Simple newbie questions

[unicoil]

New Keylab Essential 49 owner, getting into Analog Lab and Ableton Live 10 Lite.  I've watched the videos, read the instructions, etc, and still not quite there--the DAW Command Center buttons work--record/stop/play, but I'm having trouble getting MIDI input from the keyboard to be recognized.  So, some simple questions:

Is there a specific order to launching?  For example, does Ableton need to be started, THEN plug in the keyboard USB, THEN run Analog Lab?

Do I need to run the MIDI Control Center application at all?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

[LBH]

Hi and welcome to Arturia forums.

How excactly have you set up your Keylab in Ableton Live? Have you set it up both as a DAW controller and as a Keyboard controller?
Screenshots can allways be of help to get help.

BTW: How would you run Analog Lab as a plugin inside Ableton Live without launching Ableton Live first?

[unicoil]

Thanks for answering!  I am a guitar player just getting into keyboard playing, and MIDI, so bear with me on this.  I have attempted to follow the Arturia video instructions to the letter.   They seem to imply that Ableton will recognize the keyboard accurately in "Preferences" (it does), and that I should press "Map Select" and the DAW pad (I did). 

Question:  if I press the "MIDI map" button in Ableton (upper right), the window comes up blank.  Should I see the Keylab in there?

[LBH]

FYI: I don't have a Arturia controller yet, and i don't use Ableton live.

So you have only set up your Arturia controller as a Mackie control surface in your DAW Abletone Live? If you only have the Mackie setup, then the missing Keyboard control surface is likely your issue.

And you don't open Analog Lab as a standalone, when you will use it in Ableton Live, like some can think?

Please trust i ask you about things to try to help you. Please answer questions and post screenshots to help, and to save time and work.

Question:  if I press the "MIDI map" button in Ableton (upper right), the window comes up blank.  Should I see the Keylab in there?

I don't think you will see your controller there. But the window will show, when you add controls by moving them on your controller.
Ableton have learning videos about this. Also about setting up a MIDI keyboard control surface btw.

[unicoil]

I figured it out! 

Your comments gave me a clue, so I looked under "Preferences / Plug-ins", and changed the "Use VST3 Plug-In Systems Folders" from 'Off' to 'On'.  Analog Lab 4 then shows up, and everything works!

It would be nice if Arturia would explain the plug-in thing, and/or default this setting to ON, if they are going to highlight how well their stuff integrates with Ableton.  Oh well.

Thanks again for your help!

[LBH]

So your issue was, that the VST did'nt show up in Live?
If so, then keep in mind, that VST3 only is one plugin format. You should also be able to see the VST2 format. I suggest you read this:
https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209071729-Using-VST-plug-ins-on-Windows
https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000349184-VST-AU-plug-in-doesn-t-appear-in-Live