Korg Nanopad2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Korg's Nanopad2 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Korg Nanopad2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Nanopad2.

Article Contents

1. Does the Korg Nanopad2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Korg Nanopad2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Nanopad2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Korg Nanopad2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Nanopad2
   1. Saving your Nanopad2 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 Nanopad2 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Korg Nanopad2 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Nanopad2 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

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 Nanopad2 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live's components with your Nanopad2.

Does the Korg Nanopad2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Nanopad2, so this must be bought separately.

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.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Nanopad2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Korg Nanopad2 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 Nanopad2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Nanopad2 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 Nanopad2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Nanopad2 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 Nanopad2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Nanopad2 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Korg Nanopad2 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 Nanopad2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Nanopad2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Nanopad2 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 Nanopad2

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Nanopad2, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Nanopad2 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 Nanopad2 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 Nanopad2, 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 Nanopad2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Nanopad2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Nanopad2, 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 Nanopad2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Nanopad2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Nanopad2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Nanopad2.
4. Make sure that the Nanopad2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.