1. Ableton Keyboard Cover
2. Ableton Live Keyboard Midi
3. Ableton Computer Keyboard

Playing notes from your computer keyboard into Ableton Live is incredibly easy, but for new electronic musicians it can become confusing when trying to figure out which key on your computer keyboard is triggering which musical note on your Live Device or third party plugin. So, like always, I have set out to explain it as simply as possible with a diagram.

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In the diagram above I have replaced the computer keyboard’s typical key names with musical note names that correspond to the black and white keys on a regular musical keyboard… so, we can see that the A key on our computer keyboard plays the note C, and directly next to that and moving to the right are the notes D, E, F, G, A, B and then C again (but an octave higher than our first C). In the row above we can trigger the black keys (or ‘sharps’) from a keyboard, but you’ll notice that not all of the computer keyboard’s keys trigger a musical note here. This is because there’s not necessarily a black key between every white key on a musical keyboard. From E to F there’s no black key, nor from B to C. So, if you strike Q, R, or I on your computer keyboard, you won’t trigger any note and therefore shouldn’t hear anything. This is the part that stumps many new users.

On the row below our ‘white keys’ on the computer keyboard we also have some controls by which we can transpose the keys an octave up or down (Z moves down and X moves up). As long as the Computer MIDI Keyboard switch is activated (see my blog post about navigating Live, or find it in the top right hand side of your Live window) you can easily check which octave is selected by a quick review of the status bar at the bottom of the Live window when striking the C or V keys.

Next to the octave controls, the C key (on your computer keyboard, not the note ‘C’ from a musical keyboard) changes the input velocity down by 20 units and V changes it up by 20. This discovery demonstrates one of the limitations we can experience when playing notes from our computer keyboard… the keys are not velocity sensitive. However we can easily edit the velocity of any note in the velocity editor window inside any clip in Ableton Live, and at least with C and V we can change the input velocity if we are planning to enter some notes with a desired velocity that is high or low. Just as we can check the note range in the status bar, we can also check the current velocity setting by striking these keys and taking a look at the status bar.

However… there’s a little more to it, depending on which Instrument you’re using. If you’re using Drum Rack or Impulse, the way the keys work is different to devices such as Operator or Simpler, so making sense of it all requires some understanding of how things are laid out on these devices before working out which key to strike to play your desired note…

Impulse
There are only 8 pads on this Device, and the notes are hardwired to the white keys that follow on from C3 or ‘middle C’ on a musical keyboard. So, when using your computer keyboard, the keys A, S, D, F, G, H, J and K will play each of the pads from left to right. If you can’t trigger the sounds with these keys, check the octave to which your computer keyboard is set (and remember that you can adjust the octave by striking Z or X to transpose up or down).

Drum Rack
This device uses both the black and white keys, so it can be confusing when switching between this and Impulse, because on Drum Rack the cell next to C3 is NOT D3, it is C#3… meaning that we need to use the W key on our computer keyboard to trigger this note. It’s also easy to use the Pad Overview on the left of your Drum Rack pads to navigate across many octaves (the Drum Rack’s pads are actually organized into groups of 16). Don’t forget that you can use Live’s info view and hover over areas of the Drum Rack to find these items.

In its straightforward operation, Drum Rack allows us to store up to 128 different sounds, with each triggered by its own pad. Inside each of these pads sits another Live Device: Simpler. Simpler is a single-sample sampler, that normally plays back one sample at a different for each musical key or note selected. That is, it will play the sample at its original recorded pitch if the note C3 is selected, but any move up or down the keyboard will alter the pitch accordingly. Drum Rack is different, because it acts like a shelving unit for 128 different instances of Simpler, and each of these is set to play the sample at a single pitch. Moving up or down the keyboard changes the Simpler to be triggered, rather than the pitch of the same sample.

Synthesizers, Samplers, Plugins etc.
Most other Devices or plugins will behave like a Simpler that isn’t sitting inside a Drum Rack… that is, they will change the pitch of a sample (if a sampler) or an oscillator (if a synthesizer) when transposing up r down the keyboard. If you’re confused about how Simpler works on its own compared to how it works inside a Drum Rack, try experimenting with both by dragging the Simpler in and out of the Drum Rack and then playing some different notes.

Oh, and don’t forget: to use your computer keyboard you need to activate the Computer MIDI Keyboard switch and ensure the Arm Session Recording (or Arm Arrangement Recording) switch is activated!

Enjoy!

Mike Callander
Ableton Certified Trainer

A MIDI keyboard is just like an electronic musical keyboard, it is used to control and carry sound on other devices. A MIDI keyboard is highly popular in the present era since it can perform multiple functions with an amazing audio interface. It is preferred over a usual keyboard as it helps you to evolve new ideas for creating harmonic and melodious tunes.

The best MIDI keyboard for Ableton is what a true music geek desires. There are various MIDI keyboards for Ableton available.

