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How to setup my Launchkey in Cubase

  • Updated

Applies to Launchkey and Cubase

Cubase is a DAW developed by Steinberg. Your Launchkey can be used to control aspects of Cubase either via a dedicated control script or through HUI. This offers controls such as transport, mixer and plugin control.

Select your Launchkey below to see how to set it up.

Launchkey MK4

Cubase has changed over the years both visually and in its feature set.  Depending on the version you are using, some features may not be present and may look different. 

Starting in Cubase 12, Steinberg introduced the MIDI remote editor that allows for custom control scripts to allow control from your Launchkey. Prior to this, your Launchkey will only work as a HUI controller.

From Cubase 12, when you connect your Launchkey to your computer, Cubase should automatically detect the Launchkey and set the device up. If this does not occur, the Launchkey can be manually set up following these steps.

Select the accordion below for the version of Cubase you use.

Cubase 16 and onwards

  1. Open External Devices: 
    On macOS, navigate to Cubase → Settings... → External Devices 
    On Windows, navigate to Edit → Settings → External Devices

  2. Click the + Add Device button
     

     

  3. Select Remote
     

     

  4. Set Controller to your Launchkey
  5. Under MIDI Ports, set the Input Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK4 DAW Out
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MK4 MIDI)
  6. Set the Output Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK4 DAW In
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MK4 MIDI)
  7. Click OK

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

Cubase 12 to 15

If you are using a version of Cubase before version 14.0.20 you will need to first download and install the control script. This can be accessed from the Novation downloads page here

  1. Navigate to Studio → MIDI Remote Manager

  2. Click the + Add Surface button
     

     

  3. Set the Vendor to Novation and the model to your Launchkey


     
  4. Under MIDI Ports, set the Input Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK4 DAW Out
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MK4 MIDI)
  5. Set the Output Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK4 DAW In
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MK4 MIDI)
  6. Click Activate MIDI Controller Surface

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

Cubase 11 and earlier

  1. Navigate to Studio → Studio Setup
     

     

  2. Click + Add Device and select Mackie HUI from the drop down menu
     

     

  3. Under Mackie HUI, Set the MIDI Input:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK4 DAW Out
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MK4 MIDI)

  4. Set the MIDI Output:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK4 DAW In
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MK4 MIDI)
     

     

  5. Click OK

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

To learn more about how to control Cubase once your Launchkey is setup, please see the DAW control section of the Launchkey user guide.

Launchkey MK4 User Guides

Launchkey MK3

Cubase has changed over the years both visually and in its feature set.  Depending on the version you are using, some features may not be present and may look different. 

Starting in Cubase 12, Steinberg introduced the MIDI remote editor that allows for custom control scripts to allow control from your Launchkey. Prior to this, your Launchkey will only work as a HUI controller.

From Cubase 12, when you connect your Launchkey to your computer, Cubase should automatically detect the Launchkey and set the device up. If this does not occur, the Launchkey can be manually set up following these steps.

Select the accordion below for the version of Cubase you use.

Cubase 16 and onwards

  1. Open External Devices:
    On macOS, navigate to Cubase → Settings... → External Devices
    On Windows, navigate to Edit → Settings → External Devices

  2. Click the + Add Device button
     

     

  3. Select Remote
     

     

  4. Set Controller to your Launchkey
  5. Under MIDI Ports, set the Input Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK3 DAW Out
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MK3 MIDI)
  6. Set the Output Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK3 DAW In
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MK3 MIDI)
  7. Click OK

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

Cubase 12 to 15

If you are using a version of Cubase before version 14.0.20 you will need to first download and install the control script. This can be accessed from the Novation downloads page here

  1. Navigate to Studio → MIDI Remote Manager

  2. Click the + Add Surface button
     

     

  3. Set the Vendor to Novation and the model to your Launchkey


     
  4. Under MIDI Ports, set the Input Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK3 DAW Out
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MK3 MIDI)
  5. Set the Output Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK3 DAW In
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MK3 MIDI)
  6. Click Activate MIDI Controller Surface

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

Cubase 11 and earlier

  1. Navigate to Studio → Studio Setup
     

     

  2. Click Add Device and select Mackie HUI from the drop down menu
     

     

  3. Under Mackie HUI, Set the MIDI Input:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK3 DAW Out
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MK3 MIDI)

  4. Set the MIDI Output:
    On macOS, select Launchkey MK3 DAW In
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MK3 MIDI)
     

     

  5. Click OK

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

Launchkey MK1 and MK2

Cubase has changed over the years both visually and in its feature set.  Depending on the version you are using, some features may not be present and may look different. 

The Launchkey MK1 and MK2 do not feature a dedicated control script for Cubase, so they will only work as a HUI device instead.

Select the accordion below for the version of Cubase you use.

Cubase 16 and onwards

  1. Open External Devices:
    On macOS, navigate to Cubase → Settings... → External Devices
    On Windows, navigate to Edit → Settings → External Devices

  2. Click the + Add Device button
     

     

  3. Select Remote, set the Controller to Mackie → HUI and click OK
     

     

  4. Under Ports, set the MIDI Input:
    On macOS, select Launchkey InControl
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MIDI)

  5. Set the MIDI Port:
    On macOS, select Launchkey InControl
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MIDI)
     

     

  6. Click OK

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

Cubase 15 and earlier

  1. Navigate to Studio → Studio Setup
     

     

  2. Click + Add Device and select Mackie HUI from the drop down menu.
     

     

  3. Under Mackie HUI, set the MIDI Input:
    On macOS, select Launchkey InControl
    On Windows, select MIDIOUT2 (Launchkey MIDI)
  4. Set the MIDI Output:
    On macOS, select Launchkey InControl
    On Windows, select MIDIIN2 (Launchkey MIDI)
  1. Click OK

Your Launchkey should now be set up as a control surface in Cubase.

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