Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Native Instruments’s Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 is a fantastically adaptable midi dj controller that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3.

Article Contents

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 to ableton
How to midi map the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 to a variety of functions.

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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3.

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?

The Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software’s settings from your midi dj controller.

1. Connect the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 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 Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3.
5. Moving the physical control on your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3

Ableton’s midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3, however, you must take into account some potential limitations…

Saving your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 can only be assigned to 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3, 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3, 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3.
4. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.