Intech Po16 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Intech Po16 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 show you the whole process of how to operate the Intech Po16 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Po16.

Article Contents

Does the Intech Po16 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Intech Po16 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Po16 to ableton
How to midi map the Intech Po16 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Po16
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Intech Po16 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Intech Po16 is usable with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Po16 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Po16 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 Po16.

Does the Intech Po16 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Po16, 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.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Po16 to ableton

Linking the Intech Po16 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 Po16 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Po16 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 Po16 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Po16 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 Po16 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Po16 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Intech Po16 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 Po16, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Po16.
5. Moving the physical control on your Po16 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 Po16

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Po16, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Po16 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 means that each control on your Po16 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 Po16, 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 Po16's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Po16,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Po16, 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 Po16 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Po16 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Po16 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Po16.
4. Make sure that the Po16 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.