Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Komplete Kontrol A61.

Article Contents

Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Komplete Kontrol A61 to ableton
How to midi map the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Komplete Kontrol A61
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Out of the box, the Komplete Kontrol A61 has a midi remote script that is compatible with Ableton Live, so once you connect it (check the section below for more info) it is ready 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 Komplete Kontrol A61 will be usable with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Komplete Kontrol A61.

Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 come with ableton Live included?

With the Komplete Kontrol A61 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.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison 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 Komplete Kontrol A61 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 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 Komplete Kontrol A61 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Komplete Kontrol A61 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 Komplete Kontrol A61 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Komplete Kontrol A61 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 Komplete Kontrol A61 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Komplete Kontrol A61 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 Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 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 Komplete Kontrol A61, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Komplete Kontrol A61.
5. Moving the physical control on your Komplete Kontrol A61 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 Komplete Kontrol A61

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Komplete Kontrol A61, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Komplete Kontrol A61 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Komplete Kontrol A61 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 Komplete Kontrol A61, 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 Komplete Kontrol A61's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Komplete Kontrol A61,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Komplete Kontrol A61, 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 Komplete Kontrol A61 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Komplete Kontrol A61 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Komplete Kontrol A61 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Komplete Kontrol A61.
4. Make sure that the Komplete Kontrol A61 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.