We offer two ways to set up your MiniLab 3, based on whether you're new to Arturia products or not.
Please check out our dedicated page on how to start with your controller: Minilab 3 Start.
To make sure your MiniLab 3 works properly, we advise you to plug your device directly on one of your computer's USB ports, and not through a USB Hub, adapters or extension cables.
Of course, if you need to use a USB Hub make sure to preferably use one with Power Delivery capability or with a dedicated power supply.
There are 4 built-in MIDI ports in MiniLab 3.
1. MiniLab 3 MIDI: the standard MIDI port needed for all apps including DAWs and standalone software such as Analog Lab V. It enables MIDI communication via the USB-C port on MiniLab 3.
2. MiniLab 3 DIN Thru: Passes outgoing MIDI information from the host software through MiniLab 3’s 5-pin MIDI out connector. This can be useful when you want to sequence and control hardware synths with your DAW using MiniLab 3 as a MIDI interface.
3. MiniLab 3 MCU/HUI: Enables MiniLab 3 as a Mackie Control Universal surface via a dedicated port, to not interfere with other MIDI messages as notes or control changes. This port will only be necessary if you want to control a DAW that supports MCU or HUI protocols and does not have a dedicated script for simplified integration as described here for supported DAWs.
4. MiniLab 3 ALV: Transmits screen messages from Analog Lab V to MiniLab 3.
Note
-On Windows make sure to install the MIDI Control Center's latest version for these ports to be displayed properly.
-Do not activate the MCU/HUI port if not necessary, since it will trigger notes when pressing the transport pads.
Get started with MiniLab 3 in Analog Lab and Arturia Individual Instruments
1. Install Analog Lab on your computer and make sure if not already done to activate it via Arturia Software Center as explained here: Activate and Install from the Arturia Software Center
2. Connect the MiniLab 3 to your computer.
3. If you are using a DAW, make sure to insert Analog Lab on a track as explained here, enable "Minilab3 MIDI" port via the DAW -> MIDI Preferences menu (or set it up with the DAW dedicated script as explained here if working on a supported DAW) and to adjust your audio settings accordingly in the DAW -> Audio settings menu as well.
4. If using Standalone version, make sure to select "Minilab3 MIDI" & "Minilab3 ALV" ports, to select your audio interface and the desired Output channels and to set the Buffer size to a value around 128 samples (for a decent compromise between latency and CPU consumption) via Analog Lab's "Audio MIDI Settings" menu:
Clicking on the "Play" button allows to test and confirm that sound is outputted on the desired Audio channel.
- The same process applies to any of our Virtual Software Instruments as well.
In case you would not be able to control the desired parameters from your controllers' faders and knobs, make sure to check that the correct MIDI Configuration is being selected via the right-panel preferences -> MIDI menu as showed below:
Here is another exemple with another individual instrument:
Important notes
-If no sound is produced, make sure to test another Audio driver & to preferably use the dedicated ASIO driver provided along with your Audio interface ((if on Windows) and to test another Audio device as well as a different Sample rate to confirm if this helps.
-Only Sample rates between 44.1 and 96 Khz are officially tested and recommended.
To activate the HUI/MCU protocol, you have to go in the Device Settings of the MIDI Control Center, and choose between Mackie, HUI, or 'Both'.
Warning
If you choose 'Both' when using Reaper, and that you set your DAW to listen to MCU only, you'll encounter some issues.
To solve this issue with Reaper, simply pick between Mackie and HUI, instead of choosing 'Both'.
Here is the MIDI implementation chart for faders, pads, and encoders, on MiniLab 3.
| Parameter | Arturia | DAWs | Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main encoder | 114 | 28 | 114 |
| Shift + main encoder | 112 | 29 | 112 |
| Click main encoder | 115 | 118 | 115 |
| Shift + click | 113 | 119 | 113 |
| Encoder 1 | 74 | 86 | 74 |
| Encoder 2 | 71 | 87 | 71 |
| Encoder 3 | 76 | 89 | 76 |
| Encoder 4 | 77 | 90 | 77 |
| Encoder 5 | 93 | 110 | 93 |
| Encoder 6 | 18 | 111 | 18 |
| Encoder 7 | 19 | 116 | 19 |
| Encoder 8 | 16 | 117 | 16 |
| Fader 1 | 82 | 14 | 82 |
| Fader 2 | 83 | 15 | 83 |
| Fader 3 | 85 | 30 | 85 |
| Fader 4 | 17 | 31 | 17 |
| Shift | 9 | 27 | 9 |
| Pad 1 | 102 | 102 | 102 |
| Pad 2 | 103 | 103 | 103 |
| Pad 3 | 104 | 104 | 104 |
| Pad 4 | 105 | 105 | 105 |
| Pad 5 | 106 | 106 | 106 |
| Pad 6 | 107 | 107 | 107 |
| Pad 7 | 108 | 108 | 108 |
| Pad 8 | 109 | 109 | 109 |