Livid Ohm64 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Ohm64 from Livid 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 explain all you need to know on using the Livid Ohm64 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Ohm64.

Article Contents

1. Does the Livid Ohm64 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Livid Ohm64 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Ohm64 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Livid Ohm64 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Ohm64
   1. Saving your Ohm64 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 Ohm64 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Livid Ohm64 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Ohm64 to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Ohm64 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 Ohm64.

Does the Livid Ohm64 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Ohm64, so it needs to be purchased 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.

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 Ohm64 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Livid Ohm64 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 Ohm64 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ohm64 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 Ohm64 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ohm64 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 Ohm64 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ohm64 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 Ohm64 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 Ohm64, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ohm64.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ohm64 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 Ohm64

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Ohm64, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Ohm64 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Ohm64 can only be assigned to 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 Ohm64, 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 Ohm64's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ohm64,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ohm64, 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 Ohm64 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ohm64 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ohm64 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Ohm64.
4. Make sure that the Ohm64 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.