Novation Launchpad Mk2 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Novation’s Launchpad Mk2 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Novation Launchpad Mk2 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Launchpad Mk2.

Article Contents

Does the Novation Launchpad Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Novation Launchpad Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Launchpad Mk2 to ableton
How to midi map the Novation Launchpad Mk2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Launchpad Mk2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Novation Launchpad Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Novation Launchpad Mk2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Ableton live provides a default midi remote script for the Launchpad Mk2, meaning it will work with Ableton Live as soon as you connect it (see the section below on how to connect to ableton).

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Launchpad Mk2 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live’s components with your Launchpad Mk2.

Does the Novation Launchpad Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

Yes the Launchpad Mk2 comes with a free copy of Ableton Live Lite. Although it has unlimited usage, the available features are a lot less than what is available in the full versions of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library 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 Launchpad Mk2 to ableton

Connecting the Novation Launchpad Mk2 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 Launchpad Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Launchpad Mk2 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 Launchpad Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Launchpad Mk2 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 Launchpad Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Launchpad Mk2 will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Novation Launchpad Mk2 to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within 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 Launchpad Mk2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Launchpad Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Launchpad Mk2 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 Launchpad Mk2

For the fastest way to map your Launchpad Mk2, you can’t go wrong with Ableton’s midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations…

Saving your Launchpad Mk2 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 indicates that each control on your Launchpad Mk2 is capable of controlling only one 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 Launchpad Mk2, 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 Launchpad Mk2’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Launchpad Mk2,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Launchpad Mk2, 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 Launchpad Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Launchpad Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Launchpad Mk2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Launchpad Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Launchpad Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.