Novation Launchkey 49 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Novation's Launchkey 49 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Novation Launchkey 49 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Launchkey 49.

Article Contents

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

Does the Novation Launchkey 49 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Novation Launchkey 49 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Launchkey 49 is equipped with a standard midi remote script in Ableton Live, so you just need to connect it (see instructions below) to get it working.

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 49 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 49.

Does the Novation Launchkey 49 come with ableton Live included?

The Launchkey 49 offers a complimentary copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are limited in comparison to 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.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Launchkey 49 to ableton

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

Set up of the Launchkey 49 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Novation Launchkey 49 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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 49, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Launchkey 49.
5. Moving the physical control on your Launchkey 49 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 49

For the fastest way to map your Launchkey 49, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Launchkey 49 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Launchkey 49 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 49, 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 49's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Launchkey 49,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Launchkey 49, 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 49 in Ableton Live?

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