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The M-Audio Keystation series controllers are simple, powerful MIDI controllers designed for sequencing music and playing virtual instruments on your Mac or PC. This article walks through setting up your M-Audio Keystation for use with Ableton Live 9 Lite and the SONiVOX Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 virtual instrument.

Contents

Connect the USB cable between your computer and the interface. We recommend that you never connect audio interfaces to a USB hub, but always directly to the computer's port. Open Live's preferences to the Audio tab. Click on Driver Type and select CoreAudio (Mac) or ASIO (Windows): On Mac.

1. Virtual Instruments and Plugins

Downloading, Installing and Authorizing Ableton Live Lite

Recording Interface For Mac

Before getting started with the setup, make sure that your copy of Ableton Live Lite has been fully installed and activated. Follow the guide below for a complete walkthrough:

Keystation Series Hardware Setup

The Keystation series controllers are defaulted to the Mackie Control protocol to allow for Transport control (Play, Stop, Record, Directional buttons).

To switch between Mackie Control and HUI:

1. 1. Press the ADVANCED button to put the Keystation into Edit Mode.
      
   2. Press the key labeled MACKIE/HUI.
      Note: The '+' and '-' OCTAVE LEDs will be lit green when in Mackie mode and red when in HUI mode.
      
   3. Press the ENTER key.
      

Ableton Live 9 Lite Software Setup

1. First, connect the M-Audio Keystation series controller to an available USB port on your computer using the supplied cable, and launch Ableton Live 9 Lite.
   
2. 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]
   
3. 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: Keystation 49 (or 61, 88), toggle On the button in the Track, and Remote columns as shown in the image below.
   Next to Output: Keystation 49 (or 61, 88), toggle On the button in the Track, and Remote columns as shown in the image below.
   
4. Next, at the top of the window under Control Surface, choose MackieControl from the drop-down list in row 1. Under the Input column in Row 1, choose Keystation 49 (Port 2).
   You can leave the third drop-down menu in Row 1 under Output set to None.
   

The Transport control (Play, Stop, and Record) on the Keystation series controller will now control and correspond with the Transport functions in Ableton. In addition, the Directional buttons on the Keystation series controller will now

Audio Interface For Mac Ableton Download

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:

1. 1. 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]
      
   2. Choose the File Folder tab
      
   3. 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.
        
   4. If this location is not set correctly, next to VST Plug-In Custom Folder, choose Browse, browse to the correct folder, and press OK.
      
      

SONiVOX Eighty Eight Default Installation Locations:

Windows:
32-bit and 64-bit: C:Program Files (x86)SONiVOXVstPlugins
Mac:
(AU): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > Components
(VST): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST

SONiVOX EightyEight Ensemble 2

1. 1. Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
      
   2. 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.
      
   3. The Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 virtual instrument interface will now open.
      

Additional Resources

Further Product Support

Whether you are a customer or dealer, if you already own an M-Audio product, or if you just have pre-sales questions, the M-Audio 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.

Hi all. After being away from the Live world for a while, looking to get back to production.
Most of the time I won't be using physical instruments or mics - just the Push 2 and computer. If I go with a new MacBook Pro, will I still need an external audio interface for low latency, or is the MacBook internal audio good enough for digital production?
How about with beefy VSTs like Massive or Serum?
Is it correct to assume that Windows laptops would always require an interface for decent performance?
Thanks in advance! I've always used Live on my Windows desktop with a Focusrite 2i2, but looking to reduce my footprint and increase portability with just a laptop and Push, if possible.