M Audio’s Mid Air 25 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi keyboard has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.
This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the M Audio Mid Air 25 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Mid Air 25.
Article Contents
- Does the M Audio Mid Air 25 work with Ableton Live?
- Does the M Audio Mid Air 25 come with ableton Live included?
- How to connect the Mid Air 25 to ableton
- How to midi map the M Audio Mid Air 25 in Ableton Live
- The Limitations of midi mapping the Mid Air 25
- Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?
Does the M Audio Mid Air 25 work with Ableton Live?
To put it briefly, the M Audio Mid Air 25 is compatible with Ableton Live.
Out of the box, the Mid Air 25 has a midi remote script that is compatible with Ableton Live, so once you connect it (check the section below for more info) it is ready to go.
All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Mid Air 25 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.
You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Mid Air 25.
Does the M Audio Mid Air 25 come with ableton Live included?
With the Mid Air 25 you get a free copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are not nearly as comprehensive as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.
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.
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 Mid Air 25 to ableton
Connecting and setting up the M Audio Mid Air 25 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they’re connected you’ll be able to adjust the software’s parameters from your midi keyboard.
1. Connect the Mid Air 25 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mid Air 25 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 Mid Air 25 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mid Air 25 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 Mid Air 25 (Sync can also be optionally checked).
The Mid Air 25 has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.
How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live
Once you have connected the M Audio Mid Air 25 to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in Ableton Live by doing the following:
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 Mid Air 25, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mid Air 25.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mid Air 25 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 Mid Air 25
Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Mid Air 25, there are however, some limitations to be aware of…
Saving your Mid Air 25 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 control on your Mid Air 25 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.
Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
When using Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren’t currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.
We have a great solution to these problems
If you’re looking to get the most out of your Mid Air 25, 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 Mid Air 25’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mid Air 25,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mid Air 25, 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 Mid Air 25 in Ableton Live?
There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mid Air 25 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mid Air 25 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mid Air 25.
4. Make sure that the Mid Air 25 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.