Arturia Keylab 88 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Arturia Keylab 88 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Arturia Keylab 88 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Keylab 88.

Article Contents

Does the Arturia Keylab 88 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Arturia Keylab 88 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Keylab 88 to ableton
How to midi map the Arturia Keylab 88 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Keylab 88
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Arturia Keylab 88 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Arturia Keylab 88 is usable with Ableton Live.

The Keylab 88 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).

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 Keylab 88 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Keylab 88.

Does the Arturia Keylab 88 come with ableton Live included?

The Keylab 88 includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

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 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 Keylab 88 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Arturia Keylab 88 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Keylab 88 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Keylab 88 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 Keylab 88 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Keylab 88 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 Keylab 88 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Keylab 88 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Arturia Keylab 88 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 Keylab 88, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Keylab 88.
5. Moving the physical control on your Keylab 88 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 Keylab 88

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Keylab 88, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Keylab 88 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Keylab 88 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 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 Keylab 88, 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 Keylab 88's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keylab 88,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keylab 88, 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 Keylab 88 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Keylab 88 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Keylab 88 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Keylab 88.
4. Make sure that the Keylab 88 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.