Livid Alias 8 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Livid Alias 8 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi controller has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Livid Alias 8 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Alias 8.

Article Contents

Does the Livid Alias 8 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Livid Alias 8 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Alias 8 to ableton
How to midi map the Livid Alias 8 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Alias 8
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Livid Alias 8 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Livid Alias 8 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Alias 8 to multiple functions inside the program.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Alias 8 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Alias 8.

Does the Livid Alias 8 come with ableton Live included?

The Alias 8 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.

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 Alias 8 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Livid Alias 8 with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Alias 8 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Alias 8 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 Alias 8 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Alias 8 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 Alias 8 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Alias 8 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 Livid Alias 8 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 Alias 8, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Alias 8.
5. Moving the physical control on your Alias 8 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 Alias 8

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Alias 8, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Alias 8 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 indicates that each control on your Alias 8 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 Alias 8, 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 Alias 8's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Alias 8,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Alias 8, 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 Alias 8 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Alias 8 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Alias 8 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Alias 8.
4. Make sure that the Alias 8 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.