Gemini Slate Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Gemini Slate is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Gemini Slate with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Slate.

Article Contents

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

In summary, the Gemini Slate is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Slate can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

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 Slate is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Slate.

Does the Gemini Slate come with ableton Live included?

The Slate doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

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.

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 Slate to ableton

Connecting the Gemini Slate 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 .

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

Set up of the Slate with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Gemini Slate 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 Slate, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Slate.
5. Moving the physical control on your Slate 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 Slate

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

Saving your Slate 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Slate can only be assigned to 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 Slate, 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 Slate's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Slate,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Slate, 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 Slate in Ableton Live?

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