Roli Lightpad Block M Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Roli's Lightpad Block M is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller 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 Roli Lightpad Block M with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Lightpad Block M.

Article Contents

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

Does the Roli Lightpad Block M work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Roli Lightpad Block M is usable with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Lightpad Block M to a variety of functions.

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 Lightpad Block M will be usable with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Lightpad Block M.

Does the Roli Lightpad Block M come with ableton Live included?

The Lightpad Block M does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Lightpad Block M to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Roli Lightpad Block M with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi controller.

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

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

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Lightpad Block M, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Lightpad Block M 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

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Lightpad Block M can only be assigned to 1 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 Lightpad Block M, 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 Lightpad Block M's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Lightpad Block M,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Lightpad Block M, 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 Lightpad Block M in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Lightpad Block M is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Lightpad Block M is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Lightpad Block M.
4. Make sure that the Lightpad Block M is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.