Setting Up Ableton Live for KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK2 (Mac)

The following article explains how to set up Ableton Live for the use of KOMPLETE KONTROL with the KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK2 Keyboards on a Mac computer.

If you want to set up Ableton Live for another KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard or OS, please click the corresponding link:

• KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK2 (Windows)
• KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1 (Mac)
• KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1 (Windows)
• KOMPLETE KONTROL A-Series
• KOMPLETE KONTROL M32

Depending on which version of Live you use, the setup steps differ. Follow the steps for your version of Live below:

• Ableton Live 10
• Ableton Live 9

Ableton Live 10

This feature requires at least Live 10.1 and KOMPLETE KONTROL 2.1.2.

Note: if using Ableton Live 10.0.x, please follow the setup steps outlined for Ableton Live 9.

1. Connect your S-Series MK2 keyboard to your computer.
2. Start Live and go to Preferences > Link MIDI.
3. Assign a free Control Surface slot to Komplete Kontrol SMK2 by selecting it from the drop-down list.
4. Select Komplete Kontrol DAW -1 under Input and Output.
   

To find out how to use the host integration features, please download the 'KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK2 DAW Shortcut Sheet' that is linked below this article.

Ableton Live 9

The features described here require at least Live 9.2.3. and KOMPLETE KONTROL 1.9.0.

There are four steps involved to set up Live with your KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK2:

1. Installing the MIDI Remote Script

1. Ensure that Live is not running.
2. Navigate to the following folder:
   Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live
3. Copy the "_NativeInstruments" folder, as well as the "Komplete_Kontrol_Mk2" folder.
   
4. Open your Applications folder and right-click the Live application symbol. In the context menu, click on Show Package Contents.
   
5. In the Live package, navigate to Contents > App-Resources > MIDI Remote Scripts.
6. Paste the folders you have copied into the MIDI Remote Scripts folder:
   

2. Installing the KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Racks

In this step, you will learn how to copy the required KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Rack files to your Live User Library. This way Live will recognize the KOMPLETE KONTROL Instrument Racks and add them to the browser.

1. Navigate to the following folder:
   Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live
2. 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.
   
3. Paste the .adg files to your Live Instrument Rack folder. By default this folder is located here: Macintosh HD > Users > *Username* > Music > Ableton > User Library > Presets > Instruments > Instrument Rack
   

3. Configuring 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 locations, you need to activate Komplete Kontrol as a control surface in Live's preferences.

1. Start Live.
2. Open Live's Preferences and go to the Link MIDI Tab.
3. Assign a free Control Surface slot to Komplete Kontrol MK2 by selecting it from the drop-down list.
   
4. Select Komplete Kontrol DAW - 1 under Input and Output.
   
5. Go to the File / Folder tab of 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 Live. Read this article for more information on plug-in administration in Live.

4. Loading KOMPLETE KONTROL in Live

To load KOMPLETE KONTROL in 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 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: Don't use both the AU and VST versions of KOMPLETE KONTROL in the same 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.