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

The Novation Launchkey 49 Mk2 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.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk2 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Launchkey 49 Mk2.

Article Contents

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

Does the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

The Launchkey 49 Mk2 is pre-programmed with a midi remote script in Ableton Live, so all you have to do is connect it (refer to the information below on how to do that).

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 49 Mk2 will be usable with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Launchkey 49 Mk2.

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

The Launchkey 49 Mk2 includes a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite, but its available features are not as extensive as those in Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison 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 Mk2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk2 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

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

The Launchkey 49 Mk2 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk2 to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

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

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Launchkey 49 Mk2, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Launchkey 49 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Launchkey 49 Mk2 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

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

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