Worlde Ks61b Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Worlde's Ks61b 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.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Worlde Ks61b with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Ks61b.

Article Contents

1. Does the Worlde Ks61b work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Worlde Ks61b come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Ks61b to ableton
4. How to midi map the Worlde Ks61b in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Ks61b
   1. Saving your Ks61b 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 Worlde Ks61b work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Worlde Ks61b is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Ks61b to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

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 Ks61b is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Ks61b.

Does the Worlde Ks61b come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Ks61b, so this must be bought 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 Ks61b to ableton

Linking the Worlde Ks61b 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 Ks61b to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ks61b 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 Ks61b from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ks61b 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 Ks61b (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ks61b is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Worlde Ks61b and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 Ks61b, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ks61b.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ks61b 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 Ks61b

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Ks61b, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Ks61b 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Ks61b 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 Ks61b, 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 Ks61b's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ks61b,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ks61b, 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 Ks61b in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ks61b is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ks61b is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Ks61b.
4. Make sure that the Ks61b is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.