Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Novation's Launchkey 49 Mk3 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 explain all you need to know on using the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Launchkey 49 Mk3.

Article Contents

Does the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Launchkey 49 Mk3 to ableton
How to midi map the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Launchkey 49 Mk3
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Out of the box, the Launchkey 49 Mk3 has a midi remote script that is compatible with Ableton Live, so once you connect it (check the section below for more info) it is ready to go.

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

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Launchkey 49 Mk3.

Does the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?

With the Launchkey 49 Mk3 you get a free copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are not nearly as comprehensive as those of 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.

If you're looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Launchkey 49 Mk3 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 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 Mk3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Launchkey 49 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 49 Mk3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Launchkey 49 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 49 Mk3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Launchkey 49 Mk3 has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Novation Launchkey 49 Mk3 to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 49 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 49 Mk3.
5. Moving the physical control on your Launchkey 49 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 49 Mk3

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Launchkey 49 Mk3, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Launchkey 49 Mk3 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Launchkey 49 Mk3 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available 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 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 49 Mk3's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Launchkey 49 Mk3,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Launchkey 49 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 49 Mk3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Launchkey 49 Mk3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Launchkey 49 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 49 Mk3.
4. Make sure that the Launchkey 49 Mk3 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.