Ableton Live DAW Integration

Martin Schmid · 2025-07-30T22:39:34+00:00

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In https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/14348327584029 It shows that turning the dial does two things:

move play head position
adjust volume/panorama of selected track

I can't figure out how to reliably get into the state where I'm able to move the play head position…. what am I overlooking?

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Matthew_NI (on leave until November)

When not on the Mixer page, it should control Play Head.

When on Mixer page, it should control Volume/Pan.

Martin Schmid

how do I get in/out of the mixer page?

Martin Schmid

This seems to behave very inconsistently.. and not sure I understand it.

I have a simple Ableton Live project setup with the following tracks

Komplete Kontrol 8 instrument
Superior Drummer instrument
Audio Track

Steps

Select track 1 w/ mouse in Live
—> [Browser] [Plug-in] [DAW] buttons are all lit
click the DAW button on the KK MK3 S88
—>I'm on the Mixer page.
Select track 2 w/ mouse in Live
—> [Browser] [Plug-in] [DAW] buttons are all lit
Select track 3 w/ mouse in Live
—> only [DAW] button is lit
—> Mixer page is shown on S88 MK3
—> How do I adjust the position of the transport head w/ the S88 MK3 wheel?
Select track 2 w/ mouse in Live
—> only [DAW] button is lit

Steps 5 and 11 are the same state of Live (w/ Track 2 selected)… why is the state (6 and 12) different?

Matthew_NI (on leave until November)

how do I get in/out of the mixer page?

The Mixer Page is what you see on the KSMK3 screen when pressing the DAW button on the keyboard.

It should be your level meters, volume, panning, solo and mute control(s).

—

Komplete Kontrol 8 instrument
Superior Drummer instrument

I think you mean Track 1 has Kontakt 8 on it?

I think you mean Track 2 has Komplete Kontrol 3 on it, hosting Superior Drummer? But perhaps you also mean it simply has Superior Drummer by itself, not hosted in Komplete Kontrol 3.*

—

When you switch from track to track, the keyboard shifts focus accordingly.

If that track has either Komplete Kontrol or Kontakt loaded, then the keyboard is able to connect directly for a deeper Browsing/Plug-in experience.

That appears to be working correctly for you.

If a track has neither Komplete Kontrol or Kontakt loaded, then the keyboard reverts to the basic MIDI mode, which you can also manually enter by pressing the MIDI button to the left of your screen.

MIDI mode is always active, and you can fully customize your MIDI template at any time, for further control over any MIDI functions your DAW may have.

—

According to your steps, when you hit Step 7 (and possibly Step 5, depending on the above*), you switch focus to a track on which there's nothing for the keyboard to connect to, so you're in the basic MIDI mode.

DAW Control is still functional, at all times. You can enter the Mixer Page by pressing the DAW button, or the MIDI mode by pressing the MIDI button. Choose your own adventure!

—Last but not least - stay tuned for the next KSMK3 firmware release. It adds a significant upgrade to the Ableton integration experience.a

Martin Schmid

Yes, @Matthew_NI - thanks for clarifying for me… and for the detailed response!

Kontakt 8 instrument (no Komplete Kontrol)
Superior Drummer instrument (no Komplete Kontrol)
Audio Track

If a track has neither Komplete Kontrol or Kontakt loaded, then the keyboard reverts to the basic MIDI mode, which you can also manually enter by pressing the MIDI button to the left of your screen.

Seems the state in step 6 is unexpected then? The Browser and Plug-in buttons are lit.. but do nothing.

stay tuned for the next KSMK3 firmware release. It adds a significant upgrade to the Ableton integration experience

Thx for the heads up..

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