M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

M Audio's Keystation 88 Mk2 is a fantastically adaptable midi keyboard that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Keystation 88 Mk2.

Article Contents

1. Does the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Keystation 88 Mk2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Keystation 88 Mk2
   1. Saving your Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Keystation 88 Mk2 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

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 Keystation 88 Mk2 will be usable with Ableton Live.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live's components with your Keystation 88 Mk2.

Does the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

With the Keystation 88 Mk2 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.

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.

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 Keystation 88 Mk2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk2 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 Keystation 88 Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Keystation 88 Mk2 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 Keystation 88 Mk2 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 Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Keystation 88 Mk2, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Keystation 88 Mk2 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Keystation 88 Mk2 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

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 Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keystation 88 Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Keystation 88 Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Keystation 88 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 88 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Keystation 88 Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.