The M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro is a professional keyboard and pad controller designed for hands-on software control, sequencing, and performance. In this guide, we answer some frequently asked questions and provide troubleshooting steps for issues that can arise during installation and setup.
CONTENTS
- Does the Hammer 88 Pro require a power supply?
- Do I need to install any drivers to use my Hammer 88 Pro controller?
- What operating systems is the Hammer 88 Pro compatible with?
- What are the system requirements for the included software?
- What software comes with the Hammer 88 Pro?
- Which DAWs can I use this controller with?
- Can I use the Hammer 88 Pro without a computer?
- Where can I access my included software?
- Will the transport buttons, rotary knobs, and faders control my DAW automatically?
- Which DAW presets does the Hammer 88 Pro come with?
- Can I control my virtual instruments while the Hammer 88 Pro is set to control my DAW?
Does the Hammer 88 Pro require a power supply?
No, the Hammer 88 Pro is a low-power device and can be fully powered via USB. Simply connect the included USB cable to an available port on your computer to power the unit and trigger software synths!
Do I need to install any drivers to use my Hammer 88 Pro controller?
The M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro is a class-compliant device, meaning that it is plug-and-play and does not require any drivers to be installed.
What operating systems is the Hammer 88 Pro compatible with?
Since the Hammer 88 Pro is class-compliant, it will operate off of your computer's core MIDI drivers providing compatibility for the most recent macOS and Windows operating systems.
What are the system requirements for the included software?
Ableton Live Lite:
- Mac:
- OS X 10.11.6 or later
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor (Intel® Core™ i5 processor or faster recommended)
- 4 GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)
- PC:
- Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8, or Windows 10 (64-bit)
- 64-bit Intel® Core™ or AMD multi-core processor (Intel® Core™ processor or faster recommended)
- 4 GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)
- Pro Tools | First:
- Mac:
- OS X 10.12.6 through 10.14.5
- Intel® i5 processor
- 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)
- PC:
- Windows 10 (build 1809 or later)
- Intel® i5 processor
- 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)
- MPC Beats:
- Mac:
- OS X 10.13.0 or later
- Intel® i5 processor
- 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)
- PC:
- Windows 10
- Intel® i5 processor
- 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)
What software comes with the Hammer 88 Pro?
The Hammer 88 Pro comes with the following software:
- MPC Beats
- Ableton Live Lite
- AIR Virtual Instruments:
- Hybrid 3
- Velvet
- Mini Grand
- MPC Sound Packs:
- MPC Beats Producer Kits
- F9 Instruments Beats Edition
- Laniakea Sounds
- MSX Audio
- ADSR
- MVP Urban Roulette Beats Edition
- Cr2 Deep House Beat Edition
- CR2 Techno Beats Edition
- MVP HookCity Trap and Soul Beats Edition
- Skoove
- Melodics
Which DAWs can I use this controller with?
The Hammer 88 Pro will integrate with any DAW or software platform that accepts MIDI data. Refer to the Hammer 88 Pro DAW setup guides or your software's documentation for more information on how to set up an external MIDI device.
Can I use the Hammer 88 Pro without a computer?
Definitely! If you prefer to work without a computer, the Hammer 88 Pro can be powered by a USB cable connected to a USB wall adapter, or a 9V DC (800mA) (not included) power supply, and routed to an external sound module via the MIDI DIN output port.
Where can I access my included software?
We've included Pro Tools | First M-Audio Edition, MPC Beats, Ableton Live Lite, MPC Sound Packs, and a library of instrument and effect plugins with your Hammer 88 Pro so you can get started making music with professional software right out of the box!
All software will be made available in your M-Audio account after registering the unit. To register the Hammer 88 Pro:
1. Go to M-Audio.com.
2. Hover over the Account tab at the top right and select Sign In.
Note: If you are a new customer, select Create Account first and fill in the necessary information. When you're ready, click Create Account.
3. Enter your email address and password. Click Sign In.
4. Your account dashboard will appear. Click on Register Product.
5. Select your Hammer 88 Pro model from the Product field's drop-down menu.
6. Next, enter the Hammer 88 Pro's serial number exactly as it appears on the bottom of the unit. The serial number will be located on a barcode sticker and starts with a (21). Be sure to include the (21) when entering the serial number!
