M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

M Audio's Keystation 61 Mk2 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi keyboard has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Keystation 61 Mk2.

Article Contents

1. Does the M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Keystation 61 Mk2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Keystation 61 Mk2
   1. Saving your Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Keystation 61 Mk2 can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Keystation 61 Mk2 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Keystation 61 Mk2.

Does the M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

Yes the Keystation 61 Mk2 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.

If you're looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Keystation 61 Mk2 to ableton

Connecting the M Audio Keystation 61 Mk2 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 Keystation 61 Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Keystation 61 Mk2 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 Keystation 61 Mk2 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 Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Keystation 61 Mk2, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Keystation 61 Mk2 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Keystation 61 Mk2 can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren't possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keystation 61 Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Keystation 61 Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Keystation 61 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 61 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Keystation 61 Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.