Sub Zero Controlkey25 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Sub Zero Controlkey25 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Sub Zero Controlkey25 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Controlkey25.

Article Contents

Does the Sub Zero Controlkey25 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Sub Zero Controlkey25 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Controlkey25 to ableton
How to midi map the Sub Zero Controlkey25 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Controlkey25
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Sub Zero Controlkey25 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Sub Zero Controlkey25 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Controlkey25 to multiple functions inside the program.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Controlkey25 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 Controlkey25.

Does the Sub Zero Controlkey25 come with ableton Live included?

The Controlkey25 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison 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 Controlkey25 to ableton

Connecting the Sub Zero Controlkey25 with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Controlkey25 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Controlkey25 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 Controlkey25 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Controlkey25 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 Controlkey25 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Controlkey25 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 Sub Zero Controlkey25 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 Controlkey25, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Controlkey25.
5. Moving the physical control on your Controlkey25 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 Controlkey25

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Controlkey25, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Controlkey25 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Controlkey25 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Controlkey25, 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 Controlkey25's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Controlkey25,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Controlkey25, 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 Controlkey25 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Controlkey25 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Controlkey25 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Controlkey25.
4. Make sure that the Controlkey25 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.