Novation 25 Sl Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Novation 25 Sl Mk2 is a versatile midi keyboard and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi keyboard is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the 25 Sl Mk2.

Article Contents

Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the 25 Sl Mk2 to ableton
How to midi map the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the 25 Sl Mk2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

The 25 Sl Mk2 is pre-programmed with a midi remote script in Ableton Live, so all you have to do is connect it (refer to the information below on how to do that).

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 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2.

Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

The 25 Sl Mk2 includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

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.

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 25 Sl Mk2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Novation 25 Sl Mk2 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the 25 Sl Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The 25 Sl 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 Novation 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the 25 Sl Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2

For the fastest way to map your 25 Sl Mk2, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your 25 Sl Mk2 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 25 Sl Mk2 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your 25 Sl Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the 25 Sl Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the 25 Sl 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 25 Sl Mk2.
4. Make sure that the 25 Sl Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.