⚠️ Bitwig 5.0+ natively supports the Launchpad Pro Mk3

My job here is done, in light of official support for the LP Pro Mk3, I'm no longer updating this script or answering issues. You are welcome to fork the project and apply your own changes as you desire! If you would like features added to the official script, contact Bitwig directly.

Thanks everyone for using it, it was fun to build.

-wes

Launchpad Pro Mk3 for Bitwig (Bitwig Controller Script)

A Bitwig controller script that matches (and expands) the functionality that Novation and Ableton provide for Live. It was implemented based on the Launchpad Pro Mk3 manual feature descriptions, so the Launchpad will do what it says on the buttons.

The standalone features of the Launchpad, Notes/Chord/Custom modes and the Sequencer will all work seamlessly in Bitwig.

Bitwig is different from Ableton Live, so there are a few differences. Specific to Bitwig, this script supports a rotated view for Arrange view, Multiple Devices and remote pages, 8 Sends per channel and more.

Enjoy!

PS—If you want something that goes beyond what the Launchpad says on the buttons, check out DrivenByMoss.

Setup

1. Download the latest release (not source) from the releases section on the right of this page.

2. Unzip and copy the Launchpad-Pro-Mk3-for-Bitwig_1.x folder to your Bitwig My Controller Scripts location.

3. Restart Bitwig and open Settings > Controllers.

4. Add the Controller (Novation > Launchpad Pro Mk3).

   • Note: Depending on your OS or configuration, your device names may differ.

   • macOS: Select "Launchpad Pro MK3 LPProMK3 DAW" device in the first slot of input and output, and "Launchpad Pro MK3 LPProMK3 MIDI" device in the 2nd slot of each pair.

   • Windows: Select "MIDIIN3 (LPProMK3 MIDI)" device in the first slot as input, "MIDIOUT3 (LPProMK3 MIDI)" as output, and "LPProMK3 MIDI" device in the 2nd slot of each pair.

     

5. Go to Bitwig > Settings > Synchronization.

   • Note: Depending on your OS or configuration, your device names may differ.

   • Send Clock and Start/Stop to the Launchpad Pro Mk3 devices.

     

6. When the Launchpad connects, you will be presented with the controller options.

   • Grid > Orientation: Allows a Rotated view on the Grid to match the clip layout of Bitwig.
     • Mix view matches the standard Launchpad orientation. Most of this documentation will refer to Mix orientation.
     • Arrange will be rotated to match the clip launcher in the Arrange View of Bitwig. The navigation arrows will adjust automatically. Note that this will also swap the Track Selection Buttons with the Scene Launch buttons on the Launchpad UI. This is mostly a non issue, except in the standalone Launchpad modes, the scene buttons are disabled.
     • Follow Bitwig Will swap between Arrange and Mix orientations as you change the view in Ableton or with the Launchpad (Shift + • and Shift + ••).
   • Grid > Pan Faders: Control the orientation of the Pan Faders
     • Follow Orientation will match the Grid Orientation option above; this will make the fader match the orientation of the Volume Faders, depending on Mix or Arrange view. When they are vertical, Fader Up = Pan Right and Fader Down = Pan Left.
     • Horizontal Only, left is left, right is right.
   • Rainbow Faders: Toggle On to show the track/send/device control colours on the Fader displays.
   • Indicators > Scene / Slots: Will show you, in Bitwig, which scenes and slots are reflected on the LaunchPad.

How to Use

You can follow along with section 5. Session Mode of the Novation Launchpad Mk3 Manual. I will only cover the differences here, keeping the same headings, any missing section are already covered, and work the same here.

5.1 Ableton Live’s Session View

The shift function Capture MIDI is not a feature currently offered in Bitwig.

5.2 Session Overview

There is no "Session Overview" implemented but...

• Shift + Up/Down/Left/Right will scroll the grid 1 page (8 tracks/scenes) at a time.

5.3 Clip Functions

5.3.7 Fixed Length

• Fixed Length will toggle your Post recording Action / delay option between your configured setting, and Off. There is no controls on the Launchpad adjust the length, you can do that in the Play menu in Bitwig. White for disabled, orange for enabled. Setting to Post recording Action / delay to Play Recorded and setting a length will match Ableton Live's functionality.

5.4.4 Volume

Orientation changes will rotate these faders.

• The Track Select Buttons will reset your track to the default volume.

