3 Powerful Mixing Tools Found in the New Ableton Live 10. After five years since the release of its predecessor, Ableton Live 10 is now available in the Live 10 Intro, Live 10 Standard, and Live 10 Suite packages.
Expand the functions of your Ableton Live digital audio workstation by adding third-party VST plug-ins to the program. VST plug-ins come in two varieties: instruments and effects. VST instruments generate sound using a MIDI signal; VST effects alter the character of an audio signal. Thousands of VST plug-ins are available for download; many of them are freely available. To use VST plug-ins in Ableton, you must activate them in the program's preferences, then add them to a set.
Activating VST Plug-ins
Launch Ableton. Click the 'Options' menu, then 'Preferences.'
Click the 'File Folder' tab. Click the button next to 'Use VST Plug-in Custom Folder' to toggle it to 'On.'
Click the 'Browse' button next to 'VST Plug-in Custom Folder.' Navigate to the folder that contains your VST plug-ins; this is nearly always either 'C:Program FilesVSTPlugins' or 'C:Program FilesSteinbergVSTPlugins.' Click 'OK.'
Click the 'Rescan' button next to 'Rescan Plug-ins.' Ableton scans the specified directory for VST plug-ins and activates them in the browser.
Using VST Plug-ins
Open the project in which you want to work in Ableton. Click the 'Plug-in Device Browser' icon, which looks like an electrical plug, on the left side of the Ableton window. Scroll through the list of VST plug-ins until you find the one you want to use.
Click and drag the VST plug-in onto a track in the mixer window. You can add a VST effects plug-in to either an audio or a MIDI track; VST instruments, however, only work on MIDI tracks.
Click the title bar at the top of the track to view the VST plug-in's interface. If the interface doesn't appear, press 'Shift' and 'Tab' simultaneously to reveal the plug-in device section for the track, then click the wrench icon on the VST plug-in to bring up its interface.
Click and drag the VST plug-in's controls to adjust its parameters. If you've added a VST instrument to the Ableton set, you can now play it using a MIDI clip or an attached MIDI keyboard. Repeat the process for any other VST plug-ins you want to use.
Tips
Organize your VST plug-in folder by creating categorized subfolders within the main plug-in folder.
Warnings
Using too many VST plug-ins at the same time can overload your CPU.
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The Akai MPK2 series controllers combine deep software integration, enhanced workflow, and core technologies from the iconic line of MPC workstations. The MPK225, MPK249, and MPK261 are engineered to be all-in-one controller solutions for comprehensive interfacing and manipulation of virtual instruments, effect plugins, DAWs, and more. This articles walks through how to setup the MPK2 series controller with Ableton Live 9.
Contents
- Virtual Instruments and Plugins
MPK2 Series Hardware Setup
- First, connect the Akai MPK2 series controller to an available USB port on your computer using the supplied cable and power the controller on.
- Press the PRESET button and use the data dial to scroll to Preset: 1 LiveLite. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob.Note: The presets, preset names, and order of presets may vary depending on the specific model.
- Press the GLOBAL button to enter the Global settings menu. Press the right arrow key until the display reads Clock Source: Use the rotary knob to select External.
- Hit the right arrow key until the display reads Save Globals. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob to save the settings. The display will flash . When this is complete, the display will read .
- Press the PRESET button to return to the ProTools preset screen.
Ableton Live 9 Lite Software Setup
- First, connect the Akai MPK2 series controller to an available USB port on your computer using the supplied cable, and launch Ableton Live 9 Lite.
- Next, open the Ableton Live 9 Lite Preferences window. Choose your Audio Device in the Audio tab. This will be dependent upon the audio interface that you are using.MAC:
Select Live > Preferences
or use the key command shortcut - [Command + comma]PC:
Select Options > Preferences
or use the key command shortcut - [Control + comma] - Select the MIDI / Sync tab from the left side of the window. Within the MIDI Ports section, adjust the settings as suggested below:Next to Input: MPK249, toggle On the button in the Track, Sync and Remote columns as shown in the image below.
