M Audio Axiom Pro 49 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The M Audio Axiom Pro 49 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard 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 M Audio Axiom Pro 49 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Axiom Pro 49.

Article Contents

1. Does the M Audio Axiom Pro 49 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the M Audio Axiom Pro 49 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Axiom Pro 49 to ableton
4. How to midi map the M Audio Axiom Pro 49 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Axiom Pro 49
   1. Saving your Axiom Pro 49 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 M Audio Axiom Pro 49 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the M Audio Axiom Pro 49 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Axiom Pro 49 is pre-programmed with a midi remote script in Ableton Live, so all you have to do is connect it (refer to the information below on how to do that).

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Axiom Pro 49 will be usable with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Axiom Pro 49.

Does the M Audio Axiom Pro 49 come with ableton Live included?

The Axiom Pro 49 includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in 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.

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 Axiom Pro 49 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the M Audio Axiom Pro 49 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 keyboard.

1. Connect the Axiom Pro 49 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Axiom Pro 49 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 Pro 49 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Axiom Pro 49 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 Pro 49 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Axiom Pro 49 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the M Audio Axiom Pro 49 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 Axiom Pro 49, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Axiom Pro 49.
5. Moving the physical control on your Axiom Pro 49 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 Pro 49

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Axiom Pro 49, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Axiom Pro 49 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 means that each control on your Axiom Pro 49 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 Axiom Pro 49, 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 Pro 49's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Axiom Pro 49,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Axiom Pro 49, 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 Pro 49 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Axiom Pro 49 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Axiom Pro 49 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 Pro 49.
4. Make sure that the Axiom Pro 49 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.