Korg Kaoss Pad K3 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Korg's Kaoss Pad K3 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi DJ 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 Korg Kaoss Pad K3 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Kaoss Pad K3.

Article Contents

Does the Korg Kaoss Pad K3 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Korg Kaoss Pad K3 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Kaoss Pad K3 to ableton
How to midi map the Korg Kaoss Pad K3 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Kaoss Pad K3
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Korg Kaoss Pad K3 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Korg Kaoss Pad K3 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Kaoss Pad K3 to multiple functions inside the program.

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Kaoss Pad K3 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Kaoss Pad K3.

Does the Korg Kaoss Pad K3 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Kaoss Pad K3, so it needs to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison 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 Kaoss Pad K3 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Korg Kaoss Pad K3 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 DJ controller.

1. Connect the Kaoss Pad K3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Kaoss Pad K3 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 Kaoss Pad K3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Kaoss Pad K3 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 Kaoss Pad K3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Kaoss Pad K3 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 Korg Kaoss Pad K3 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 Kaoss Pad K3, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Kaoss Pad K3.
5. Moving the physical control on your Kaoss Pad K3 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 Kaoss Pad K3

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Kaoss Pad K3, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Kaoss Pad K3 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 button or knob on your Kaoss Pad K3 can only be assigned to control 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 Kaoss Pad K3, 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 Kaoss Pad K3's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Kaoss Pad K3,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Kaoss Pad K3, 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 Kaoss Pad K3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Kaoss Pad K3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Kaoss Pad K3 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Kaoss Pad K3.
4. Make sure that the Kaoss Pad K3 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.