Novation Launchkey 25 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Novation's Launchkey 25 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Novation Launchkey 25 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Launchkey 25.

Article Contents

1. Does the Novation Launchkey 25 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Novation Launchkey 25 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Launchkey 25 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Novation Launchkey 25 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Launchkey 25
   1. Saving your Launchkey 25 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 Novation Launchkey 25 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Novation Launchkey 25 is usable with Ableton Live.

Ableton live provides a default midi remote script for the Launchkey 25, meaning it will work with Ableton Live as soon as you connect it (see the section below on how to connect to ableton).

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Launchkey 25 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 Launchkey 25.

Does the Novation Launchkey 25 come with ableton Live included?

Yes the Launchkey 25 comes with a free copy of Ableton Live Lite. Although it has unlimited usage, the available features are a lot less than what is available in the full versions of 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.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Launchkey 25 to ableton

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

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

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Launchkey 25, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Launchkey 25 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Launchkey 25 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 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 Launchkey 25, 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 Launchkey 25's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Launchkey 25,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Launchkey 25, 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 Launchkey 25 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Launchkey 25 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Launchkey 25 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Launchkey 25.
4. Make sure that the Launchkey 25 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.