Korg Microkey 2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Korg's Microkey 2 is an exceptionally flexible midi keyboard and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Korg Microkey 2 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Microkey 2.

Article Contents

Does the Korg Microkey 2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Korg Microkey 2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Microkey 2 to ableton
How to midi map the Korg Microkey 2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Microkey 2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Korg Microkey 2 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Korg Microkey 2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Microkey 2.

Does the Korg Microkey 2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Microkey 2, 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.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Microkey 2 to ableton

Connecting the Korg Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Microkey 2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Microkey 2, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Microkey 2 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 Microkey 2 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Microkey 2, 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 Microkey 2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Microkey 2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Microkey 2, 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 Microkey 2 in Ableton Live?

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