5.4.5 Pan

Orientation changes will rotate these faders.

• The Track Select Buttons will reset your track to center pan.
• Orientation of these faders is as you configured (or didn't) in the Controller Settings.

5.4.6 Send

Orientation changes will rotate these faders.

• The Track Select Buttons will reset your track the send to zero.
• Use the Up/Down arrows* and Scene (1-8) buttons to select the send. (*Arrange orientation will rotate these)

5.4.7 Device

Orientation changes will NOT affect these faders. They are always vertical.

• These 8 faders represent the 8 remote controls on the currently selected Device in Bitwig.
• • The Track Select Buttons will reset the control to the default.
• Use the Up/Down arrows and Scene (1-8) buttons to select the Remote Control Page.
• Use the Left/Right arrows move through the devices in the track.

5.4.9 Fader orientation

• Covered above. We allow for matching the Bitwig Arrange view. This is one of the Bitwig specific upgrades here.

5.5 Record Arm & Recording

The Record button is more of an Overdub button.

• It is not connected to the Arrange view Record button in Bitwig.
• This button works similarly to the Ableton version, in that it toggle Clip Overdub (aka Session Record in Ableton Live) on for the Clip Launcher. White for disabled, orange for enabled.
• Your track will need to be armed in order for any overdubbing to take place.
• If you record a clip from the grid, you can also use the Record button to finish recording (so you don't need to hunt for the grid button you pressed).
• If your selected track is Armed, pressing Shift + Record will record a new clip in the first available slot on that track. Pressing it a 2nd time will finish recording (as described above). When holding shift, your Record button will be red (not orange/white) when this function is available.

5.6 Production Controls

Along with the features covered in the Novation manual, we have a few others.

• Shift + • (Volume) and Shift + •• (Pan) will change your Bitwig view to Arrange and Mix respectively.
  • When Bitwig is in Arrange view, the Novation logo will pulse orange.
  • You can have the Launchpad UI rotate automatically if you set your Grid > Orientation to Follow Bitwig.
  • Depending on your Display Profile, these options may or may not be available, you may want to fix your Grid > Orientation in that case.
• Shift + Swing will toggle Groove in Bitwig. White for disabled, orange for enabled.
• Shift + Play will reset your play head to the start of the arrange timeline. If you manually set the start point, then the Play button on it's own will start and stop from that point, very handy if you want to work on a section of your track.

5.7 Momentary View Switching

This feature actually works much better here than when connected to Ableton Live.

6.6 Drum Mode

• Notes mode will change to Drum mode when a track has a Drum Machine in it. You will be able to access 4 Pages of the Drum Machine from the LaunchPad. Starting from the Page 1 on the bottom-left quadrant, to Page 2 on the top-left, Page 3 on the bottom-right, and Page 4 on the top-right.
• The Arrows will not affect the Grid placement, unlike the Ableton Live integration, the Grid notes are fixed here.

9. Sequencer

9.11 Print to Clip

The shift function Print to Clip is not a feature currently offered in Bitwig.

Errata / Tips

• You may notice that Flashing and Pulsing LEDs will stop flashing or pulsing, Toggle Play on and off to send a clock signal to the LaunchPad so it can set the flash/pulse rate. Ableton always sends a clock, so this is not noticeable when using ableton. Bitwig only sends a clock when the transport is running.
• If you change Display Profiles, you will need to disconnect and reconnect the controller for all of it's function to work properly.

Developer Notes

Features / Pull Requests / Forks

• I'm likely to fix bugs or improve behaviour, but less likely to add anything else. FAFO— Make an issue or pull request and we'll see where it goes.
• Fork away, this has the functionality I was looking to implement, you want to launch point for your own project, have at it!
• Released under GPL.

Build yourself (thanks Fannon)

• Install Node.js
• Check out this repository via Git
• npm install
• npm run build
• Symlink or copy the contents from the ./dist folder into your Bitwig "My Controller Scripts" location
  • Consider creating a subfolder for this, e.g. Launchpad-Pro-Mk3-for-Bitwig

Additional Resources

• Launchpad Pro Mk3 Programmer's Reference Guide

Hat tips

First and foremost, I want to thank Fannon for the inspiration to make this script. I started with their project, but it quickly grew into something else. There is some shreds of the original still in there.

Also Jürgen Mossgraber and DrivenByMoss are a great reference for any Bitwig controller script programming.