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

Ik Multimedia's IRig Keys Pro 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 explain all you need to know on using the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys Pro with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the IRig Keys Pro.

Article Contents

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

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

To sum it up, the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys Pro is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the IRig Keys Pro to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Pro is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

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

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

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the IRig Keys Pro, so it needs to be purchased separately.

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.

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 Pro to ableton

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

The IRig Keys Pro will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Ik Multimedia IRig Keys Pro to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within Ableton Live by doing the following:

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 Pro, 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 Pro.
5. Moving the physical control on your IRig Keys Pro 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 Pro

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

Saving your IRig Keys Pro Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

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

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your IRig Keys Pro, 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 Pro's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your IRig Keys Pro,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your IRig Keys Pro, 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 Pro in Ableton Live?

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