Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Ik Multimedia's IRig Keys 25 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the IRig Keys 25.

Article Contents

Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the IRig Keys 25 to ableton
How to midi map the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the IRig Keys 25
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the IRig Keys 25 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the IRig Keys 25 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 IRig Keys 25.

Does the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the IRig Keys 25, therefore it must be bought 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.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the IRig Keys 25 to ableton

Connecting the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 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 IRig Keys 25 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the IRig Keys 25 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 25 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the IRig Keys 25 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 25 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The IRig Keys 25 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys 25 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 IRig Keys 25, 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 25.
5. Moving the physical control on your IRig Keys 25 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 25

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your IRig Keys 25, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your IRig Keys 25 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your IRig Keys 25 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 25, 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 25's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your IRig Keys 25,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your IRig Keys 25, 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 25 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the IRig Keys 25 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the IRig Keys 25 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 25.
4. Make sure that the IRig Keys 25 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.