Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Native Instruments's Komplete Kontrol S88 is a fantastically adaptable midi korg 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 Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Komplete Kontrol S88.

Article Contents

Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Komplete Kontrol S88 to ableton
How to midi map the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Komplete Kontrol S88
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Komplete Kontrol S88 is pre-programmed with a midi remote script in Ableton Live, so all you have to do is connect it (refer to the information below on how to do that).

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Komplete Kontrol S88 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Komplete Kontrol S88.

Does the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 come with ableton Live included?

The Komplete Kontrol S88 includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison 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 Komplete Kontrol S88 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi korg.

1. Connect the Komplete Kontrol S88 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Komplete Kontrol S88 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 S88 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Komplete Kontrol S88 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 S88 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Komplete Kontrol S88 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 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 Komplete Kontrol S88, 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 S88.
5. Moving the physical control on your Komplete Kontrol S88 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 S88

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Komplete Kontrol S88, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Komplete Kontrol S88 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Komplete Kontrol S88 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of 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 S88, 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 S88's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Komplete Kontrol S88,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Komplete Kontrol S88, 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 S88 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Komplete Kontrol S88 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Komplete Kontrol S88 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 S88.
4. Make sure that the Komplete Kontrol S88 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.