7. Enter the date of purchase in the final field.
8. When you're done, click Register My Product.
9. Your Hammer 88 Pro will be added to the My Products page with download links for all of your included software. You can access this page at any time from your main account page. We recommended downloading the Hammer 88 Pro Series Software Manager first as this will guide you through the installation process for all of your included software
How do I set up the Hammer 88 Pro in Pro Tools | First?
1. Connect Hammer 88 Pro to your computer.
2. Press and hold the DAW button (#5) on your Hammer 88 Pro keyboard.
3. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen (#8), scroll to “P.T.” and then press the Encoder to select it.
4. Press and hold the Shift button, and press the Global button.
5. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen, scroll to PC, and the press the Encoder to enter into selecting your OS.
6. Use the Encoder select Mac if you are using a macOS or Win if you are using a Windows OS.
Your faders, knobs, and DAW shortcuts will now have messages mapped for virtual instruments in Pro Tools. It should be noted that Pro Tools | First does not allow for external hardware control of faders, knobs and buttons. Only Pro Tools, and Pro Tools | Ultimate allow for external hardware control.
To provide the most versatile controller, the Hammer 88 Pro series has 2 modes, Preset and DAW mode. When in DAW mode all of the controls will be used for controlling DAW functions and controls. When in Preset mode all of the controls will be used for controlling Virtual Instrument parameters and controls.
7. Then launch Pro Tools | First M-Audio Edition.
8. Open or Create a Project.
9. Select the Setup pulldown menu and open MIDI Input Devices. Enable MIDI Input from the Hammer 88 Pro by clicking the box next to Hammer 88 Pro, USB MIDI and Hammer 88 Pro, Mackie/HUI.
Note: To send MIDI from the Hammer 88 Pro's MIDI DIN output port, enable the box for Hammer 88 Pro, MIDI DIN.
10. Create a new instrument track by selecting the Track pulldown menu and clicking New.
11. In the New pulldown menu, select Stereo and then Instrument Track.
12. In the newly created track, add an Insert to your track by clicking in your track's Inserts A-E and selecting Multichannel Plugin > Instrument. Select the instrument you would like to use, such as Xpand!2 (Stereo). The plugin can now be triggered with the Hammer 88 Pro.
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How do I set up the Hammer 88 Pro in Ableton Live Lite?
1. First, connect Hammer 88 Pro to your computer.
2. Press and hold the DAW button (#5) on your Hammer 88 Pro keyboard.
3. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen (#8), scroll to “Ableton” and then press the Encoder to select it.
4. Press and hold the Shift button, and press the Global button.
5. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen, scroll to PC, and the press the Encoder to enter into selecting your OS.
6. Use the Encoder select Mac if you are using a macOS or Win if you are using a Windows OS.
Your transport controls, faders, knobs, and DAW shortcuts will now have messages mapped for Ableton Live.
To provide the most versatile controller, the Hammer 88 Pro series has 2 modes, Preset and DAW mode. When in DAW mode all of the controls will be used for controlling DAW functions and controls. When in Preset mode all of the controls will be used for controlling Virtual Instrument parameters and controls.
7. Then launch Ableton Live Lite.
8. Open the Ableton Live Lite Preferences window. If you are using a Mac, go to Live > Preferences. If you are using a PC, go to Options > Preferences.
9. Select the Link / MIDI tab on the left. Under the MIDI Ports section, adjust the settings as follows:
- Under Control Surfaces, for Input and Output select Hammer 88 Pro Mackie/HUI (Port 3).
- Next to Input: Hammer 88 Pro, select On in the Track column (if using the Hammer 88 Pro ## as the
external clock source, turn on Sync). - Next to Input: Hammer 88 Pro (Port 3), select On in the Track and Remote columns.
- Next to Output: Hammer 88 Pro, select On in the Track column (if using the Ableton Live as
the external clock source, turn on Sync). - Next to Output: Hammer 88 Pro (Port 3), select On in the Track and Remote columns.
10. Close the Preferences window.
11. To add an instrument or plugin to trigger with Hammer 88 Pro, select Instruments or Plug-ins in the Categories column.
12. In the Name column to the right of the Categories column, locate the Instrument or Plug-in of your choice. Click-and-drag the instrument to a MIDI track in Ableton Live Lite to load the instrument. The Instrument can now be triggered with the Hammer 88 Pro.
