M Audio’s Oxygen 8 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 Oxygen 8 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Oxygen 8.
Article Contents
- Does the M Audio Oxygen 8 work with Ableton Live?
- Does the M Audio Oxygen 8 come with ableton Live included?
- How to connect the Oxygen 8 to ableton
- How to midi map the M Audio Oxygen 8 in Ableton Live
- The Limitations of midi mapping the Oxygen 8
- Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?
Does the M Audio Oxygen 8 work with Ableton Live?
In a nutshell, the M Audio Oxygen 8 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.
Out of the box, the Oxygen 8 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 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 Oxygen 8 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.
You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Oxygen 8.
Does the M Audio Oxygen 8 come with ableton Live included?
With the Oxygen 8 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.
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.
For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.
How to connect the Oxygen 8 to ableton
Connecting the M Audio Oxygen 8 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 Oxygen 8 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Oxygen 8 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 8 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Oxygen 8 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.
.
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 8 (Sync can also be optionally checked).
The Oxygen 8 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 Oxygen 8 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 Oxygen 8, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Oxygen 8.
5. Moving the physical control on your Oxygen 8 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 8
Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Oxygen 8, there are however, some limitations to be aware of…
Saving your Oxygen 8 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.
Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Oxygen 8 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 include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren’t possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.
We have a great solution to these problems
If you’re looking to get the most out of your Oxygen 8, 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 8’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Oxygen 8,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Oxygen 8, 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 8 in Ableton Live?
There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Oxygen 8 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Oxygen 8 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 8.
4. Make sure that the Oxygen 8 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.