Next to Output: MPK249, toggle On the button in the Track, Sync and Remote columns as shown in the image below. - Next, at the top of the window under Control Surface, choose MPK49 from the drop-down list in row 1. The MPK series controllers are back-compatible with the MPK series controllers in Ableton Live 9 Lite. Also, choose MPK249 from the Input and Output drop-down menus in row 1.
Virtual Instruments and Plugins
Adjusting Ableton Live 9 Lite Plugin Sources
Note for Windows users only: If you have difficulty locating your plugin in your Plug-Ins category within Ableton Live 9 Lite, be sure Ableton Live 9 Lite is reading plugins from the correct location where your plugin is installed. To do this:
- Open the Preferences menu in Ableton Live 9 LiteMAC:
Select Live > Preferences
or use the key command shortcut - [Command + comma]PC:
Select Options > Preferences
or use the key command shortcut - [Control + comma] - Choose the File Folder tab
- Under the heading Plug-In Sources:
- Toggle On the button next to Use VST Plug-In Custom Folder
- Note the location under VST Plug-In Custom Folder.
- If this location is not set correctly, next to VST Plug-In Custom Folder, choose Browse, browse to the correct folder, and press OK.
- Open the Preferences menu in Ableton Live 9 Lite
Default Plugin Installation Locations
AIR Hybrid 3 Default Installation Locations:
Windows:
32-bit: C:Program Files (x86)VstPlugins
64-bit: C:Program Filesvstplugins
32-bit: C:Program Files (x86)VstPlugins
64-bit: C:Program Filesvstplugins
Mac:
(AU): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > Components
(VST):Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST
(AU): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > Components
(VST):Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST
SONiVOX Twist 2 Default Installation Locations:
Windows:
32-bit: C:Program Files (x86)SONiVOXVstPlugins
64-bit: C:Program Filesvstplugins
32-bit: C:Program Files (x86)SONiVOXVstPlugins
64-bit: C:Program Filesvstplugins
Mac:
(AU): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > Components
(VST):Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST
(AU): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > Components
(VST):Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST
SONiVOX Eighty Eight Default Installation Locations:
Windows:
32-bit and 64-bit: C:Program Files (x86)SONiVOXVstPlugins
32-bit and 64-bit: C:Program Files (x86)SONiVOXVstPlugins
Mac:
(AU): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > Components
(VST):Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST
(AU): Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > Components
(VST):Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST
Hybrid 3 Setup
Hardware Setup
Press the PRESET button and use the data dial to scroll to Preset: 3 Hybrid. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob.
Software Setup
- Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
- In the right-hand column next to Categories, click-and-drag Hybrid onto a MIDI track to load Hybrid 3 into your Ableton Live 9 Lite session.The Hybrid 3 virtual instrument interface will now open.
- Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
Twist 2 Setup
Hardware Setup
Press the PRESET button and use the data dial to scroll to Preset: 4 Twist 2. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob.
Software Setup
- Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
- In the right-hand column next to Categories, click-and-drag Twist 2 onto a MIDI track to load Twist 2 into your Ableton Live 9 Lite session.
- The Twist 2 virtual instrument interface will now open.
- Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
SONiVOX EightyEight Ensemble 2
Hardware Setup
Press the PRESET button and use the data dial to scroll to Preset: 5 Eighty8. Press the PUSH TO ENTER knob.
Software Setup
- Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
- In the right-hand column next to Categories, click-and-drag Eighty Eight 2 onto a MIDI track to load Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 into your Ableton Live 9 Lite session.
- The Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 virtual instrument interface will now open.
- Within the Ableton Live 9 Lite Session View, under the Categories heading, choose Plug-Ins.
Additional Resources
Further Technical Support
Whether you are a customer or dealer, if you already own an Akai Pro product, or if you just have pre-sales questions, the Akai Pro technical support team is available to help!
Visit the link below to connect with any of the following support options: online community support, phone support, email support.