Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi dj controller 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 Traktor Kontrol S5 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Traktor Kontrol S5.

Article Contents

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Traktor Kontrol S5 to ableton
How to midi map the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol S5
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 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 Traktor Kontrol S5 to a variety of functions.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Traktor Kontrol S5 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 S5.

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 come with ableton Live included?

The Traktor Kontrol S5 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Traktor Kontrol S5 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S5 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi dj controller.

1. Connect the Traktor Kontrol S5 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Traktor Kontrol S5 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 S5 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Traktor Kontrol S5 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 S5 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Traktor Kontrol S5 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 Traktor Kontrol S5 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 Traktor Kontrol S5, 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 S5.
5. Moving the physical control on your Traktor Kontrol S5 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 S5

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Traktor Kontrol S5, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Traktor Kontrol S5 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Traktor Kontrol S5 can only be assigned to 1 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 Traktor Kontrol S5, 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 S5's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Traktor Kontrol S5,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Traktor Kontrol S5, 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 S5 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S5 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S5 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 S5.
4. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol S5 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.