M Audio Axiom 25 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The M Audio Axiom 25 is a versatile midi keyboard and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi keyboard is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the M Audio Axiom 25 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Axiom 25.

Article Contents

Does the M Audio Axiom 25 work with Ableton Live?
Does the M Audio Axiom 25 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Axiom 25 to ableton
How to midi map the M Audio Axiom 25 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Axiom 25
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the M Audio Axiom 25 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the M Audio Axiom 25 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Axiom 25 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 versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Axiom 25 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Axiom 25.

Does the M Audio Axiom 25 come with ableton Live included?

The Axiom 25 offers a complimentary copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are limited in comparison to Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

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 prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Axiom 25 to ableton

Connecting the M Audio Axiom 25 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 keyboard.

1. Connect the Axiom 25 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Axiom 25 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 Axiom 25 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Axiom 25 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 Axiom 25 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Axiom 25 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the M Audio Axiom 25 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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 Axiom 25, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Axiom 25.
5. Moving the physical control on your Axiom 25 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 Axiom 25

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Axiom 25, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Axiom 25 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Axiom 25 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

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 Axiom 25, 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 Axiom 25's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Axiom 25,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Axiom 25, 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 Axiom 25 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Axiom 25 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Axiom 25 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Axiom 25.
4. Make sure that the Axiom 25 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.