Akai Apc 40 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Akai’s Apc 40 is an exceptionally flexible midi controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Akai Apc 40 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Apc 40.

Article Contents

Does the Akai Apc 40 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Akai Apc 40 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Apc 40 to ableton
How to midi map the Akai Apc 40 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Apc 40
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Akai Apc 40 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Akai Apc 40 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Ableton live provides a default midi remote script for the Apc 40, meaning it will work with Ableton Live as soon as you connect it (see the section below on how to connect to ableton).

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Apc 40 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Apc 40.

Does the Akai Apc 40 come with ableton Live included?

Yes the Apc 40 comes with a free copy of Ableton Live Lite. Although it has unlimited usage, the available features are a lot less than what is available in the full versions of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison to Standard’s 10GB.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Apc 40 to ableton

Linking the Akai Apc 40 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software’s parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Apc 40 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Apc 40 and your computer.
2. Launch Ableton Live and open the MIDI preferences.
Double click the Ableton Live icon to launch the software. Then, in the top menu of Ableton, go to the Preferences menu by opening the ‘Live’ menu and clicking ‘Preferences’.
3. Select the Apc 40 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Apc 40 are checked.
4. Ensure that the proper ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are checked for both input and output.

Track: When checked, this allows MIDI notes and CC messages to be sent/received.
Sync: This option enables MIDI clock syncing between Ableton live and the external device.
Remote: Allows external MIDI controllers to remotely control parameters within Ableton Live.

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In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Apc 40 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Apc 40 will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Akai Apc 40 to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within Ableton Live by doing the following:

1. Select the MIDI Map Mode button in the top right corner of the Live window. The button should turn orange, indicating that the MIDI Map Mode is enabled.
2. Select the parameter you wish to control in Ableton by clicking it with the cursor, the parameter will become highlighted.
3. Move a control on the Apc 40, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Apc 40.
5. Moving the physical control on your Apc 40 will now move the position of the corresponding parameter in Ableton.
6. Repeat steps 2 – 4 for any other parameters you wish to map.
7. When you’re finished mapping, press the MIDI Map Mode button again to disable it.

The Limitations of midi mapping the Apc 40

Ableton’s midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Apc 40, however, you must take into account some potential limitations…

Saving your Apc 40 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Apc 40 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode does not provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren’t possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Apc 40, our Ableton Midi Script Creator tool ‘Control Surface Studio‘ is exactly what you need!
With it, you’ll be able to:
– save and re-use your Apc 40’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Apc 40,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Apc 40, than Live’s internal midi mapping mode allows.

Learn more about Control Surface Studio and see how it can help you by clicking here!

FAQ / Troubleshooting

Why can’t I hear my Apc 40 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Apc 40 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Apc 40 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Apc 40.
4. Make sure that the Apc 40 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.