Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Native Instruments's Traktor Kontrol S4 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi dj 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 Traktor Kontrol S4 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol S4.

Article Contents

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Traktor Kontrol S4 to ableton
How to midi map the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol S4
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol S4 to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Traktor Kontrol S4 will be usable 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 Traktor Kontrol S4.

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Traktor Kontrol S4, so it needs to be purchased separately.

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.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Traktor Kontrol S4 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 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 dj controller.

1. Connect the Traktor Kontrol S4 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Traktor Kontrol S4 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 S4 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Traktor Kontrol S4 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 S4 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Traktor Kontrol S4 will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within 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 Traktor Kontrol S4, 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 S4.
5. Moving the physical control on your Traktor Kontrol S4 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 S4

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Traktor Kontrol S4, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Traktor Kontrol S4 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Traktor Kontrol S4 can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

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 S4, 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 S4's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Traktor Kontrol S4,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Traktor Kontrol S4, 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 S4 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S4 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S4 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 S4.
4. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S4 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.