The Akai MPK2 series controllers combine deep software integration, enhanced workflow, and core technologies from the iconic line of MPC workstations. The MPK225, MPK249, and MPK261 are engineered to be all-in-one controller solutions for comprehensive interfacing and manipulation of virtual instruments, effect plugins, DAWs, and more. This articles walks through how to setup the MPK2 series controller with Ableton Live 9.
Feb 07, 2018 Video is aimed at beginners opening Ableton Live for the 1st time. For me it's one of the most important things when using these types of software. How To Set Up Audio Interface Input &. When in Full Screen Mode on OS X version 10.9 or higher, Live’s menus will appear when moving your mouse pointer to the top of the screen. You can turn Full Screen Mode off by clicking the arrows on the right side of the menu bar. Enabling the Second Window option via CTRL - Shift - W (PC) / CMD - Shift - W (Mac). Setting Up Ableton Live for KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK2 (Mac). Open your Applications folder and right-click the Live application symbol. Ableton makes Push and Live, hardware and software for music production, creation and performance. Ableton´s products are made to inspire creative music-making.
Contents
Virtual Instruments and Plugins
MPK2 Series Hardware Setup
First, connect the Akai MPK2 series controller to an available USB port on your computer using the supplied cable and power the controller on.
Press the PRESET button and use the data dial to scroll to Preset: 1 LiveLite. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob. Note: The presets, preset names, and order of presets may vary depending on the specific model.
Press the GLOBAL button to enter the Global settings menu. Press the right arrow key until the display reads Clock Source: Use the rotary knob to select External.
Hit the right arrow key until the display reads Save Globals. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob to save the settings. The display will flash . When this is complete, the display will read .
Press the PRESET button to return to the ProTools preset screen.
Ableton Live 9 Lite Software Setup
First, connect the Akai MPK2 series controller to an available USB port on your computer using the supplied cable, and launch Ableton Live 9 Lite.
Next, open the Ableton Live 9 Lite Preferences window. Choose your Audio Device in the Audio tab. This will be dependent upon the audio interface that you are using. MAC: Select Live > Preferences or use the key command shortcut - [Command + comma]
PC: Select Options > Preferences or use the key command shortcut - [Control + comma]
Select the MIDI / Sync tab from the left side of the window. Within the MIDI Ports section, adjust the settings as suggested below: Next to Input: MPK249, toggle On the button in the Track, Sync and Remote columns as shown in the image below. Next to Output: MPK249, toggle On the button in the Track, Sync and Remote columns as shown in the image below.
Next, at the top of the window under Control Surface, choose MPK49 from the drop-down list in row 1. The MPK series controllers are back-compatible with the MPK series controllers in Ableton Live 9 Lite. Also, choose MPK249 from the Input and Output drop-down menus in row 1.
Virtual Instruments and Plugins
Adjusting Ableton Live 9 Lite Plugin Sources
Note for Windows users only: If you have difficulty locating your plugin in your Plug-Ins category within Ableton Live 9 Lite, be sure Ableton Live 9 Lite is reading plugins from the correct location where your plugin is installed. To do this:
Open the Preferences menu in Ableton Live 9 Lite MAC: Select Live > Preferences or use the key command shortcut - [Command + comma]
PC: Select Options > Preferences or use the key command shortcut - [Control + comma]
Choose the File Folder tab
Under the heading Plug-In Sources:
Toggle On the button next to Use VST Plug-In Custom Folder
Note the location under VST Plug-In Custom Folder.
If this location is not set correctly, next to VST Plug-In Custom Folder, choose Browse, browse to the correct folder, and press OK.
Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
In the right-hand column next to Categories, click-and-drag Hybrid onto a MIDI track to load Hybrid 3 into your Ableton Live 9 Lite session.
The Hybrid 3 virtual instrument interface will now open.
Twist 2 Setup
Hardware Setup
Press the PRESET button and use the data dial to scroll to Preset: 4 Twist 2. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob.
Software Setup
Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
In the right-hand column next to Categories, click-and-drag Twist 2 onto a MIDI track to load Twist 2 into your Ableton Live 9 Lite session.
The Twist 2 virtual instrument interface will now open.
SONiVOX EightyEight Ensemble 2
Hardware Setup
Press the PRESET button and use the data dial to scroll to Preset: 5 Eighty8. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob.
