Ableton Forum

Hi guys,

i've been trying to set up my Novation Launchpad Mini MK3 desperately for about 3 hours now. MIDI IN was no problem, recognized immediately. But for hours I just can't get the pad lighting to work. When a MIDI track I recorded with LP mini in Ableton is being played, no pads in LP mini light up. Need some help please. I've tried any solution i could find on the whole internet in vain.

Setup:
Settings > Midi:
Controller Surface: Launchpad Mini MK3
Input: LPMiniMK3 MIDI Track&Remote On (tried disabling each single one as well)
Output: LPMiniMK3 MIDI port2 (tried the other as well) Track&Remote On (tried disabling each single one as well)
Sync disabled
https://support.novationmusic.com/hc/en ... leton-Live tried this setup as well where MIDIout Track is disabled

Track: Midi, nor Drum rack. I could record it playing on LPmini, so MIDI in is definitely working.
Track settings:
Arm record
Monitor In or Auto
Input All ins
Output LPminiMK3 port 2 (tried port 1 as well)
Channel: 2 for LP Drum Mode, tried user mode CH1 as well)

I did a factory resest in LPminiMK3. The external MIDI is ON (Press session 2secs, bottom row 2nd button from left green)
I changed USB cables and ports. Ableton is the only software running with MIDI connections. I've tried Drum mode, key mode, user mode and session mode. In session mode i can launch clips, the pads lighten up and flash correctly. In no other mode the pads were lighting up when MIDI was played.

MeYourselfAndThem wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 20, 2025 9:56 am

Input: LPMiniMK3 MIDI Track&Remote On (tried disabling each single one as well)
Output: LPMiniMK3 MIDI port2 (tried the other as well) Track&Remote On (tried disabling each single one as well)
Sync disabled

Just disable everything in this section ⬆
and only keep what's above in the Control Surface area, i.e
Launchpad Mini MK3 - Input: Launchpad (or whatever it is called exactly, i don't have one to check) - Output: Launchpad

Control Surfaces are scripts for natively supported devices, and once setup you shouldn't have to do anything, it's automatic.

On the other end, the MIDI ports section right below is here in case you need to set custom controls from your midi devices, which doesn't like it's your case.

Got it working with that hint! Thanks a lot!