M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 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 teach you everything needed in order to use the M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Keystation 49 Mk2.

Article Contents

1. Does the M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Keystation 49 Mk2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Keystation 49 Mk2
   1. Saving your Keystation 49 Mk2 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 Keystation 49 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Keystation 49 Mk2 to a variety of functions.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Keystation 49 Mk2 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Keystation 49 Mk2.

Does the M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

The Keystation 49 Mk2 includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared to Standard’s 10GB.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Keystation 49 Mk2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the M Audio Keystation 49 Mk2 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Keystation 49 Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Keystation 49 Mk2 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 Keystation 49 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Keystation 49 Mk2 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 Keystation 49 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Keystation 49 Mk2 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 Keystation 49 Mk2 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 Keystation 49 Mk2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Keystation 49 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Keystation 49 Mk2 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 Keystation 49 Mk2

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Keystation 49 Mk2, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Keystation 49 Mk2 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 Keystation 49 Mk2 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Keystation 49 Mk2, 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 Keystation 49 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keystation 49 Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keystation 49 Mk2, 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 Keystation 49 Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Keystation 49 Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Keystation 49 Mk2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Keystation 49 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Keystation 49 Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.