How to Setup the AKAI MPK MINI PLUS in Ableton Live: an Easy Guide

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Do you want to learn how to set up the AKAI MPK MINI PLUS in Ableton Live? In this video, we'll show you exactly how to get started and configure the MPK MINI PLUS to make your music production easier than ever!
If you're new to Ableton Live or just want to make your music production more efficient, this easy guide is for you! We'll walk you through every step of setting up the MPK MINI PLUS and explain all of the functions it has. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to use the MPK MINI PLUS to its full potential!
🎬 Timestamps -🎬
00:00 - Intro
00:15 - Set up
02:19 - MIDI
03:27 - Scale and chord modes
04:41 - Sync
08:47 - Setting up CV
11:40 - MIDI to CV
14:10 - Outro
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WHO AM I:
I’m Craig, a professional musician and music technology teacher working at universities online and across London, UK. I make videos that look at easy and fun ways to get started in music production. I have also just launched my first course ‘Ableton Zero to Hero’ - a beginner’s guide to music production.
GET IN TOUCH:
If you’d like to talk, I’d love to hear from you. DM me on Instagram @pushpatterns directly, but if your question is very long, feel free to email me at [e-mail].
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[@pushpatterns]

🎉 Take the Ableton Push 3 to the next level with my new course: www.pushpatterns.com/Abletonpush3course Learn how to use the Ableton Push 3 just like the pros do.

[@unexpectedjam-1225]

Thank you for this video sir learned to setup my akai mpk mini plus to ableton

[@pushpatterns]

Great stuff! Happy I could help! 🎉🎉

[@McBis7musik]

Votre vidéo m’a vraiment aidé. Merci. Continue ainsi.

[@pushpatterns]

Thank you 😍

[@rmms6492]

Thanks for much for your tutorials. I was wondering if you were able to get the knobs working (ie. adjusting on MPK and having it respond in Ableton). I’m able to do everything you’ve laid out in the video and it’s all working except for the knobs. Thanks again

[@pushpatterns]

Yes you can! So you either need to set it up as a control surface or you have to manually midi map the controls to what you would like them to controll

[@CzMalby]

⁠@@pushpatterns Thanks for the video! I have trouble with encoders as well. I can set it up only manualy and them work fine but i won't do that in every kit. Is it only software issu or i must do something on this controller?

[@pushpatterns]

@@CzMalby Not sure why your having problem, you just need to ensure you have set up the controller as a control surface in the preferences in Live and that you have selected the Ableton Live preset on the controller.

[@CzMalby]

I did all this and it still doesn't work..But i did something wrong when i put in ableton script downloaded from akai website so i try it again and now it's working fine.

[@pushpatterns]

@@CzMalby Hey so it's all working now? maybe you could share a link to where you downloaded the script from to help everyone else? 🤟

[@ToxxicProject]

Question to connect the behringer crave I need the Cv or only with the midi I can manipulate it.

[@pushpatterns]

You can do either CV or midi over din 🤙

[@GreenHoleSun]

Thank for your useful video. One question: at the start, when you were in the midi link screen, you have set MPK49 as control surface, MpK midi plus as input...what have you set as output? In my screen there are 2 choices: mpk mini plus and mpk mini plus (port 2). Which is the right one?

[@pushpatterns]

I believe it’s midi port 1 or the first option

[@Drkfgr]

I have this!!

[@pushpatterns]

Great! What do you think?

[@danieldelrosario6836]

question! at around 3:00 you armed both the drums and keys, but for me I can only arm 1 at a time. how do i adjust this? I have a mpk mini plus as well

[@pushpatterns]

Hey, this is a setting in Ableton Live. If you got the settings/preferences in Ableton Live. Go to the record warp temp tab and turn off exclusive record. Hope that helps

[@RobinsonTechnologies]

ctrl-clicking worked for me

[@pushpatterns]

This also works!

[@theactionblog]

7:26 I find that confusing too. Any chance you could elaborate on how to re-map that? Cheers

[@pushpatterns]

Hey thanks for the comment, I'm not too sure, to be honest.

[@lwpweb]

how to jump in ableton between markers on the timeline?

[@pushpatterns]

You can Midi map the two little arrows underneath the set button. Which is the top right hand side of the arrange window.

[@plusran]

Thanks for this, it's been really helpful. Can you show us how to control Ableton's tempo from the Mini Plus? I've tried to set it up but ableton isn't matching.

[@pushpatterns]

When you say “set it up” do you mean you have midi mapped it to one of the knobs? And is it not adjusting the speed correctly?

[@plusran]

@@pushpatterns oh, no, I assumed the sync input/output would sync the clock.

[@pushpatterns]

@@plusran@plusran Ah, ok, you need to go into the preferences in the AKAI MPK and Sith sync from internal to external and make sure you have sync enabled in Ableton lives prefects in the output ports section.

[@plusran]

@@pushpatterns It sounds like we're on the same page here, but different paragraphs. I'm looking for the opposite situation: where I set the tempo with the akai, and ableton's tempo is slaved to it. I'm beginning to think it's not possible!

[@pushpatterns]

@@plusran Ah I understand now! yes you put the syn on the input port in Lives preferences :)

[@dy2551]

How can I use it's transport panel in the Session view?

