Novation Remote 25 Sl Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Novation Remote 25 Sl 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.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Novation Remote 25 Sl with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Remote 25 Sl.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Novation Remote 25 Sl work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Novation Remote 25 Sl come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Remote 25 Sl to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Novation Remote 25 Sl in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Remote 25 Sl
    1. Saving your Remote 25 Sl 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 Novation Remote 25 Sl work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Novation Remote 25 Sl is usable with Ableton Live.

The Remote 25 Sl is pre-programmed with a midi remote script in Ableton Live, so all you have to do is connect it (refer to the information below on how to do that).

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 Remote 25 Sl is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Remote 25 Sl.

Does the Novation Remote 25 Sl come with ableton Live included?

The Remote 25 Sl includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in 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.

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 Remote 25 Sl to ableton

Linking and configuring the Novation Remote 25 Sl 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 Remote 25 Sl to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Remote 25 Sl 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 Remote 25 Sl from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Remote 25 Sl 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 Remote 25 Sl (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Remote 25 Sl is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Novation Remote 25 Sl to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

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 Remote 25 Sl, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Remote 25 Sl.
5. Moving the physical control on your Remote 25 Sl 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 Remote 25 Sl

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Remote 25 Sl, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Remote 25 Sl Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Remote 25 Sl 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 Remote 25 Sl, 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 Remote 25 Sl’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Remote 25 Sl,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Remote 25 Sl, 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 Remote 25 Sl in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Remote 25 Sl is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Remote 25 Sl is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Remote 25 Sl.
4. Make sure that the Remote 25 Sl is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.