Novation Launchkey 37 Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Novation's Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Launchkey 37 Mk2.

Article Contents

Does the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Launchkey 37 Mk2 to ableton
How to midi map the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Launchkey 37 Mk2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk2 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The Launchkey 37 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 forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Launchkey 37 Mk2 will be usable with Ableton Live.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live's components with your Launchkey 37 Mk2.

Does the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

You get a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite with the Launchkey 37 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. 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Novation Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Launchkey 37 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Launchkey 37 Mk2, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Launchkey 37 Mk2 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 37 Mk2 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 Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Launchkey 37 Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Launchkey 37 Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Launchkey 37 Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.