Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Ik Multimedia's IRig Keys 2 Mini 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 tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the IRig Keys 2 Mini.

Article Contents

Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini work with Ableton Live?
Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the IRig Keys 2 Mini to ableton
How to midi map the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the IRig Keys 2 Mini
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the IRig Keys 2 Mini can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

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 IRig Keys 2 Mini is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini.

Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini come with ableton Live included?

The IRig Keys 2 Mini 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. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast to Standard's 10GB.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the IRig Keys 2 Mini to ableton

Linking and configuring the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the IRig Keys 2 Mini 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the IRig Keys 2 Mini 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the IRig Keys 2 Mini with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 2 Mini 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the IRig Keys 2 Mini.
5. Moving the physical control on your IRig Keys 2 Mini 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your IRig Keys 2 Mini, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your IRig Keys 2 Mini 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your IRig Keys 2 Mini 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini, 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your IRig Keys 2 Mini,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your IRig Keys 2 Mini, 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 IRig Keys 2 Mini in Ableton Live?

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