Allen And Heath Xone K1 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Allen And Heath Xone K1 is a versatile midi controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it’s an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi controller is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Allen And Heath Xone K1 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Xone K1.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Allen And Heath Xone K1 work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Allen And Heath Xone K1 come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Xone K1 to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Allen And Heath Xone K1 in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Xone K1
    1. Saving your Xone K1 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 Allen And Heath Xone K1 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Allen And Heath Xone K1 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Xone K1 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Xone K1 will be usable with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Xone K1.

Does the Allen And Heath Xone K1 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn’t included with the Xone K1, so this must be bought separately.

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 seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Xone K1 to ableton

Linking the Allen And Heath Xone K1 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 Xone K1 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Xone K1 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 Xone K1 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Xone K1 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 Xone K1 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Xone K1 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the Xone K1 in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Allen And Heath Xone K1 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 Xone K1, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Xone K1.
5. Moving the physical control on your Xone K1 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 Xone K1

Ableton’s midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Xone K1, however, you must take into account some potential limitations…

Saving your Xone K1 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 Xone K1 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 include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren’t possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Xone K1, 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 Xone K1’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Xone K1,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Xone K1, 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 Xone K1 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Xone K1 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Xone K1 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Xone K1.
4. Make sure that the Xone K1 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.