Livid Cntrlr Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Livid Cntrlr 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.

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

Article Contents

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

In summary, the Livid Cntrlr is usable with Ableton Live.

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

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 Cntrlr is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Cntrlr.

Does the Livid Cntrlr come with ableton Live included?

The Cntrlr does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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.

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 Cntrlr to ableton

Connecting the Livid Cntrlr 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 controller.

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

The Cntrlr is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

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

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

Saving your Cntrlr Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Cntrlr can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

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

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