Novation Remote 49 Sl Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Novation’s Remote 49 Sl is an exceptionally flexible midi keyboard and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Novation Remote 49 Sl with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Remote 49 Sl.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Novation Remote 49 Sl work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Novation Remote 49 Sl come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Remote 49 Sl to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Novation Remote 49 Sl in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Remote 49 Sl
    1. Saving your Remote 49 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 49 Sl work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Novation Remote 49 Sl is compatible with Ableton Live.

Out of the box, the Remote 49 Sl 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 forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Remote 49 Sl will be usable 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 49 Sl.

Does the Novation Remote 49 Sl come with ableton Live included?

With the Remote 49 Sl 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.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared to Standard’s 10GB.

If you’re looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Remote 49 Sl to ableton

Linking and configuring the Novation Remote 49 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 49 Sl to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Remote 49 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 49 Sl from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Remote 49 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 49 Sl (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Remote 49 Sl 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 Novation Remote 49 Sl 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 Remote 49 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 49 Sl.
5. Moving the physical control on your Remote 49 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 49 Sl

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Remote 49 Sl, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Remote 49 Sl 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

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Remote 49 Sl can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

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 49 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 49 Sl’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Remote 49 Sl,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Remote 49 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 49 Sl in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Remote 49 Sl is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Remote 49 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 49 Sl.
4. Make sure that the Remote 49 Sl is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.