Ableton Live users unite! Because it’s time to get the setup of your dreams to create a seamless and harmonious creative workflow. With the DAW becoming so dominant in the industry, many of the names creating MIDI controllers are building them to integrate specifically with Ableton. Whether you use Ableton in the studio or you live up to its Live title by taking it to the stage, Headliner has picked 12 of the best MIDI pad controllers and MIDI keyboard controllers that will help you get the most out of the mighty DAW. These controllers have been listed by Ableton themselves as listed partners and are pre-mapped for Live, so you don’t need to worry about spending painful hours setting them up. Let’s get Live!
Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3
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A fantastic, affordable option
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Compact and transportable
We begin the festivities of the best MIDI pad controllers for Ableton Live with our most affordable option, courtesy of MIDI controller godfathers Novation. The Launchpad Mini Mk3 is not a weighty giant — it couldn’t be more compact, and you can throw it (gently) into your backpack. It syncs brilliantly with Ableton Live's clip launcher and its mixer functions, just without the more advanced features of the pricier X or Pro models. The Mini Mk3 also introduces its custom-mapped User mode, which gives you the power to create your own personalised setups for quick access to your favourite Ableton features and plugins.
Akai MPD232
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MPC-style pads are a great time
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Very sturdy piece of kit for an affordable controller
Akai, the legend behind the MPC, is a big name when it comes to MIDI controllers, and the affordable MPD232 deserves its place in the best Ableton controller conversation. You’ll have a hard time finding a better set of beat pads. The Ableton Link Compatibility makes it a dream for your Live sessions. There’s a nice upgrade in the looks department from its previous iteration (MPD32), with fetching black and red tones, plus a shiny black perspex surrounding the screen. The 32-step by 64-track sequencer is a brilliant thing to have at a budget-friendly price. This adds a fresh dimension to the controller, allowing for MIDI syncing and the control of Ableton Live software instruments and external MIDI devices.
Native Instruments Maschine Mikro
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The most affordable Maschine available
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A joy for beatmaking and performances
It’s important to put respect on the name of the Maschine when it comes to MIDI controllers, whether you’re talking about Ableton controllers or in any other instance. And the Maschine Mikro, despite being the smallest and most budget-friendly in its family, is a beast. Fully optimised for Ableton, its users also love the fact that its array of features means it’s practically a DAW in itself. If you need a break from Ableton and your computer screen, the built-in Maschine X allows you to use the Maschine without a computer entirely. Your money gets you a brilliant Ableton controller and an instrument in itself. If you’re happy to spend more and want to unleash the full Maschine potential, the Maschine and Maschine+ are undoubtedly some of the best Ableton controllers, also, if you’re happy to spend a bit more.
Arturia BeatStep Pro
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Perfect for studios as well as live performance
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High standard build
Next, we say bienvenue to Arturia. The BeatStep Pro is the French company’s best Ableton controller entry on the pad side of things. In fact, if you don’t have Ableton Live already, the Live Lite version of the DAW is part of the bundled software that comes with your purchase, so you can take Ableton for a spin first before paying. You also get Arturia’s own Analog Lab Intro, a fantastic vintage synth VST. Besides being fully optimised for the DAW, it delivers three individual step sequencers, plus a collection of versatile MIDI controllers. Two of its sequencers are monophonic, making it fantastic for writing riffs, melodic elements, and basslines. The third sequencer is designed for sequencing drums, up to 16 channels of them. Each of these sequencers features 16 step buttons, 16 velocity-sensitive pads with aftertouch, and 16 rotary knobs.
Novation Launchpad Pro Mk3
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Excellent option for hardware control of Ableton Live
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The polyphonic sequencer is among the best
The best Ableton controller not made by Ableton themselves? Novations Launchpad Pro Mk3 was so clearly made with the DAW in mind, it closely rivals Ableton’s own Push MIDI pad controller. It boasts 64 velocity-sensitive pads with loads of functionality. If you are an experienced Ableton-head and love triggering Live’s beloved Clips and Scenes, then this could be the best MIDI pad controller for you. Whether it is quite as powerful as Live’s own Push controller would be a fierce debate, but Launchpad answers this by offering a much more portable and affordable Ableton controller. And the MIDI capabilities on offer here are not to be sniffed at. This Mk3 model has a stunning polyphonic sequencing mode, giving you direct control of hardware instruments without having to route via a computer. Brilliant for Live performances and in the comfort of the studio.
Ableton Push
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Ableton’s own MIDI controller
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Strong build
Speak of the devil, here is Ableton’s Push. Because it would be somewhat mad to write a best Ableton controllers article and not list the one built by Ableton Live themselves. And, while the other controllers here have been endorsed as partners, it’s safe to say this creation from the company’s own minds is about as optimal for Ableton as you can get. That said, it is the priciest pad controller listed here, so you need to be willing to pay for it. It’s a 64-pad grid controller with incredible sequencing and the ability to play and perform Drum Rack beats and MIDI clips. You can also use Push to browse and get going with Live’s sounds, devices, and presets, and control them with the rotary encoders. You can even do some of your mix some of your tracks on it. If you’ve been putting off buying a speciality Ableton controller for a while, perhaps you just needed a little push.
