While MiniLab 3 allows you to control most Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) of your choice, we have created special controller mapping scripts that allow an even deeper integration and navigation straight from your hardware controller for a selection of DAWs.
You can find the necessary information and the scripts for these DAWs below.
We first have a tutorial video on "How to control Ableton Live".
Please find our dedicated guide for Ableton Live.
Here are its quick setup steps:
- Use the latest version of Ableton Live.
-
Connect your MiniLab 3 and select DAW program (shift + pad 3).
- Go to Live's MIDI settings ("Preferences" -> "Link Tempo MIDI" tab).
- In the MIDI part, select your control surface (MiniLab 3).
- Set the right In and out Port (“MiniLab 3 MIDI” / “MiniLab 3 MIDI”):
- Make sure to disable the “MiniLab DIN THRU”, “MiniLab MCU” and the “Minilab ALV” ports:
The MiniLab 3 should be detected and ready for Live.
Note
Make sure to use Ableton Live 11.2.5 (and later versions) which includes the script to benefit from the expected integration.
We first have a tutorial video on "How to control Bitwig".
Please find our dedicated guide and script for Bitwig.
Here are its quick setup steps:
- Use the latest version of Bitwig Studio that contains the MiniLab 3 integration script (At least version 5).
-
Connect your MiniLab 3 and select DAW program (shift + pad 3).
- Open Bitwig Studio.
- Go to Bitwig Studio's MIDI settings (File Settings Controller tab):
- Choose Add Controller Hardware Vendor, and then Arturia Product MiniLab 3.
- Click on "Add"
- Select the MIDI ports in the input and output:
Your controller is now ready to use with Bitwig Studio.
We first have a tutorial video on "How to control FL Studio".
Please find our dedicated guide and script for FL Studio.
Here are its quick setup steps:
- Use the latest version of FL Studio that contains the MiniLab 3 integration script. (From FL Studio 21)
-
Connect your MiniLab 3 and select DAW program (shift + pad 3).
- Open FL Studio.
- Go to FL Studio MIDI settings (Options MIDI Settings MIDI tab).
- Select the right script called “Arturia MiniLab 3” in the Controller type box under the “Input Section”.
- Select a MIDI port for input and output. You’ll need them to match (see above).
- Make sure you've disabled the “Minilab3 DIN THRU”, the “Minilab3 MCU” and the “Minilab3 ALV” ports.
MiniLab 3 should be detected in FL Studio and ready to use.
Additional Note
In case Faders or Encoders would not be controlling instrument parameters as desired, make sure to refer to the following article to manually map your controls with the help of the "MultiLink to Controllers" feature:
Here are the quick setup steps for Logic Pro:
- To use your MiniLab 3 with Logic Pro, you have to download the script from this link (Make sure to use Logic version 10.7.4 or above).
- Extract the folder and execute the .dmg file to install the script (You should be notified with a pop-up).
- Connect your MiniLab 3 and load the DAW program (shift + pad 3).
- Open Logic Pro and make sure to accept when prompted to "Auto-Assign" the "Minilab3" on opening:
It should be normally automatically set-up and working fine.
- If it does not work immediately, make sure to open the Control Surface > Setup menu.
- If Minilab3 appears in the right section of the Control Surface menu, make sure that the Input and Output ports are correct (as shown on the image below):
- Finally, disable the Minilab3 MCU / Minilab3 DIN THRU / Minilab3 ALV ports in the MIDI section of the Preferences menu, otherwise you will hear some pops and notes when using the Transport function.
Your controller is now ready to use with Logic Pro.
Note
Make sure to use Logic Pro 10.7.4 (and later versions) to benefit from the expected functions with your MiniLab 3.
Troubleshoot
If for some reasons the script would not be working, make sure to check and attempt the following suggestions:
-If the "Auto-Assign" pop-up was not displayed on opening, make sure to first close Logic Pro, to reinstall the script with the steps described above, and then to reset Logic Pro Settings:
Close Logic Pro and open it again and accept if prompted by the "Auto-assign" pop-up.
- Then, if needed, delete also manually the "Minilab3" (or any other device manually created you possibly attempted using to set up your controller) in the "Control Surfaces" -> "Setup" menu ("Delete" Keyboard key):
-Now, click on "New" -> "Install"
-Select the correct “Minilab 3” device in the list and click on "Add".
-Now click on the "Minilab 3" device in the right section of the Control Surface menu and make sure to adjust the Output and Input ports to "Minilab3 MIDI":
-Now, on the controller, press "Prog" to load "DAW" program and give it another try.
