where do i start? new to everything.

Zep · 2025-03-15T04:19:38+00:00

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Bought new MK3 49 late last year and am now ready to make music. However I have no idea where to begin. I have purchased the ProSonus laptop interface, installed all the addon sound packs, purchased both Midi cables In & out pin type and also the midi USB type that connects to the PreSonus interface. Now, What program do I use to make music? I was supposed to get "Ableton Live Lite" but I never received the license code or software. I have a feeling this would be the main program for recording, however at this point i do not know. I had a heck of a time adding the plugins as it just sat there forever and nothing appeared to be happening. So I let it set in update for a full day and finally the addon plugin programs icons appeared on the MK3 screen. I do not know what program to ise to see and record the keyboard. Could someone please point me to a link on how to start. Much Thanks. Zep

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Accepted answers

LostInFoundation

If you want to play and record your instruments, you’ll need a DAW. Ableton Live is one and there are many others, many with free versions and/or demo versions.

You install Komplete Kontrol software from Native Access (I suppose you already did) and then you can open it inside of your DAW, load an instrument library and play it. The DAW will provide you tools to record/edit/arrange what you play.

Since you seem like just starting, I would suggest beforehand to have an introductory “YouTube course” about making music with a computer. Search for videos like “what is a daw”, “how to record my virtual instruments”,… to see it in action and understand what you need before starting to spend money

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/43427/where-do-i-start-new-to-everything

Bought new MK3 49 late last year and am now ready to make music.

I was supposed to get "Ableton Live Lite" but I never received the license code or software.

You should have gotten an email from N.I. with the Ableton Live Lite code after that you registered the hardware serial. If you did not get any Ableton Live Lite serial in your emails from N.I. and you can not find it in your by now deleted spam emails folder then you will have to approach N.I. Purchase Support about with all you purchase information and ask if they can help you. Waiting a year to approach support about this is a bit long and I can not say how support will rrespond.

But Ableton Live Lite is a really great DAW that is also well integrated with the keyboard through templates. Further more then what speaks for using Ableton Live Lite is that it's rather advanced and if you start with that then all you learn can be used for that DAW. All in all then you should definitely try and see if N.I. Support can help you get the Ableton Live Lite.

On the other hand then since you are a complete beginner then you might want to start with something that is simple and got a lot of beginners video tutorials , e.g. Mixcraft (also have a free trial) and where the intro entry offer at the moment is as low as $19 : Mixcraft 10.6 Home Studio

The learning curve when you want to learn to use a DAW is steep and Mixcraft got videos with introduction to most things which makes it rather easy to jump into, you can check it out here :

Mixcraft 10 University 101 (skip lesson 2)

Mixcraft 10 University 202

Mixcraft 10 Videos

Generally though then you ought to start with getting yourself familiarized with the keyboard itself and the N.I. bundle software that you have (which is ? ) and you ought to install at very least Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt and a few Kontakt libraries. And then start off with getting acquainted with the keyboard itself and the use of the Komplete Kontrol stand-alone app and the Kontakt stand-alone app and their use with the keyboard.

To learn then please visit the keyboards learn page and scroll down and start by checking out all the learn links on the whole page. Also then you can visit the N.I. Youtube page and check out some of their videos and playlists such as e.g. this one.

I do not know what program to ise to see and record the keyboard. Could someone please point me to a link on how to start. Much Thanks. Zep

Mixcraft linked to above got a lot of help videos for doing basics but you still need to learn to use the keyboard and the basic use of Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt to get the most out of the keyboard.

Also a prerequisite for use is that you setup Komplete Kontrol stand-alone and Kontakt stand-alone and DAW correctly with respect to Audio and Midi. To make things the most simple then I would suggest that you make sure that the Keyboard is set to Midi 1.0 and that you use the Steinberg built-in ASIO Driver: (information & download) as Audio driver in the software mentioned.

I am no expert myself on neither DAW nor on S-Series MK3 keyboards and can only assist so much.

PK The DJ

You need to download Live from Ableton's site (they have a trial) and then use the code supplied by Native Instruments to register it - on the Ableton site, not NI.

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/216349#Comment_216349

You are very welcome and I am glad if I were able to ease the start of your music (ad)venture 😀

I did notice under my hardware/software purchased that there is a Ableton license code that I did not notice before, however I don't know if is still valid as Ableton has just released a version 12. I will give it a try.

As far as I know then it doesn't matter if the key is for e.g. version 11 since you ought to be able to upgrade for free to Ableton Live Lite 12 , at least I was.

Here are a few Ableton Live links :

Registering Live Lite

Get started with Live 12 Lite

Ableton Live manual (if necessary select version on right side)

Using VST plug-ins on Windows

Plug-In Administration in Ableton Live

How to Insert Native Instruments Plug-ins in Ableton Live

When using Ableton Live then an important PC keyboard key is TABulator which switches between Session view and Arrangement view.

Also then I have written this about the most simple way of recording Midi in Ableton Live to help someone else and you can have look if you want

All comments

LostInFoundation

If you want to play and record your instruments, you’ll need a DAW. Ableton Live is one and there are many others, many with free versions and/or demo versions.

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/43427/where-do-i-start-new-to-everything

Bought new MK3 49 late last year and am now ready to make music.

I was supposed to get "Ableton Live Lite" but I never received the license code or software.

The learning curve when you want to learn to use a DAW is steep and Mixcraft got videos with introduction to most things which makes it rather easy to jump into, you can check it out here :

Mixcraft 10 University 101 (skip lesson 2)

Mixcraft 10 University 202

Mixcraft 10 Videos

I do not know what program to ise to see and record the keyboard. Could someone please point me to a link on how to start. Much Thanks. Zep

I am no expert myself on neither DAW nor on S-Series MK3 keyboards and can only assist so much.

Zep

Thank you Poor Fellow, I really appreciate your input on my venture into making music with the MK3. It looks like I need to get busy with learning the basics. Thank you very much for the wealth of information to start with, especially the basic programs and trying to get the Ableton live lite software for the DAW. I did notice under my hardware/software purchased that there is a Ableton license code that I did not notice before, however I don't know if is still valid as Ableton has just released a version 12. I will give it a try. Again, I thank you very much for all your information. Zep,

PK The DJ

You need to download Live from Ableton's site (they have a trial) and then use the code supplied by Native Instruments to register it - on the Ableton site, not NI.

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/216349#Comment_216349

You are very welcome and I am glad if I were able to ease the start of your music (ad)venture 😀

I did notice under my hardware/software purchased that there is a Ableton license code that I did not notice before, however I don't know if is still valid as Ableton has just released a version 12. I will give it a try.

As far as I know then it doesn't matter if the key is for e.g. version 11 since you ought to be able to upgrade for free to Ableton Live Lite 12 , at least I was.

Here are a few Ableton Live links :

Registering Live Lite

Get started with Live 12 Lite

Ableton Live manual (if necessary select version on right side)

Using VST plug-ins on Windows

Plug-In Administration in Ableton Live

How to Insert Native Instruments Plug-ins in Ableton Live

When using Ableton Live then an important PC keyboard key is TABulator which switches between Session view and Arrangement view.

Also then I have written this about the most simple way of recording Midi in Ableton Live to help someone else and you can have look if you want

Quick links

Unanswered questions