Keith Mcmillen Qunexus Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Keith Mcmillen's Qunexus is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Qunexus.

Article Contents

Does the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus work with Ableton Live?
Does the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Qunexus to ableton
How to midi map the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Qunexus
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Qunexus 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 Qunexus is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

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 Qunexus.

Does the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Qunexus, therefore it must be bought 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.

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 Qunexus to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus 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 controller.

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

The Qunexus is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Keith Mcmillen Qunexus 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 Qunexus, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Qunexus.
5. Moving the physical control on your Qunexus 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 Qunexus

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

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

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