Software Setup
Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
In the right-hand column next to Categories, click-and-drag Eighty Eight 2 onto a MIDI track to load Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 into your Ableton Live 9 Lite session.
The Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 virtual instrument interface will now open.
Additional Resources
Further Technical Support
Whether you are a customer or dealer, if you already own an Akai Pro product, or if you just have pre-sales questions, the Akai Pro technical support team is available to help!
Visit the link below to connect with any of the following support options: online community support, phone support, email support.
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using shortcuts while performing repetitive tasks in software can save you up to 60 hours per year according to some estimates. ableton is no exception - that's more time you can spend on your productions or buying groceries or whatever. so let's review some of the top shortcuts for ableton live!
many of these you may (should) already be duly familiar with but there are a few that I didn't know about before researching for this article. definitely have a look and let me know what stands out to you as the most useful shortcut.
fades are a valuable tool. not just for seamlessly joining clips and transparently bringing tracks in and out of a song, they're also a necessary utility for removing zero-crossing pops from your clips.
following playback let's you keep a careful eye on all the details of your track as it plays. very useful indeed, this shortcut both turns on and turns off the function.
how often do you need to quickly mute something to get reference of the rest of the song? you can quickly mute and unmute tracks 1-8 with the function keys. mind that if you have tracks in groups, even if they are collapsed, they are still considered to be in the order they are in.
record: fn + f9 (f9)
a very useful shortcut for quick recording. note that if you've enabled 'start playback with record' in the record/warp/launch section of the preferences this will also start your transport. handy!
Ableton Mac How To Open Settings Windows 10
exclusive arm/solo: cmd + click (ctrl + click)
the function of this shortcut will depend on your settings in the record/warp/launch section of the preferences. if you have exclusive arm and solo enabled, cmd (ctrl) + clicking these in the mixer will allow you to arm or solo multiple tracks. How to open a downloaded drum rack in ableton. if exclusive arm and solo are not enabled, this will allow you to to simultaneously disarm or desolo all other tracks but the one you click.
insert time: cmd + i (ctrl + i)
it can be a pain to highlight half of your project and move it a few bars just to make a little room for more. this shortcut makes that no problem. don't forget you can delete time as well (via cmd (ctrl) + shift + delete) so don't worry about getting too exact with the amount of time you add.
this shortcut is great for creating variations and 'children' from your current loops. just duplicate a few bars over and make adjustment to the patterns and sounds and you've got a b-section!
paste time: cmd + shift + v (ctrl + shift + v)
you don't always want everything moved over, I know. so just copy what you need and paste it right into the middle of your song!
loop selection: cmd + l (ctrl + l)
a great tool for looping whatever you have highlighted. in my opinion this makes session view obsolete for all but live applications. this same shortcut is very useful inside clips where it will snap the clip loop to the selection.
more tools for working with loops in arrangement view. cmd (ctrl) + shift + l will select the loop to make it 'active'. from there, you can hold cmd and use the arrow keys to expand or shorten the loop (by a factor of two) or move it around your song.
midi tracks and clips: cmd + shift + t and cmd + shift + m (ctrl + shift + t and ctrl + shift + m)
we'll go into the more common shortcuts now for anyone missing out (I was definitely a late-bloomer with some of these, I empathize). create a midi track and midi clip speedy-quick!
quantize: cmd + shift + u (ctrl + shift + u)
you can quantize with cmd (ctrl) + u but if you want control over the settings you'll want to add shift. works for both midi and warped audio.
group devices: cmd + g (ctrl +g)
cmd (ctrl) + g does a lot of things and undoubtedly you're already using it for this and grouping tracks. one of the best features of ableton imo.
Ableton Default Audio Preferences
open preferences: cmd + , (ctrl + ,)
cmd + , gives you quick access to the preferences on nearly every osx application, ableton included.
How To Get Ableton
consolidate: cmd + j (ctrl + j)
I have to mention consolidate, just because it changed my life. incredibly useful to quickly 'bounce' several clips into one. flattens any warp adjustments you make. works for both midi and audio. HUGE.
Best Ableton Settings
those are some of my favorites, hope you find them useful and time-saving! for me, the speed of ableton enhances and inspires creativity. remember you can find all of my production tips here and follow the socials to never miss a new tip//