MIDI port selection
- Finally, if the Minilab3 MIDI port is not available for selection, make sure to also check via "Audio Midi Setup" -> "Midi Studio" that no custom devices connections as this may prevent the port to be usable for other purposes. If so, clicking on it and pressing "Backspace" key on your computer keyboard should allow you to delete it.
- Also, you can if needed attempt creating another fresh configuration from the top bar for your device to be identified properly once again:
- Once done, open Logic Pro once again, check the above steps to select the correct "Minilab3 MIDI" port in the Control Surface menu and give it another try.
Here are the quick setup steps for Reason:
- Use the latest version of Reason that contains the MiniLab 3 integration script (Reason 12.5).
- Connect your MiniLab 3 and select DAW program (shift + pad 3).
- Open Reason.
- Go to the Reason > "Preferences" > "MIDI" tab.
- You only have to press ”Auto-detect surfaces”. After that, Reason will display an information window.
- If the Auto-detection does not work, you still can manually add your control surface: Select “Add Manually”, and then, select “Arturia” and “MiniLab 3” in the 2 boxes.
- Select the right In/Out combination:
1. In Port: MiniLab 3 MIDI
2. Out Port: MiniLab 3 MIDI
- Select “OK”. You should see an introduction pop-up if it works.
- Disable the Minilab3 MCU / Minilab3 DIN THRU / Minilab3 ALV ports.
- Your controller is now ready to use with Reason.
Here are the quick setup steps for Cubase:
- Download the latest script from the above link and extract the.zip archive content into a folder.
- Connect your MiniLab 3 and select DAW program ("Shift" button + "Prog" PAD 3).
- Open Cubase.
- Click on "Studio" -> “MIDI Remote Manager”:
- Click on the “Import Script” button and select the file previously extracted which should be named "Arturia_MiniLab 3.midiremote":
- Make sure that only the MIDI input port for MiniLab 3 is checked in "Studio">"Studio Setup">"MIDI Port Setup" menu, otherwise you may hear some pops and notes when using the Transport functions.
- Your controller is now ready to be used with Cubase.
Logic Pro script compatibility
-Although we did not fully test or validate its compatibility, you should be able to download and install the Logic Pro script (refer to dedicated section above for the guide and steps) following the same described steps.
-Once installed, on next opening, make sure to click on "Auto Assign" for the script to be considered:
-Here is a quick description of the available controls:
Shift + Pads (Loop / Play / Stop / Record): Allows to control Transports functions.
Black encoder: Allows to move from one track to another.
Fader n°1: Allows to control the volume of the currently highlighted track (can be selected with Black encoder)
Fader n°4: Allows to control the pan of the currently highlighted track as well
Without Logic Pro script installed, the MiniLab 3 will operate as a generic MIDI controller with GarageBand and won't benefit from the same integration as all the other DAWs for which we provide dedicated scripts.
Also, since GarageBand does not handle Mackie or HUI protocols nor allows users to manually map parameters to external devices (alternate methods to support such kind of features) this means that some advanced functions, such as DAW controls and Transport controls (Play, Stop, Rec), won't work with GarageBand by default.
- To start using as a generic controller, no specific setup steps should be needed as long as the controller is being identified by macOS (Audio MIDI Setup > MIDI Studio menu):
How to use Analog Lab and map controls to other Virtual Instruments parameters
Analog Lab is though fully compatible as an Audio Unit plug-in along with GarageBand and can be inserted on a track as explained below:
- Open GarageBand and create an Empty project and a MIDI "Software Instrument" track (By default an Electric Piano instrument will be selected)
- Go to Plugins section, and change the E-piano to Analog Lab (or create a new instrument track), like the image below:
If a warning pop-up appears asking you to lower security settings, accept it.
Make sure to properly select the "Arturia" device memory on the controller with SHIFT + "Prog" Pad to cycle between the memories and control parameters.
- After selecting your preset, you should be able to click on the "Rec" button in Garage band and start recording.
- Also, if you'd like to map your controller function to any other Virtual instrument (Plug-in) which offers a Midi learn function, you should be able to select one of the "User" device memories (With the SHIFT + Prog combo) and map your controller controls (Knobs and faders) without any problem to the desired functions :
E.G with UVI Workstation "Grand Piano Model D":
-Open plug-in interface and right-click on the desired parameter to map
-Move the MiniLab 3 control you would like to map
Of course, each plugin will have its own way to proceed so the best to do so will be to refer to their users' manuals.
