Novation 25 Sl Mk3 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Novation's 25 Sl Mk3 is a fantastically adaptable midi keyboard 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 tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the 25 Sl Mk3.

Article Contents

Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the 25 Sl Mk3 to ableton
How to midi map the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the 25 Sl Mk3
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Out of the box, the 25 Sl Mk3 has a midi remote script that is compatible with Ableton Live, so once you connect it (check the section below for more info) it is ready to go.

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the 25 Sl Mk3 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your 25 Sl Mk3.

Does the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 come with ableton Live included?

With the 25 Sl Mk3 you get a free copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are not nearly as comprehensive as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared 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 Mk3 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Novation 25 Sl Mk3 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 25 Sl Mk3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the 25 Sl Mk3 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 Mk3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the 25 Sl Mk3 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 Mk3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The 25 Sl Mk3 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 Novation 25 Sl Mk3 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 25 Sl Mk3, 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 Mk3.
5. Moving the physical control on your 25 Sl Mk3 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 Mk3

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your 25 Sl Mk3, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your 25 Sl Mk3 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your 25 Sl Mk3 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all 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 Mk3, 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 Mk3's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your 25 Sl Mk3,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your 25 Sl Mk3, 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 Mk3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the 25 Sl Mk3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the 25 Sl Mk3 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 Mk3.
4. Make sure that the 25 Sl Mk3 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.