The following article explains how to set up Ableton Live for the use of KOMPLETE KONTROL with the KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series Keyboards. This will enable you to use advanced host integration features like transport control, track selection and automatic track focus.
Note: If you want to set up Ableton Live for the KOMPLETE KONTROL A-Series, please read this article.
Note: These instructions do not apply if you intend to use the KOMPLETE KONTROL plug-in without a KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series Keyboard. In this case, simply load KOMPLETE KONTROL from the Plug-ins Category of the Ableton Live Browser.
The features described here require Ableton Live 9.2.3. and KOMPLETE KONTROL 1.9.0.
There are two different KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard models: The first-generation KOMPLETE KONTROL MK1 and the second-generation KOMPLETE KONTROL MK2. View the pictures below to identify your model:
| MK1 | MK2 | |||
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You will be guided through the following steps:
- Installing the MIDI Remote Script
- Installing the KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Racks
- Configuring Ableton Live for the use of KOMPLETE KONTROL with the KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series Keyboards
- Loading KOMPLETE KONTROL in Ableton Live
Installing the MIDI Remote Script
In this section, you will learn how to copy the KOMPLETE KONTROL MIDI Remote Script to Ableton Live's MIDI Remote Scripts directory. This will allow Ableton Live to recognize KOMPLETE KONTROL as a control surface.
Mac
- Ensure that Ableton Live is not running.
- Navigate to the following folder: Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live
- Copy the "_NativeInstruments" folder, as well as, depending on your keyboard model, the "Komplete_Kontrol_Mk1" or "Komplete_Kontrol_Mk2" folder.
- Open your Applications folder and right-click the Live application symbol. In the context menu, click on Show Package Contents.
- In the Ableton Live package, navigate to Contents > App-Resources > MIDI Remote Scripts.
- Paste the folders you have copied into the "MIDI Remote Scripts" folder:
Windows
- Ensure that Ableton Live is not running.
- Navigate to the following folder: C: > Program Files > Common Files > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live.
- Copy the "_NativeInstruments" folder, as well as, depending on your keyboard's model, the "Komplete_Kontrol_Mk1" or "Komplete_Kontrol_Mk2" folder.
- Go to the MIDI Remote Scripts folder in Ableton Live's installation directory. By default, it is located here: C: > ProgramData > Ableton > Live 9 > Resources > MIDI Remote Scripts.
Note: The Program Data folder may be hidden. This article explains how to display hidden files and folders in Windows.
- Paste the folders you have copied into the "MIDI Remote Scripts" folder.
Installing the KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Racks
In this step, you will learn how to copy the required KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Rack files to your Ableton Live User Library. This way Ableton Live will recognize the KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Racks and add them to the browser.
Mac
- Navigate to the following folder: Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live
- Copy the "Komplete Kontrol VST.adg" and "Komplete Kontrol AU.adg" files to your clipboard by selecting both of them, right-clicking on the selection and choosing Copy 2 Items.
- Paste the .adg files to your Ableton Live Instrument Rack folder. By default this folder is located here: Macintosh HD > Users > *Username* > Music > Ableton > User Library > Presets > Instruments > Instrument Rack
Windows
- Navigate to the following folder: C: > Program Files > Common Files > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live
- Copy the "Komplete Kontrol VST.adg" file to your clipboard by right-clicking it and choosing Copy.
- Paste the .adg file to the Instrument Rack folder in your Ableton Live User Library. By default this folder is located here: C: > Users > *Username* > Documents > Ableton > User Library > Presets > Instruments > Instrument Rack
Configuring Ableton Live for the use of KOMPLETE KONTROL with the KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series Keyboards
Once the MIDI remote script and the instrument rack files are installed in the correct location, you need to activate Komplete Kontrol as control surface in Ableton Live's preferences.
Important note for Mac users: Since KOMPLETE KONTROL is only available in 64-bit on Mac, you must have installed the 64-bit version of Ableton Live 9 in order to have KOMPLETE KONTROL show up in the Browser. You can check which exact version of Ableton Live 9 is installed on your system by choosing Ableton > About Live from the menu bar. If the 32-bit version is installed, you must download the installer for the 64-bit version from Ableton's website.
- Start Ableton Live.
- Open Ableton Live's Preferences and go to the Link MIDI Tab.
- Assign a free Control Surface slot to Komplete Kontrol by selecting it from the drop-down list.
- If you are using a second-generation KOMPLETE KONTROL MK2 keyboard, leave both the Input and the Output for the Komplete Kontrol control surface set to None.
If you are using a first-generation KOMPLETE KONTROL MK1 keyboard, select Komplete Kontrol DAW - 1 under Input and Output.
- Go to the File / Folder tab of Ableton Live's Preferences and make sure the Use Audio Units and Use VST Plug-in System Folders options are activated. If these options were not activated, press the Rescan button after having set them to On. If you skip this step, you will not be able to load KOMPLETE KONTROL correctly in Ableton Live. Read this article for more information on plug-in administration in Ableton Live.
Note: on Windows systems, only the VST format is available as plug-in source, so you will not have the possibility of activating Audio Units here.
Loading KOMPLETE KONTROL in Ableton Live
To load KOMPLETE KONTROL in Ableton Live, drag the KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Rack from the browser to an empty MIDI Track. The KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Racks are called:
- Komplete Kontrol VST.adg (VST plug-in format)
- Komplete Kontrol AU.adg (Audio Units plug-in format, Mac only)
You will find them here in the Ableton Live browser: Instruments > Instrument Rack. Make sure not to use the VST version instead of the Instruments Rack version of KOMPLETE KONTROL, if not you might experience connection issues as described in this article.
Important Note for Mac users: Don't use both the AU and VST versions of KOMPLETE KONTROL in the same Ableton Live project. You have to use the same plug-in format across all instances in your project. Otherwise automatic track focus will not work correctly.
