Teenage Engineering Op 1 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Teenage Engineering's Op 1 is an exceptionally flexible midi enabled synthesizer and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi enabled synthesizer has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Teenage Engineering Op 1 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Op 1.

Article Contents

Does the Teenage Engineering Op 1 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Teenage Engineering Op 1 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Op 1 to ableton
How to midi map the Teenage Engineering Op 1 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Op 1
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Teenage Engineering Op 1 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Teenage Engineering Op 1 is usable with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Op 1 to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Op 1 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 Op 1.

Does the Teenage Engineering Op 1 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Op 1, so it needs to be purchased separately.

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 who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Op 1 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Teenage Engineering Op 1 with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi enabled synthesizer.

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

The Op 1 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 Teenage Engineering Op 1 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 Op 1, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Op 1.
5. Moving the physical control on your Op 1 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 Op 1

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Op 1, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Op 1 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Op 1 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

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 Op 1, 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 Op 1's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Op 1,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Op 1, 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 Op 1 in Ableton Live?

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