M Audio Hammer 88 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Hammer 88 from M Audio is an incredibly versatile midi keyboard 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the M Audio Hammer 88 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Hammer 88.

Article Contents

Does the M Audio Hammer 88 work with Ableton Live?
Does the M Audio Hammer 88 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Hammer 88 to ableton
How to midi map the M Audio Hammer 88 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Hammer 88
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the M Audio Hammer 88 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the M Audio Hammer 88 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Hammer 88 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

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 Hammer 88 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Hammer 88.

Does the M Audio Hammer 88 come with ableton Live included?

With the Hammer 88 you get a free copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are not nearly as comprehensive as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

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.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Hammer 88 to ableton

Linking the M Audio Hammer 88 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Hammer 88 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Hammer 88 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 Hammer 88 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Hammer 88 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 Hammer 88 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Hammer 88 has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the M Audio Hammer 88 to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 Hammer 88, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Hammer 88.
5. Moving the physical control on your Hammer 88 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 Hammer 88

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Hammer 88, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Hammer 88 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 Hammer 88 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 include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Hammer 88, 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 Hammer 88's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Hammer 88,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Hammer 88, 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 Hammer 88 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Hammer 88 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Hammer 88 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Hammer 88.
4. Make sure that the Hammer 88 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.