Akai Mpk Mini Plus Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Akai Mpk Mini Plus is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Akai Mpk Mini Plus with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Mpk Mini Plus.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Akai Mpk Mini Plus work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Akai Mpk Mini Plus come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Mpk Mini Plus to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Akai Mpk Mini Plus in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Mpk Mini Plus
    1. Saving your Mpk Mini Plus Midi Mappings is cumbersome
    2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
    3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
    4. A great solution to these problems
  6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Akai Mpk Mini Plus work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Akai Mpk Mini Plus is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Mpk Mini Plus to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Mpk Mini Plus is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Mpk Mini Plus.

Does the Akai Mpk Mini Plus come with ableton Live included?

With the Mpk Mini Plus you get a free copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are not nearly as comprehensive as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast to Standard’s 10GB.

If you’re looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Mpk Mini Plus to ableton

Connecting the Akai Mpk Mini Plus with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you’ll be able to adjust the software’s parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Mpk Mini Plus to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mpk Mini Plus 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 Mpk Mini Plus from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mpk Mini Plus 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 Mpk Mini Plus (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mpk Mini Plus has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Akai Mpk Mini Plus to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 Mpk Mini Plus, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mpk Mini Plus.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mpk Mini Plus 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 Mpk Mini Plus

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

Saving your Mpk Mini Plus Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

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

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren’t currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Mpk Mini Plus, 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 Mpk Mini Plus’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mpk Mini Plus,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mpk Mini Plus, 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 Mpk Mini Plus in Ableton Live?

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