The best MIDI keyboard for Ableton them are listed below

Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII LE Black

Ableton Keyboard Cover

The key features of this MIDI keyboard by Akai professional are

• The keyboard delivers its maximum periodic range with octave up and down buttons and 25 velocity-sensitive keys.
• The high-tech 4-way thumbstick provides modulation and dynamic pitch control.
• It comes with a built-in arpeggiator having adjustable range, resolution and modes.
• The keyboard has an ultra-compact design which is robust and powered by USB.
• It has 8 backlit MPC style pads which are velocity-sensitive.
• Mixing and twigging plugging is better with 8 fully assignable Q link knobs.
• The product is available in black color.
• The dimensions of the product are 8 x 7.1 x 12.5 inches.

This is our recommendation for the best midi keyboard for Ableton.

Alesis V49 49 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

The popular key features of this midi keyboard by Alesis are

• It comes with 49 full-sized velocity keys having square front, ideal for playing virtual instruments.
• Clip launching and beat production is done with 8 pressure and velocity-sensitive backlit pads.
• It comes with 4 assignable button interface and 4 assignable knobs for music software.
• Full keyboard ranged is easily accessed with octave up and down buttons.
• Expressive and creative control is delivered by pitch and modulation wheels.
• The dimensions of the product are 6 x 37.6 x 4.53 inches.

M Audio Oxygen 49 IV 49 Key USB/MIDI Keyboard

The key features of this amazing midi keyboard by M-Audio are

• It comes with 49 full-sized keys which are velocity-sensitive and have synth action.
• The onboard pitch and modulation wheel is provided for expressive and vibrant performances.
• Clip launching and beat production is done with 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads.
• Virtual instruments can be easily manipulated with 9 assignable faders and 8 assignable knobs.
• Instant parameter feedback is provided with plugging and DAW parameters on boards LCD screens.
• The Daw is efficiently controlled with the help of transport buttons.
• The full melodic range is achieved with octave up and down buttons.
• The dimensions of the product are 9.6 x 32 x 3.7 inches.

Novation Launchkey 49 USB Keyboard Controller for Ableton

This amazing product by Novation comes with the following key features

• It comes with 49 note controllers for a keyboard.
• The keyboard has 16 RGB pads that are velocity-sensitive.
• It has effective control and navigation buttons.
• It contains 16 velocity-sensitive keypads along with 8 knobs and efficient control and navigation buttons.
• The keyboard is fully USB powered and is class compliant.
• The product has inbuilt software for MAC and PC.
• The dimensions of the product are 5 x 3.5 x 10.6 inches.

Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 Universal MIDI Controller and Software with Sustain Pedal

The key features of this popular product by Photo Savings are

• This high-tech keyboard comes with 61 velocity-sensitive keys.
• The product includes 8 pressure and touches sensitive pads, 9 encoders and 9 faders.
• It brings 5000 of the synth sounds with Ableton Live Lite, Analog Lab Software and UVI Plan Model D.
• It has MCU and HI protocols to control your DAW software on any platform.
• Its creativity enhances with modulation and pitches bend wheel, 4 command switches and 6 transport switches.
• The keyboard can be split or layered for creating awesome sounds.
• The accessory bundle includes 5 MIDI Cable, Fibertique cloth and a switch-type universal keyboard with a sustain pedal.
• The dimensions of the product are 8 x 17.5 x 9.5 inches.

Akai Professional MAX25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard

The key features of this amazing keyboard by Akai Professional are

• The product comes with 25 semi-weighted keys keyboard with aftertouch.
• The keyboard has 4 amazing touch faders giving hands-on expressiveness.
• It has Akai Connect software which automatically tunes in to VSR instruments and plugins.
• It comes with 64 assignable pads along with buttons and faders.
• The product includes 4 fader banks and 4 pad banks.
• It has expanded arpeggiator and a built-in step sequencer.
• It comes with HUI modes and Mackie Control for controlling any MIDI instruments for a certain period.
• The dimensions of the product are 1 x 13 x 3.2 inches.

Korg MicroKEY Air 37-Key Wireless MIDI Controller

This phenomenal product by Korg comes with the following key features

• This keyboard comes with a compact design and hence is highly portable.
• This product is USB compatible and is easy to operate.
• It can be connected to iPhone, iPad and Mac wirelessly.
• The keyboard can be split or layered for creating awesome sounds.
• The dimensions of the product are 8 x 8.5 x 6 inches.

Ableton Live Keyboard Midi

M-Audio AXIOM 25-Key Semi-Weighted Keyboard USB MIDI Controller

Ableton Computer Keyboard

The key features of this desirable product by M-Audio are

• It comes with 25 action keyboard keys that are velocity-sensitive and have aftertouch.
• All the controllers are fully programmable making it easy to operate.
• The current controller setting could be transported with the help of a snapshot function.
• It comes with a built-in interface for USD MIDI.
• The product includes Ableton music software for the right music.
• The dimensions of the product are 5 x 14.2 x 5.1 inches.

The best MIDI keyboard for Ableton is all you need for an above the world experience. It will give you all the desired benefits required for a successful music session.

The above mentioned best midi keyboard for Ableton comes with the best customer reviews and an extended guarantee.