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

M Audio's Keystudio 49 is an exceptionally flexible midi keyboard and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the M Audio Keystudio 49 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Keystudio 49.

Article Contents

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

Does the M Audio Keystudio 49 work with Ableton Live?

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

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Keystudio 49 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Keystudio 49 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

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

Does the M Audio Keystudio 49 come with ableton Live included?

The Keystudio 49 offers a complimentary copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are limited in comparison to Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared 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 Keystudio 49 to ableton

Linking the M Audio Keystudio 49 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

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

Set up of the Keystudio 49 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the M Audio Keystudio 49 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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

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

Saving your Keystudio 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Keystudio 49 is capable of controlling only one 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 Keystudio 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 Keystudio 49's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keystudio 49,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keystudio 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 Keystudio 49 in Ableton Live?

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