MiniLab 3 does not currently benefit from a dedicated integration script for Studio One or Fender Studio Pro however following these steps should help setting it up as a MCU (Mackie) Control Surface to benefit from Transport controls and adjust some DAW parameters.
- First, make sure that your MiniLab 3 firmware is up to date via the MIDI Control Center:
MIDI Control Center (MCC) - Firmware Update
- Then, open the MIDI Control Center and go to "Device Settings" menu to set the transport mode to "MCU" in the "Global Parameters" section:
- Once done, open Studio One or Fender Studio Pro and go to "Options" (Studio One) or Preferences (Fender Studio Pro) menu:
- You will have to create three distinct devices, one for the global MIDI controls (used with Arturia or User programs), one for the Transport controls (used with the "DAW" program), and one to manually map additional controls (while using the "DAW" program) to your DAW functions:
- To do so, go to "External Device" tab and click on "Add":
- Click on "New Keyboard" and in "Receive From" and "Send To" menus select "MiniLab 3 MIDI":
Now if you insert an Analog Lab V Instrument track and select the ARTURIA program on the MiniLab (SHIFT + PROG pad n°3: Keys, knobs and fader should work.
- To control Studio One's Transport, let's now create the second device:
- Still in the "External Devices" menu, click once again on "Add" button, select "Mackie" > "Control" in the list and in "Receive From" and "Sent To" menus select "MiniLab3 MCU/HUI":
- You should obtain the following result:
Now in DAW program on MiniLab 3 (SHIFT + PROG PAD) when pressing SHIFT + PAD: Play, Stop, Record should work.
- To manually map control to any Studio One parameter:
- Back to the "External Devices" menu, click once again on "Add" button.
- Click on "New Control Surface" and select in the "Receive from" menu "MiniLab3 MIDI" port:
- A pop-window about "MIDI port already in use" appears, make sure to confirm with "OK".
- The final result should look like this:
- To manually map additional controls to Studio One parameters, click on "External", then on "New control Surface" in the "External Devices" section and on "Edit":
e.g with Studio One:
e.g with Fender Studio Pro which displays it as an icon:
- Make sure to have selected the DAW program on the MiniLab and click on MIDI learn on the new panel:
- Move a control on the MiniLab 3, the control should appear, here the first fader:
- Close the window, right click on a Studio One control, like the track volume for example, and select Assign to Control1 on New control Surface.
You will now be able to control the track volume with the MiniLab fader.
-For controls such as Pads set to act as "On/Off" switches, you may have to right-click on the control via the "Edit" > "MIDI learn" menu to access the "Assign command" menu and to pick the desired parameter in the list afterward:
- Repeat these operations for any controls you would like to manual map.
You should activate the MCU protocol if you're using the following DAWs:
- Studio One (Refer to the dedicated section above)
- Reaper
- Cakewalk
- Digital Performer
- All other DAWs supporting the MCU protocol
- Older versions of Logic Pro (below 10.7.4), Ableton Live (below 11.2.5), and Cubase (below 12)
And you should activate the HUI protocol only if you're using Pro Tools.
When trying to use the MCU or HUI protocol:
- Please open the MIDI Control Center > Device Settings > Global Parameters, and set the transport mode to MCU or HUI depending on the DAW used:
- Open your DAW, go to the settings, and activate the inputs and outputs for MIDI and MCU/HUI ports. The MIDI port will be needed to use standard MIDI (like playing the keyboard in the Arturia program), and the MCU/HUI port will be needed to use the DAW functions.
Here is an example with Reaper:
-MIDI Device settings:
-Control Surface settings:
Make sure not to forget to switch from "DAW" program to "Arturia" program on your MiniLab 3 to either control DAW functions or Arturia software instruments parameters.
Warning
-If you choose 'Both' in your DAW, and that you set it to listen to MCU only, you'll encounter some issues.
-To solve this issue, simply pick between MCU and HUI, instead of choosing 'Both'.
- If you are still facing any troubles with setting MIDI or MCU/HUI in your DAW, please refer to the DAW manual and/or ask for help to our Technical Support team with the link below.
Dedicated "Transport" Pad Bank
Since Firmware 1.1, MiniLab 3 provides a dedicated "Transport" Pad Bank to avoid holding "SHIFT" button in order to use Transport functions.
-To load the "Transport" Pad Bank, holding "SHIFT" + "PAD 2" during a few seconds.
-If you would like exiting the "Transport" Pad Bank, just repeat, hold "SHIFT" + "PAD 2" again for a few seconds and you will be back to default mode.