Akai MPK61 - how to use transport buttons to control live?

[jessemiller]

Does anyone know how to set up Ableton Live 8 and the Akai MPK61 so that the transport buttons on the MPK can control start/stop/etc on Live?
I believe I have all the preferences set up correctly in Live. I tried dumping the MIDI SysEx info from Live to the MPK, but I still haven't got it working. I've looked around online and I can't find an answers.

Thanks

[jessemiller]

With the Transport keys set to CTRL I can map them to play/stop, but I still can't get them to be a default control. Even called Akai and couldn't figure out what I'm doing wrong. There aren't many variables here.

[Dr Bad Dude PHD]

Any update on this? I can't figure it out either.

[HeadrickProductions]

Does anyone know how to set up Ableton Live 8 and the Akai MPK61 so that the transport buttons on the MPK can control start/stop/etc on Live?
I believe I have all the preferences set up correctly in Live. I tried dumping the MIDI SysEx info from Live to the MPK, but I still haven't got it working. I've looked around online and I can't find an answers.

Thanks

Off topic but is the 61 weighted or like the 49/25

Has anyone played with the 88 yet???

[jamief]

Howdy ive got ampk 49 and i,m pretyy sure this will fix your problemo.
Got to preferences
go to midi devices

and you will find yourself hear



more specifically in this party of the window


choose mpk as control surface and set input and output to mpk

let me know how that works for you.
i never use the mpk as a control surface for transport this way - but it workd for my us 2400


best
jamie

[yup yup]

you can midi map the functions to your akai and save the mapping as a template in yor preferences under files/folders?

[jamief]

you can midi map the functions to your akai and save the mapping as a template in yor preferences under files/folders?

Not the fast forward and rewind i beleive

[ark]

This may be obvious, but please take a look at page 29 of your MPK61 manual, and then verify that your MPK61 is set to CTRL mode for the transport controls. Live does not accept MMC or SYSEX signals for MIDI mapping -- only CC signals.

[Dr Bad Dude PHD]

I've checked everything mentioned so far and it all seems ok, think I might just manually sort everything. I'm kind of new to this so any advice would be appreciated, Ableton Live is doing an absolutely superb job of teaching me how to use everything, the MPK61 on the other hand is about as user friendly as aids. That's not to say I'm not enjoying using it, but a lot of it's functions are just going completely over my head.

Just FTR I don't have a preset for Live, I have one for Live Lite and I'm using that... should I be?

[jamief]

I've checked everything mentioned so far and it all seems ok, think I might just manually sort everything. I'm kind of new to this so any advice would be appreciated, Ableton Live is doing an absolutely superb job of teaching me how to use everything, the MPK61 on the other hand is about as user friendly as aids. That's not to say I'm not enjoying using it, but a lot of it's functions are just going completely over my head.

Just FTR I don't have a preset for Live, I have one for Live Lite and I'm using that... should I be?

Yes i agree the mpk is not very easy to navigate sometimes

[cotdagoo]

Just FTR I don't have a preset for Live, I have one for Live Lite and I'm using that... should I be?

The Live Lite preset is okay to play with, but imo if you want any real functionality with the mpk it's in your best interest to spend some time with the editor and create your own preset(s). It's a bit of a step if you're brand new - but will save a lot of headaches in the end when you know what every fader, knob, button controls rather than trying to remember where something is or what it does based on how someone else put the preset together.