Arturia Minilab Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Arturia Minilab Mk2 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 Arturia Minilab Mk2 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Minilab Mk2.

Article Contents

1. Does the Arturia Minilab Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Arturia Minilab Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Minilab Mk2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Arturia Minilab Mk2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Minilab Mk2
   1. Saving your Minilab Mk2 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 Arturia Minilab Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Arturia Minilab Mk2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Minilab Mk2 is equipped with a standard midi remote script in Ableton Live, so you just need to connect it (see instructions below) to get it working.

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 Minilab Mk2 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Minilab Mk2.

Does the Arturia Minilab Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

The Minilab Mk2 offers a complimentary copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are limited in comparison to 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.

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 Minilab Mk2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Arturia Minilab Mk2 with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi keyboard.

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

Set up of the Minilab Mk2 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Arturia Minilab Mk2 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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 Minilab Mk2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Minilab Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Minilab 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 Minilab Mk2

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Minilab Mk2, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Minilab 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 means that each button or knob on your Minilab Mk2 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 Minilab 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 Minilab Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Minilab Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Minilab 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 Minilab Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Minilab Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Minilab 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 Minilab Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Minilab Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.