Korg Zero8 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Zero8 from Korg is an incredibly versatile midi controller and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Korg Zero8 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Zero8.

Article Contents

1. Does the Korg Zero8 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Korg Zero8 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Zero8 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Korg Zero8 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Zero8
   1. Saving your Zero8 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 Zero8 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Korg Zero8 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The Zero8 is equipped with a standard midi remote script in Ableton Live, so you just need to connect it (see instructions below) to get it working.

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 Zero8 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 Zero8.

Does the Korg Zero8 come with ableton Live included?

The Zero8 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast 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 Zero8 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Korg Zero8 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Zero8 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Zero8 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 Zero8 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Zero8 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 Zero8 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Zero8 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 Zero8 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 Zero8, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Zero8.
5. Moving the physical control on your Zero8 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 Zero8

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Zero8, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Zero8 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 Zero8 is capable of controlling only one 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 Zero8, 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 Zero8's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Zero8,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Zero8, 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 Zero8 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Zero8 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Zero8 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Zero8.
4. Make sure that the Zero8 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.