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

M Audio's Keystudio 49i 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 49i with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Keystudio 49i.

Article Contents

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

To put it briefly, the M Audio Keystudio 49i is 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 Keystudio 49i to a variety of functions.

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 49i is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Keystudio 49i.

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

The Keystudio 49i 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.

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 49i to ableton

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

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

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Keystudio 49i, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Keystudio 49i 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Keystudio 49i can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 Keystudio 49i, 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 49i's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keystudio 49i,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keystudio 49i, 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 49i in Ableton Live?

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