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

The Softstep from Keith Mcmillen is an incredibly versatile midi and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

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

Article Contents

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

Does the Keith Mcmillen Softstep work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Keith Mcmillen Softstep is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Softstep to a variety of functions.

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Softstep will be usable 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 Softstep.

Does the Keith Mcmillen Softstep come with ableton Live included?

The Softstep does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 Softstep to ableton

Linking the Keith Mcmillen Softstep to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi .

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

The Softstep has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Keith Mcmillen Softstep to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 Softstep, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Softstep.
5. Moving the physical control on your Softstep 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 Softstep

For the fastest way to map your Softstep, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Softstep 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Softstep can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

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

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