Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map
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Native Instruments's Maschine Mikro Mk2 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.
This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Maschine Mikro Mk2.
Article Contents
- Does the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
- Does the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
- How to connect the Maschine Mikro Mk2 to ableton
- How to midi map the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 in Ableton Live
- The Limitations of midi mapping the Maschine Mikro Mk2
- Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
To put it briefly, the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2 to a variety of functions.
All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Maschine Mikro Mk2 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2.
Does the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
The Maschine Mikro Mk2 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.
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 Maschine Mikro Mk2 to ableton
Connecting and setting up the Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk2 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 controller.
1. Connect the Maschine Mikro Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Maschine Mikro Mk2 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Maschine Mikro Mk2 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).
The Maschine Mikro Mk2 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Maschine Mikro Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Maschine Mikro Mk2 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2
With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Maschine Mikro Mk2, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...
Saving your Maschine Mikro Mk2 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
With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Maschine Mikro Mk2 can only be assigned to a single 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2, 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Maschine Mikro Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Maschine Mikro Mk2, 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 Maschine Mikro Mk2 in Ableton Live?
There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Maschine Mikro Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Maschine Mikro Mk2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Maschine Mikro Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Maschine Mikro Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.