The Virtual MIDI Keyboard in Ableton Live

In this tutorial, we explain how to use your computer keyboard as both a MIDI keyboard and a MIDI controller.

Just like the Musical Typing Keyboard in Logic Pro X, Ableton Live features a way to use your regular computer keyboard as a MIDI keyboard — but it doesn't stop there. In Ableton, you're also able to use Key Mappings to turn your computer keyboard into a real MIDI controller, and it's all really simple.

Virtual MIDI Keyboard in Ableton Live

By default, the MIDI keyboard in Ableton Live is turned off. This is, however, a change since version 9 which had the Virtual MIDI Keyboard turned on by default, which might confuse users upgrading from Ableton Live 9 to 10.

If your Virtual Midi Keyboard in Ableton Live is turned off, simply press the M Key on your keyboard or click the Midi Keyboard Icon in your Ableton Live application window.

The Virtual MIDI Keyboard in Ableton Live is activated by pressing the M Key or clicking the small keyboard icon in the top right corner of the Ableton Live application.

As soon as the icon lights up, you can use your computer keyboard as a MIDI keyboard and play in real time to try out instruments, sounds, and effects.

Keys Used by the Virtual MIDI Keyboard

When you use the Virtual MIDI Keyboard, the keys on your computer keyboard are effectively turned into piano keys instead. Since there is no visual representation of which key is which (black or white), you just have to practice and learn them.

White Piano Keys

The White Piano Keys are the natural notes on the piano and make up the majority of the piano keys.

Keyboard Key	Piano Key
A	C3
S	D3
D	E3
F	F3
G	G3
H	A4
J	B4
K	C4
L	D4

In addition to the natural white piano keys, there are also black keys to complement them in chords and note progressions.

Black Piano Keys

The Black Piano Keys are usually referred to as the flat or sharp keys on the piano. These keys are used to play a semitone (half a note) up or down from its' neighboring white keys.

Keyboard Key	Piano Key
W	C#3
E	D#3
T	F#3
Y	G#3
U	A#4
O	C#4

Most chords use combinations of both white and black keys, which makes it essential to learn the locations of both piano key types.

All Piano Keys

When we combine both the White Piano Keys and the Black Piano Keys, the full range of the Virtual MIDI Keyboard is:

Keyboard Key	Piano Key
A	C3
W	C#3
S	D3
E	D#3
D	E3
F	F3
T	F#3
G	G3
Y	G#3
H	A4
U	A#4
J	B4
K	C4
O	C#4
L	D4

It might take a while to learn the arrangement, but once you do it's almost like playing a real MIDI keyboard; you just learn by muscular memory where all the correct keys are.

Velocity and Octave Adjustments

You can also change the Current Octave and the Note Velocity when you're playing using the Virtual MIDI Keyboard in Ableton Live.

Navigate Between Octaves

While the Virtual MIDI Keyboard will start with the A Key being C3 you can change the octaves by pressing the Z and X keys;

• The Z Key lowers the range one octave
• The X Key raises the range one octave

This makes it possible for you to play both basslines, in the lower octave ranges, and melodies or leads in the higher octave ranges.

Change Note Velocity

Since your computer keyboard is not velocity sensitive, all notes will be recorded with the same velocity. You can, however, adjust the velocity of the notes by using the C and V keys;

• The C Key decreases (lowers) the Note Velocity by 20 values
• The V Key increases (raises) the Note Velocity by 20 values

The Note Velocity range is between 0 and 127, which means you can toggle the velocity in a total of 7 different strengths.

Key Mapping in Ableton Live

Ableton Live also features the ability to set up custom Key Mapping, which allows you to use any key on your keyboard to manipulate MIDI data; like adjusting the modulation of a synth or simply changing the track volume.

Create Key Mappings in Ableton Live

To create a Key Mapping in Ableton Live, simply press CMD + K on macOS or Ctrl + K on Windows to initiate Ableton's Key Mapping feature. You can also click the Key button next to the MIDI Keyboard button (see the first screenshot).

This will make most of your Ableton Live interface light up in orange:

The Ableton Live interface when Key Mapping Mode is activated.

What you need to do now is to bind an interface feature to a key on your computer keyboard, and it's simple.

All you need to do is the following:

1. Click the feature you want to bind a key to
2. Press the keyboard key you want to use to toggle that feature

Once you've pressed the key on your keyboard, the key bind will show up in the Key Mappings window to the left (as seen in the screenshot above). Here, you can adjust the Min/Max Range Values, delete key mappings and more carefully adjust what you want them to do.

When you're done, simply deactivate the Key Mapping feature the same way you activated it.

Don't Map Important Keys

Just make sure you don't bind a key you need to play the piano keys on your computer keyboard — that kind of defeats the purpose of this tutorial. If you don't need the piano keys, however, you can of course use the entire keyboard.