M Audio Oxygen 61 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The M Audio Oxygen 61 is a versatile midi keyboard and when used alongside Ableton Live, it’s an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi keyboard is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

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

Article Contents

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

In a nutshell, the M Audio Oxygen 61 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The Oxygen 61 comes with a midi remote script to ensure it functions with Ableton Live, so just plug it in (see the instructions below to see how) and you’re good 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 Oxygen 61 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 Oxygen 61.

Does the M Audio Oxygen 61 come with ableton Live included?

You get a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite with the Oxygen 61, but its worth noting that the features of Ableton Live Lite are not as full as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared 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 Oxygen 61 to ableton

Linking and configuring the M Audio Oxygen 61 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software’s settings from your midi keyboard.

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

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

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Oxygen 61, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Oxygen 61 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 button or knob on your Oxygen 61 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 Oxygen 61, 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 Oxygen 61’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Oxygen 61,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Oxygen 61, 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 Oxygen 61 in Ableton Live?

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