Ableton live lite 2 keyboards

Yes — you absolutely can run two MIDI keyboards playing two different sounds at the same time in Ableton Live Lite.

And yes — those two MIDI input selectors you’re seeing mean Live can receive from multiple devices simultaneously.

Let’s set this up cleanly.

✅ First: Can You Plug In Two Keyboards?

Yes, if:

• Both are USB MIDI keyboards → plug both directly into your MacBook (or via a powered USB hub if needed).

• Or one USB + one 5-pin MIDI via an audio interface.

Your MacBook having two USB ports is fine — Ableton doesn’t care how many physical ports, it just sees MIDI devices.

✅ Step 1: Enable Both Keyboards in Ableton

In Ableton:

Live (top menu) → Settings → Link / Tempo / MIDI

Under MIDI Ports, you should see both keyboards listed.

For each keyboard:

• Turn Track = ON

• (Remote optional)

Now both keyboards can send notes.

✅ Step 2: Assign Each Keyboard to Its Own Track

In your screenshot I can see:

• Track 1: MIDI

• Track 2: MIDI

Perfect.

Now do this:

Track 1 (Sound A)

• Load Instrument A (e.g., Analog Bass)

• In the track’s “MIDI From” dropdown:

  
  

  • Select Keyboard 1

  • Choose “All Channels”

• 
  

• Set Monitor to In (or Auto if armed)

Track 2 (Sound B)

• Load Instrument B

• In “MIDI From”:

  
  

  • Select Keyboard 2

• 
  

• Set Monitor to In

Now:

• Keyboard 1 → Sound 1

• Keyboard 2 → Sound 2

Simultaneously.

🎹 Alternative: Using “All Ins”

If both keyboards are set to:

MIDI From → All Ins

Then whichever track is armed will respond to both keyboards.

That’s NOT what you want.

You want each track to listen to only one specific device.

🔥 Pro Tip: Make It Automatic

To avoid arming tracks constantly:

• Set both tracks to Monitor: In

• Do NOT rely on arm buttons

Now each keyboard always plays its assigned instrument.

Very convenient for live playing.

🎼 Bonus: If Both Keyboards Play the Same Sound

If both trigger the same track:

• Check MIDI channel settings.

• Make sure each track is selecting a specific device, not “All Ins.”

🎧 About Audio Inputs

Your MacBook audio inputs (mic/line) are unrelated to MIDI keyboards unless the keyboard produces audio (like a digital piano with speakers).

MIDI sends notes only — not sound.

Simple Live Setup Summary

Keyboard 1 → Track 1 → Instrument 1

Keyboard 2 → Track 2 → Instrument 2

Both tracks Monitor: In

Done.

If you tell me which keyboards you’re using (Arturia + something else?), I can tailor the exact routing so it’s foolproof.