Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map
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Native Instruments's Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 is a fantastically adaptable midi dj controller 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.
In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2.
Article Contents
- Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
- Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
- How to connect the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 to ableton
- How to midi map the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 in Ableton Live
- The Limitations of midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2
- Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
To sum it up, the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.
Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.
All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.
You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2.
Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2, therefore it must be bought separately.
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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 to ableton
Connecting the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi dj controller.
1. Connect the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Traktor Kontrol S2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Traktor Kontrol S2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).
The Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Traktor Kontrol S2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2
For the fastest way to map your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...
Saving your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.
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 Traktor Kontrol S2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Traktor Kontrol S2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 in Ableton Live?
There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S2 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 Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.