Which 'Input' and 'Output' boxes to check in Ableton 12 for Komplete Kontrol S49 Mk2?

gheedough
gheedough Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

I've followed the setup guide in this article for Ableton 12 but it only describes what to select in the 'Control surface' section of the MIDI settings. I've set that to Komplete Kontrol S Mk2, and Komplete Kontrol - DAW for input and output as described in the article. However, there's also a large 'Input' and 'Output' section below, and three ports are showing up for KK in both the Input and Output section:

  1. Komplete Kontrol - 1
  2. Komplete Kontrol EXT -1
  3. Komplete_Kontrol_S_Mk2_Input (and Output in the Output section)

There are 4 checkboxes for each one - Track, Sync, Remote, and MPE. This makes for literally hundreds of possible configuration possibilities.

image.png

What do we check/uncheck here? I need 'Track' checked in Input in order to play notes, but what else?

Something in KK is constantly sending MIDI in Ableton and it's messing up my stuff. E.g. When I try and record my Nymphes, KK is constantly sending CC11 to 127, which is the Noise level, so Noise is always at 100%. Not ideal!

image.png

Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

Best Answer

  • JesterMgee
    JesterMgee Member Posts: 3,341 Expert
    Answer ✓

    Their chat is wrong

    The one checkbox you do not want checked is the DAW checkbox:

    image.png

    This shows the name of the selected Control Surface script you selected above the MIDI ports.

    This port is not a MIDI port, it communicates direct with the control script so it should not be selected for the MIDI port or it can send garbage signals.

    You then simply have a MIDI Input port which is the MIDI in from your keyboard. You want this set to Track and if you use the Midi templates, Remote

    image.png

    The last port labelled EXT is your external midi port out of your keyboard, you select this only if you are using it to send MIDI to something.

    That is basically all you need to know.

Answers

  • gheedough
    gheedough Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    (I should mention that I'm on Windows 11 and on the currently latest version of the KK software, 3.5)

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,797 mod

    Hello,

    don't activate there the port you use on the other tab for control devices (the DAW port is needed there as cntr surface in/out)! You have to just activate the third port only for tracks to receive it, I will have a second look at it it maybe I'm wrong here just to be sure.

  • gheedough
    gheedough Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    hey Uwe, thanks for your reply. So I’m only using the DAW port in the control surface section as I mentioned. It doesn’t actually show up in the lower Input/Output section, only the three I mentioned (1, 1 EXT & KKSMk2). As far as I can tell, that’s also Jester’s main point

    I contacted NI chat about this and they suggested I tick everything in that section…

    Which I’ll try…but I’ve also not seen this suggested anywhere else. Seems odd that only one section (control surfaces) is documented when most of the complexity is in the lower section and that’s the one I was hoping to get some help with.

    ill look in the manual to see if the difference between the ports is explained anywhere.

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,797 mod
    edited June 7

    The ext input is definitely wrong, it's the midi din input on the back of the keyboard. Do you still have the problem with the setting you posted above that you receive midi noise (with just the first input activated). This setting should be correct and my advice in my last post activating the third midi port is wrong as far as I found out.

    CC 11 is expression pedal, and it sends the value of 127, do you maybe have a pedal connected and set to CC11? Should have seen it from start on - so this setting is correct, there is just the keyboard sending CC11 constantly.

  • Jeremy_NI
    Jeremy_NI Administrator, Customer Care Posts: 14,846 admin

    @gheedough You should be able to use these ports. It looks like the issue is coming from elsewhere.

    Can you check without Ableton or any audio program what MIDI information transmits from your keyboard? How to Monitor the Output of a MIDI Controller

    Then open the Komplete Kontrol standalone application, click on the MIDI logo, is there any unwanted MIDI assignments or CC number assigned showing in the MIDI monitor app?

    Screenshot 2025-06-11 at 12.08.16.png

    You can also click the + Template here, it will create a new template with default settings.

  • JesterMgee
    JesterMgee Member Posts: 3,341 Expert
    Answer ✓

    Their chat is wrong

    The one checkbox you do not want checked is the DAW checkbox:

    image.png

    This shows the name of the selected Control Surface script you selected above the MIDI ports.

    This port is not a MIDI port, it communicates direct with the control script so it should not be selected for the MIDI port or it can send garbage signals.

    You then simply have a MIDI Input port which is the MIDI in from your keyboard. You want this set to Track and if you use the Midi templates, Remote

    image.png

    The last port labelled EXT is your external midi port out of your keyboard, you select this only if you are using it to send MIDI to something.

    That is basically all you need to know.

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