Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 is a versatile midi keyboard and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi keyboard is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Launchkey 61 Mk2.

Article Contents

1. Does the Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Launchkey 61 Mk2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Launchkey 61 Mk2
   1. Saving your Launchkey 61 Mk2 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 61 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Ableton live provides a default midi remote script for the Launchkey 61 Mk2, meaning it will work with Ableton Live as soon as you connect it (see the section below on how to connect to ableton).

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 61 Mk2 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 61 Mk2.

Does the Novation Launchkey 61 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

Yes the Launchkey 61 Mk2 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.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 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 61 Mk2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Novation Launchkey 61 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 61 Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Launchkey 61 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 61 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Launchkey 61 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 61 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Launchkey 61 Mk2 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 61 Mk2 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 61 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 61 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Launchkey 61 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 61 Mk2

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Launchkey 61 Mk2, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Launchkey 61 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Launchkey 61 Mk2 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 61 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 61 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Launchkey 61 Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Launchkey 61 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 61 Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Launchkey 61 Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Launchkey 61 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 61 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Launchkey 61 Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.