Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Keylab 61 Mk3 from Arturia is an incredibly versatile midi keyboard and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Keylab 61 Mk3.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Keylab 61 Mk3 to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Keylab 61 Mk3
    1. Saving your Keylab 61 Mk3 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 Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Keylab 61 Mk3 is equipped with a standard midi remote script in Ableton Live, so you just need to connect it (see instructions below) to get it working.

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 Keylab 61 Mk3 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live’s components with your Keylab 61 Mk3.

Does the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?

The Keylab 61 Mk3 offers a complimentary copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are limited in comparison to 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.

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 Keylab 61 Mk3 to ableton

Connecting the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 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 Keylab 61 Mk3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Keylab 61 Mk3 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 Keylab 61 Mk3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Keylab 61 Mk3 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 Keylab 61 Mk3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Keylab 61 Mk3 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Arturia Keylab 61 Mk3 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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 Keylab 61 Mk3, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Keylab 61 Mk3.
5. Moving the physical control on your Keylab 61 Mk3 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 Keylab 61 Mk3

For the fastest way to map your Keylab 61 Mk3, you can’t go wrong with Ableton’s midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations…

Saving your Keylab 61 Mk3 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 means that each button or knob on your Keylab 61 Mk3 can only be assigned to control a single 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 Keylab 61 Mk3, 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 Keylab 61 Mk3’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keylab 61 Mk3,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keylab 61 Mk3, 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 Keylab 61 Mk3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Keylab 61 Mk3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Keylab 61 Mk3 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Keylab 61 Mk3.
4. Make sure that the Keylab 61 Mk3 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.