Korg Nanokontrol Studio Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Korg Nanokontrol Studio 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 guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Korg Nanokontrol Studio with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Nanokontrol Studio.

Article Contents

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

Does the Korg Nanokontrol Studio work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Korg Nanokontrol Studio is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Nanokontrol Studio can still be mapped to many of the software’s functions.

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Nanokontrol Studio is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

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 Nanokontrol Studio.

Does the Korg Nanokontrol Studio come with ableton Live included?

The Nanokontrol Studio doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of 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 Nanokontrol Studio to ableton

Connecting the Korg Nanokontrol Studio 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 controller.

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

Set up of the Nanokontrol Studio with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Korg Nanokontrol Studio 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 Nanokontrol Studio, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Nanokontrol Studio.
5. Moving the physical control on your Nanokontrol Studio 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 Nanokontrol Studio

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Nanokontrol Studio, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Nanokontrol Studio 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

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

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

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

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