assigned to the B key, which corresponds to the 'Show/Hide Smart Control' function in Logic. Renaming this under the 'Name' field will mean this function will be shown on Launchkey’s screen every time the pad is pressed.
Send the Custom Mode to your MIDI controller
If using one of the included Custom Modes provided as an attachment to this article, you can use the 'Upload Custom Mode' option in Components to edit and/or send one of these templates to your MIDI controller.
Once you're done customising, you need to send the Custom Mode to your MIDI controller. To do this, click 'Send to' in the top-right.
Select one of the available slots (e.g. slot 1), and click on 'Overwrite Custom Mode' – the mode will then appear on the hardware, in the selected slot.
These are just starting points, you can customise what’s here to suit your need. For example, you could include notes to use as drum pads, or switches for effects.
Some mappings will be specific to your operating system if you use the Ctrl (Windows) or CMD (Mac) keys.
Description of provided Launchkey MK4 Custom Modes
Logic Shortcuts+
This mode is what is shown in the video with additional functions added, from the top-left:
- The first pad is used to show/hide the Smart Controls.
- The second pad is used to show/hide the Mixer.
- The third pad shows/hides the piano roll.
- The fourth pad opens/closes plug-in windows for the selected track.
- The next two pads have been disabled to space out the controls.
- The seventh pad is set to CMD C for copy.
- The eighth pad is set to CMD V for paste.
- The ninth (bottom row, leftmost), tenth and eleventh pad is set to notes in the C1 octave, ideal for use playing drums.
- The twelfth and thirteenth pad has been disabled.
- Pad fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen are set to notes in the C-2 octave– these are intended for use as key switches for articulation on sample based instruments, such as Orchestral Tools, which is provided with Launchkey MK4.
Ableton Live Shortcuts
This mode is available for Mac/Windows respectively. It controls shortcuts and allows for browsing/selection of content in the browser. From the top-left:
- The first pad is set to the Tab key which can be used to change between the Session and Arrangement window.
- The second pad is set to show the mixer (as of Live 12 can be used in either Session or Arrangement views).
- The third pad shows/hides the selected clip.
- The fourth pad shows/hides the device view.
- The fifth pad is disabled to space out the controls.
- The sixth pad shows/hides the browser. Using this will focus the cursor here and can be used in combination with the pads for the browser (described next).
- The collection of pads next to this in white/grey can be used to move through the browser (cursor keys in White) and selecting a preset/sample with the Enter key (grey). This is useful for selecting an instrument.
- The ninth pad (bottom left) is used to create a new audio track.
- The tenth pad is used to create a new MIDI track.
Cubase Shortcuts
This mode can be used on either Mac or Windows. It moves through views, offer some additional transport and undo control, as well as notes for playing drums for the pads. From the top-left:
- The first pad is used to show/hide the mixer within the main window of Cubase.
- The second pad is used to show/hide the editor within the main window of Cubase.
- Pads three through to 6 are disabled to better space out controls.
- The seventh pad is used to Tap Tempo values in.
- The eighth pad toggles Auto-Scroll on and off for the transport. This is set to Toggle.
- The ninth (bottom row, leftmost), tenth and eleventh pad is set to notes in the C1 octave, ideal for use playing drums.
- The twelfth pad is disabled.
- The thirteenth pad is set to a CC message that will toggle on and off. This could be manually assigned to control something through manual assignment.
- The fourteenth pad is disabled.
- Pads fifteen and sixteen are used for mixer Undo/Redo - an undo function additional the Undo/Redo already available on Launchkey MK4.
OBS-Streaming
This mode is available for Mac/Windows respectively. It is designed to be used with streaming applications such as OBS - functions here require manually assignment. Additional controls are provided for moving between applications and playback controls for applications like Spotify. From the top-left:
- The first and second pad are used to tab between applications.
- The third pad is used in the Mac version for Ctrl, which allows tabbing between browser tabs or multiple desktops (with the arrow keys).
- The fourth pad is disabled to better space out controls.
- The fifth pad is used to control playback in media applications (with the space bar).
- The sixth pad is disabled to better space out controls.
- Pads seven and either are intended to be assigned to select different scenes in OBS.
- Pads nine and ten are arrow keys to be used with the modifier keys above them.
- Pads eleven and twelve are disabled to space out controls.
- Pads thirteen through to sixteen are for assignment to Start/stopping streaming and recording in OBS.