M Audio Key Rig 49 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Key Rig 49 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.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the M Audio Key Rig 49 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Key Rig 49.

Article Contents

Does the M Audio Key Rig 49 work with Ableton Live?
Does the M Audio Key Rig 49 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Key Rig 49 to ableton
How to midi map the M Audio Key Rig 49 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Key Rig 49
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the M Audio Key Rig 49 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the M Audio Key Rig 49 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Key Rig 49 can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

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 Key Rig 49 will be usable with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Key Rig 49.

Does the M Audio Key Rig 49 come with ableton Live included?

Yes the Key Rig 49 comes with a free copy of Ableton Live Lite. Although it has unlimited usage, the available features are a lot less than what is available in the full versions of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast 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 Key Rig 49 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the M Audio Key Rig 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 Key Rig 49 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Key Rig 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 Key Rig 49 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Key Rig 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 Key Rig 49 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

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

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Key Rig 49, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Key Rig 49 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

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Key Rig 49 can only be assigned to 1 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 Key Rig 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 Key Rig 49's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Key Rig 49,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Key Rig 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 Key Rig 49 in Ableton Live?

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