Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Native Instruments's Traktor Kontrol X1 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.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Traktor Kontrol X1.

Article Contents

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Traktor Kontrol X1 to ableton
How to midi map the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol X1
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Traktor Kontrol X1 to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Traktor Kontrol X1 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 X1.

Does the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Traktor Kontrol X1, so it needs to be purchased 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 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 X1 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 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 X1 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Traktor Kontrol X1 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 X1 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Traktor Kontrol X1 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 X1 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Traktor Kontrol X1 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 X1 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 X1, 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 X1.
5. Moving the physical control on your Traktor Kontrol X1 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 X1

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Traktor Kontrol X1, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Traktor Kontrol X1 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Traktor Kontrol X1 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 X1, 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 X1's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Traktor Kontrol X1,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Traktor Kontrol X1, 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 X1 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol X1 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol X1 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 X1.
4. Make sure that the Traktor Kontrol X1 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.