Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi keyboard has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Launchkey 37 Mk3.

Article Contents

1. Does the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Launchkey 37 Mk3 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Launchkey 37 Mk3
   1. Saving your Launchkey 37 Mk3 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 37 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 is usable with Ableton Live.

Ableton live provides a default midi remote script for the Launchkey 37 Mk3, meaning it will work with Ableton Live as soon as you connect it (see the section below on how to connect to ableton).

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 Launchkey 37 Mk3 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Launchkey 37 Mk3.

Does the Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?

Yes the Launchkey 37 Mk3 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. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared 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 37 Mk3 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Novation Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Launchkey 37 Mk3 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 37 Mk3 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 37 Mk3, 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 Mk3.
5. Moving the physical control on your Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk3

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Launchkey 37 Mk3, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Launchkey 37 Mk3 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Launchkey 37 Mk3 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of 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 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 Launchkey 37 Mk3's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Launchkey 37 Mk3,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Launchkey 37 Mk3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Launchkey 37 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 Launchkey 37 Mk3.
4. Make sure that the Launchkey 37 Mk3 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.