The Best MIDI Keyboard Controllers for Ableton Live
Akai MPK Mini Mk3
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Big value software bundle
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Budget-friendly with plenty of features
Kicking off our best midi keyboard for Ableton section is another entry for Akai. If you visit Ableton’s official list of integrated hardware for Live, Akai is one of the names with loads of products listed. And it’s comforting to know you don’t need to shell out loads of money for a MIDI keyboard that syncs up with Ableton very nicely. The keyboard controller's eight encoder knobs are very well-suited for seamless integrating with Live. And in true Akai fashion, the MPK Mini has eight MPC-style drum pads, so you can add beatmaking to playing keys. It’s portable and compact, fitting easily into a regular-sized backpack.
Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3
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Affordable product from a huge name
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Arpeggiator is great fun
As we’ve touched on already, Novation controllers sync so well with Live, you’d think they were official Ableton controllers made by the company itself. Its intelligent design gives you hands-on control over Ableton’s most important features, including transport, device parameters, and the crucial clip launcher. Add to that playable mini keys, expressive touch strips for pitch and modulation, and a brilliant arpeggiator, and it’s very hard to argue against this affordable MIDI keyboard being one of the best Ableton controllers.
Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32
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Compact while offering more keys than most mini-keyboards
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Impressive software and hardware integration
Native Instruments proudly call themselves Ableton partners, and add to the fact that they make some of the finest MIDI keyboards and controllers known to man, their products are a winner. Ableton also lists the KKA Series Kontrol and S-Series MK3 as officially integrated hardware for Live, depending on how much you’re looking to spend, but we’re looking at the Komplete Kontrol M32 as it’s such a brilliant, affordable Ableton controller option. It’s so powerful that you’ll find that you don’t spend as much time staring at your computer screen, as you can control (hence the name) so much from the keyboard alone. The eight capacitive knobs, a 4D encoder among plenty of other buttons that means it syncs beautifully with Ableton. The bundled software alone practically outweighs the price you pay for your M32.
Arturia Keystep 37
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Strum function is a great touch
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Arpeggiator and sequencer are great quality
Hovering just between the Keystep and Keystep Pro, the Arturia Keystep 37 presents a great upgrade from the original model. This second claim from Arturia at having the best Ableton controller, which also comes bundled with Ableton Live Lite, which is great news if you don’t have the DAW already. And also Arturia’s formidable Analog Lab Intro VST software. This MIDI keyboard controller will powerfully help you get the most out of Ableton with its 37-key layout. The four assignable encoder knobs will get you locked into intricate patterns and melodies. Real-time monitoring of Ableton’s parameters is in your control. If you’re a hardware nerd, you can hook it up to your modular synths and other hardware instruments. The fantastic arpeggiator can be used to control your Ableton VST instruments.
M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKV
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Impressive arpeggiator
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Chord and scale modes
If you need one of the best MIDI keyboards for Ableton that is affordable but stacked with value, M-Audio’s Oxygen 49 is a breath of fresh air. It’s also available in 25 and 61-key editions, but we’ve gone straight down the middle. It’s a stunner and has a 3-segment LED display, as well as access to 16 sound sources from the front panel during programming. It comes with a huge software bundle that includes Ableton Live Lite, as well as lots of VST instruments to get you going. Once hooked up with Ableton, the physical controls, including Transport, Faders, Pan, Record Arm, Solo, Mute, Select, and more, will help bring joy out of the DAW, all mapped to Ableton for a harmonious workflow.
Novation 49 SL MkIII
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One of the best sequencers you’ll find
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Also excellent for analogue hardware control
Now, how about a keyboard billing itself as ‘The perfect controller for Ableton Live?’ That might scream hyperbole to you, but with full parameter feedback across Novation’s five colour LCD screens, you can see everything you are controlling on Live. It has an eight-channel(!) onboard sequencer, coupled with digital and analogue output. As well as integrating so well with Ableton, you can control and sequence analogue hardware, plugins, and more. Novation and Ableton have worked together to create ‘unprecedented integration with Live,’ as the buttons, pads, faders and knobs make working with the DAW a joyful, hands-on experience. The software bundle is epic: as well as Live Lite, enjoy effects and VSTs from Native Instruments, Spitfire Audio and more.
WINNER: A professional controller with an eight‑track polyphonic sequencer, five colour LCDs for real-time parameter feedback, and deep integration with Ableton Live and hardware synths. It bridges hardware and software workflows better than any other controller. - Headliner Awards
Should I buy a MIDI pad controller or a MIDI keyboard controller for Ableton Live?
The answers to this question are pretty straightforward: if you need both, you’ll see above that most of the Ableton MIDI keyboard controllers have both keys and pads. Some keyboard controllers prioritise the keys with just a few pads, whereas some have lots of pads with fewer keys, although if you’re willing to spend big, you can buy a huge MIDI keyboard, almost full digital piano-sized, with a big set of pads also.
So, simply ponder over which you’ll need most. If you’re not a keyboard player and can’t see yourself ever using piano keys, then you’d be much better off buying a specialist MIDI pad controller.
