Korg Nanokontrol2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Korg's Nanokontrol2 is a fantastically adaptable midi controller that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Korg Nanokontrol2 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Nanokontrol2.

Article Contents

Does the Korg Nanokontrol2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Korg Nanokontrol2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Nanokontrol2 to ableton
How to midi map the Korg Nanokontrol2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Nanokontrol2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Korg Nanokontrol2 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Korg Nanokontrol2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Nanokontrol2 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 Nanokontrol2 will be usable with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Nanokontrol2.

Does the Korg Nanokontrol2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Nanokontrol2, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison 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 Nanokontrol2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Korg Nanokontrol2 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Nanokontrol2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Nanokontrol2 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 Nanokontrol2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Nanokontrol2 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 Nanokontrol2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Nanokontrol2 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 Nanokontrol2 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 Nanokontrol2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Nanokontrol2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Nanokontrol2 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 Nanokontrol2

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Nanokontrol2, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Nanokontrol2 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Nanokontrol2 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 Nanokontrol2, 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 Nanokontrol2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Nanokontrol2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Nanokontrol2, 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 Nanokontrol2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Nanokontrol2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Nanokontrol2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Nanokontrol2.
4. Make sure that the Nanokontrol2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.