Akai Mpc Key 61 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Akai’s Mpc Key 61 is an exceptionally flexible midi keyboard and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Akai Mpc Key 61 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Mpc Key 61.

Article Contents

Does the Akai Mpc Key 61 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Akai Mpc Key 61 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Mpc Key 61 to ableton
How to midi map the Akai Mpc Key 61 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Mpc Key 61
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Akai Mpc Key 61 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Akai Mpc Key 61 is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Mpc Key 61 can still be midi mapped to many functions within 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 Mpc Key 61 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 Mpc Key 61.

Does the Akai Mpc Key 61 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Mpc Key 61, therefore it must be bought separately.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared 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 Mpc Key 61 to ableton

Connecting the Akai Mpc Key 61 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 Mpc Key 61 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mpc Key 61 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 Mpc Key 61 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mpc Key 61 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.

.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Mpc Key 61 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mpc Key 61 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Akai Mpc Key 61 to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

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 Mpc Key 61, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mpc Key 61.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mpc Key 61 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 Mpc Key 61

For the fastest way to map your Mpc Key 61, you can’t go wrong with Ableton’s midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations…

Saving your Mpc Key 61 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Mpc Key 61 can only be assigned to 1 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 Mpc Key 61, 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 Mpc Key 61’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mpc Key 61,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mpc Key 61, 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 Mpc Key 61 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mpc Key 61 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mpc Key 61 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mpc Key 61.
4. Make sure that the Mpc Key 61 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.