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

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The M Audio Keystation Pro 88 is a versatile midi keyboard and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi keyboard is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the M Audio Keystation Pro 88 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Keystation Pro 88.

Article Contents

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

To put it briefly, the M Audio Keystation Pro 88 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Keystation Pro 88 comes with a midi remote script to ensure it functions with Ableton Live, so just plug it in (see the instructions below to see how) and you're good to go.

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 Pro 88 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 Pro 88.

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

You get a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite with the Keystation Pro 88, but its worth noting that the features of Ableton Live Lite are not as full 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 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 Keystation Pro 88 to ableton

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

The Keystation Pro 88 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the M Audio Keystation Pro 88 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 Pro 88, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Keystation Pro 88.
5. Moving the physical control on your Keystation Pro 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 Keystation Pro 88

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

Saving your Keystation Pro 88 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 indicates that each control on your Keystation Pro 88 is capable of controlling only one 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 Pro 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 Keystation Pro 88's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keystation Pro 88,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keystation Pro 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 Keystation Pro 88 in Ableton Live?

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