Korg MicroKONTROL Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Korg MicroKONTROL is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Korg MicroKONTROL with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the MicroKONTROL.

Article Contents

1. Does the Korg MicroKONTROL work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Korg MicroKONTROL come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the MicroKONTROL to ableton
4. How to midi map the Korg MicroKONTROL in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the MicroKONTROL
   1. Saving your MicroKONTROL Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Korg MicroKONTROL work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Korg MicroKONTROL is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

The MicroKONTROL is pre-programmed with a midi remote script in Ableton Live, so all you have to do is connect it (refer to the information below on how to do that).

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 MicroKONTROL is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 MicroKONTROL.

Does the Korg MicroKONTROL come with ableton Live included?

The MicroKONTROL includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

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 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 MicroKONTROL to ableton

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

The MicroKONTROL is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

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

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your MicroKONTROL, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your MicroKONTROL 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 indicates that each control on your MicroKONTROL is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

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

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