Seaboard Rise 2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Seaboard's Rise 2 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 Seaboard Rise 2 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Rise 2.

Article Contents

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

In summary, the Seaboard Rise 2 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 Rise 2 to a variety of functions.

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 Rise 2 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 Rise 2.

Does the Seaboard Rise 2 come with ableton Live included?

The Rise 2 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Rise 2 to ableton

Linking the Seaboard Rise 2 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Rise 2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Rise 2 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 Rise 2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Rise 2 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 Rise 2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Rise 2 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 Seaboard Rise 2 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 Rise 2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Rise 2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Rise 2 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 Rise 2

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Rise 2, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Rise 2 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Rise 2 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren't possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Rise 2, 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 Rise 2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Rise 2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Rise 2, 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 Rise 2 in Ableton Live?

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