Alesis V49 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Alesis's V49 is a fantastically adaptable midi keyboard 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.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Alesis V49 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the V49.

Article Contents

1. Does the Alesis V49 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Alesis V49 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the V49 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Alesis V49 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the V49
   1. Saving your V49 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 Alesis V49 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Alesis V49 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Out of the box, the V49 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, 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 V49 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 V49.

Does the Alesis V49 come with ableton Live included?

With the V49 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. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison 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 V49 to ableton

Connecting the Alesis V49 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 V49 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the V49 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 V49 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the V49 are checked.
4. Ensure that the ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are all checked.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the V49 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The V49 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 Alesis V49 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 V49, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the V49.
5. Moving the physical control on your V49 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 V49

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your V49, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your V49 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 button or knob on your V49 can only be assigned to control a single 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 V49, 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 V49's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your V49,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your V49, 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 V49 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the V49 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the V49 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the V49.
4. Make sure that the V49 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.