Novation 49 Sl Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Novation's 49 Sl Mk2 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi keyboard has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the 49 Sl Mk2.

Article Contents

Does the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the 49 Sl Mk2 to ableton
How to midi map the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the 49 Sl Mk2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The 49 Sl Mk2 comes with a midi remote script to ensure it functions with Ableton Live, so just plug it in (see the instructions below to see how) and you're good 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 49 Sl Mk2 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your 49 Sl Mk2.

Does the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

You get a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite with the 49 Sl Mk2, but its worth noting that the features of Ableton Live Lite are not as full as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast 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 49 Sl Mk2 to ableton

Linking the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the 49 Sl Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the 49 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 49 Sl Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the 49 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 49 Sl Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The 49 Sl Mk2 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Novation 49 Sl Mk2 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 49 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 49 Sl Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your 49 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 49 Sl Mk2

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your 49 Sl Mk2, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your 49 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 button or knob on your 49 Sl Mk2 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 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 49 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 49 Sl Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your 49 Sl Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your 49 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 49 Sl Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the 49 Sl Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the 49 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 49 Sl Mk2.
4. Make sure that the 49 Sl Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.