[@pushpatterns]

Go to Ableton Live’s preferences, MIDI and select the mpk25 as a control surface. It’s explained in the video :)

[@robbycluckers131]

Record shortcut for Ableton is f9

[@pushpatterns]

I stand corrected! Thank you for sharing!

[@AceNoise_]

i bought this device yesterday and now I know how to work with it Thank you!!

[@pushpatterns]

No problem! How you getting on with it?

[@SnazzyBoxx]

My vsts seem to be slightly out of tune , could it be the mini plus? (The pitch wheel seems ok but could it be off?) and is there a way to fix it?

[@pushpatterns]

Mmm not sure what this can be, maybe check the transpositon tunning settings on the AKAI, how much are the notes out of tune?

[@SnazzyBoxx]

@@pushpatterns if I play a C it hovers in the middle of C & C#. And on some presets I have to push the pitch mod wheel up a little up to make it in tune while I play. I know some presets are detuned for the effect but nearly all my presets sound off 😅 and on spire too

[@ankursahu5193]

Hi Bro.. I press R on ableton to record...always works 😮😊 I just used it again...😅😅

[@pushpatterns]

Did you create a custom key mapping?

[@stop619]

Very helpful, thank you! I was unable to get Note Repeat functionality to work. After pressing the Note Repeat button the pads no longer trigger the drum rack (at all). Wondering if anyone has had similar issue and found a fix.

[@pushpatterns]

Glad it helped! Did you set the clock to internal or external?

[@stop619]

@@pushpatternsThanks for the response. Seems I missed that the first go round. Working great now. Thanks, again!

[@pushpatterns]

It’s easily missed! Happen to me the first time. I understand the confusion 🙌🙌

[@mazdarx-8612]

hey, does your automatic midi-mapping work? I have this little blue hand next to the instrument title, but the knobs doesn't change the istrument values. Regardless: very helpful video, thank you

[@pushpatterns]

Did you select the ableton Live preset on the akai and also in Live’s MIDI set the akai to be a control surface. Let me know if that works ok 👍

[@djbrianv1]

have this same problem, my knobs don't change the macro knobs on able ton live. anyone find the fix?

[@mazdarx-8612]

​@@djbrianv1 Actually, I had already written instructions here, or rather the link to the AKAI support page that can be used to solve the problem. Apparently my comment was automatically deleted because it contained a link. That's why I'm now writing it as a guide: 1. go to the normal AKAI Professional page. 2. click on Support/Contact. 3. enter the following search query in the search field: 'Akai Pro MPK Mini Plus | Ableton Remote Script (Beta)' (It is important that you set the language to English in the search field at the top right of the support page. In my case, for example, there are no search results in German. Probably only support articles in your language are displayed.) This worked for me. I got the tip from another comment here under the video, I think it worked for him too.

[@djbrianv1]

@mazdarx - i tried that beta script on akais page. It didnt work for me. 🥹🥹🥹🥹 did everything exactly, im using ableton 10 but still seems like its a known problem. I just midi them and it works but makes no sense still, that out the box, they should work. So no luck for me

[@pushpatterns]

Sorry to here that, is it still not working?

[@vincenzooliva4111]

i followed your guide but ...i. cannot find a way to make the knobs work to control instruments. do you know how?

[@pushpatterns]

Hey! Sorry your having trouble with your set up! Are you trying to set it up as a control surface or maulally MIDI map?

[@emollme]

Hi, the encoders are not automatically set to a device in Ableton , the rest is working properly. Ableton live is activated in the Akai mini Plus. Under Preferences the mini shows up . Device MPK 49 is selected , REmote and Sync is enabled. Any Idea Please ?

[@pushpatterns]

Hey thank you for your comment! Do you have the controller selected as a control surface?

[@emollme]

For the mpk mini plus you have to install a script by hand then it works, strange that this is not integrated in Ableton 12 , because the script is already two years old, just found it by chance.

[@pushpatterns]

@@emollme Great, glad you got sorted and thank you for sharing on here! it's good to know

[@djbrianv1]

having this same problem, out the box, the encoder knobs arent' controlling the macro knobs in Ableton. what's the fix?

[@pushpatterns]

You have download a script from akai and install then it should work. Let me know how you get on

[@MenTaLLyMenTaL]

How did you get the "Drums" under the Categories in left menu? I do not have it. Also my Instruments > Drum Rack is empty. This is on a new Ableton Live 11 Intro. Anyone knows?

[@pushpatterns]

This doesn’t sound right! I would try uninstalling and reinstalling to see if that fixes it if not contact Ableton support

[@MenTaLLyMenTaL]

Thanks, I'll try that

[@pushpatterns]

Let me know how you get on 👍

[@MenTaLLyMenTaL]

@@pushpatterns Solved: It was pretty dumb. Hover over "Categories" then you'll see "Edit", and then I saw Drums was unchecked; just checked it. Reinstalling ableton didn't change this visibility either!

[@pushpatterns]

@@MenTaLLyMenTaL Ah! glad you found a fix an thank you for sharing!

[@palimo3653]

Did everything you said transport controls on the controller are not working in Live.

[@pushpatterns]

Sorry it’s not working for you! Do have the ableton live patch selected on the Akai?

[@palimo3653]

@@pushpatternsyes

[@pushpatterns]

And check you have selected the Akai as a control surface in the midi settings in Live?

[@Nigga4579]

No word about software in the beginning of video

[@pushpatterns]

Sorry I don’t know what you mean?