Nektar Se61 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Nektar's Se61 is an exceptionally flexible midi keyboard and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Nektar Se61 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Se61.

Article Contents

1. Does the Nektar Se61 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Nektar Se61 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Se61 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Nektar Se61 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Se61
   1. Saving your Se61 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Nektar Se61 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Nektar Se61 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Se61 to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Se61 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 Se61.

Does the Nektar Se61 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Se61, 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 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 Se61 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Nektar Se61 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 keyboard.

1. Connect the Se61 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Se61 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 Se61 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Se61 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 Se61 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Se61 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 Nektar Se61 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 Se61, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Se61.
5. Moving the physical control on your Se61 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 Se61

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Se61, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Se61 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Se61 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Se61, 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 Se61's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Se61,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Se61, 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 Se61 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Se61 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Se61 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Se61.
4. Make sure that the Se61 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.