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How do I set up the Hammer 88 Pro in MPC Beats?
1. First, connect the Hammer 88 Pro to your computer with the provided USB cable.
2. Press and hold the DAW button (#5) on your Hammer 88 Pro keyboard.
3. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen (#8), scroll to “MPC” and then press the Encoder to select it.
4. Press and hold the Shift button, and press the Global button.
5. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen, scroll to PC, and the press the Encoder to enter into selecting your OS.
6. Use the Encoder select Mac if you are using a macOS or Win if you are using a Windows OS.
Your transport controls, faders, knobs, and DAW shortcuts will now have messages mapped for MPC.
To provide the most versatile controller, the Hammer 88 Pro series has 2 modes, Preset and DAW mode. When in DAW mode all of the controls will be used for controlling DAW functions and controls. When in Preset mode all of the controls will be used for controlling Virtual Instrument parameters and controls.
7. Open MPC Beats from your computer's Application or Program folder.
8. MPC Beats will list a selection of project templates and demos to get you up and running with the software. If you prefer to start with a clean slate click on Empty Project.
9. If you're new to MPC and would like to find out more about its features and functions, click on the Open Help or Watch Videos buttons at the right!
10. Let's open the MIDI/Sync Preferences to ensure that the Hammer 88 Pro is enabled as an active MIDI input device. Navigate to the Preferences menu and click on the MIDI/Sync tab.
- MAC: Select MPC Beats > Preferences
- PC: Select EDIT > Preferences
11. The Input Ports section in MIDI/Sync Preferences will display all available MIDI input ports in a list. Devices will automatically appear in the list when connected provided that Enable MIDI ports when discovered is set to ON.
- Hammer 88 Pro
- MIDIIN3 (Hammer 88 Pro)
- Enable Control for the following Input Ports:
- MIDIIN3 (Hammer 88 Pro)
- Enable Track for the following Output Ports:
- Hammer 88 Pro
- MIDIIN3 (Hammer 88 Pro)
Important: Be sure that the map is enabled in the MIDI Learn window
By default, the Hammer 88 Pro's Input Port will be set to Track. Let's take a look at the different input modes and how they can be used:
Enable Track for the following Input Ports:
- When Master is enabled, MIDI data from this port will always go to the currently selected program in your project.
- When Control is enabled, MIDI data from this port will be sent to MIDI Learn.
- When Track is enabled, this MIDI port will appear in the list of available MIDI Inputs that can be selected in your track's Channel Strip or in Track View.
12. If you plan on using MPC Beats as an external clock with the Hammer 88 Pro's Arp or Note Repeat functions, you'll need to enable Sync next to the Hammer 88 Pro Output Port. Additionally, activate Sync Send. Click on the Sync Output field and select MIDI Clock.
13. You can load an instrument by creating a Plugin Program and clicking the Plugin field. A Browser will appear with your MPC plugins and AIR plugins. Click on a plugin and then click Select. The Instrument can now be triggered with the Hammer 88 Pro.
Can't see the plugin GUI? Just click on the Explode icon to the right!
Will the transport buttons, rotary knobs, and faders control my DAW automatically?
You can set the keyboard to automatically coordinate with your DAW’s features or set it to work as a personally customized controller. In DAW Mode, the keyboard’s controls will be automatically mapped to sliders, buttons, knobs, and pads in your DAW.
To set the keyboard to operate in DAW Mode, press the DAW Button. The button will be lit to show that DAW Mode is selected.
To change which DAW your keyboard is set to control:
- Press and hold the DAW Button to open the DAW Select menu on the Display.
- Turn the Select/Scroll Encoder to cycle through the available DAWs on the Display. As you turn the encoder, the currently selected DAW will update on the Display.
- When the DAW you want is shown on the Display, press the Select/Scroll Encoder to confirm your selection.
Note: To exit out of DAW Mode without changing the currently selected DAW, press the Back Button.
Refer to our setup guides for additional assistance configuring the Hammer 88 Pro with your DAW:
- M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro Series - Setup in Pro Tools
- M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro Series - Setup in MPC Beats
- M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro Series - Setup in FL Studio
- M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro Series - Setup in Bitwig
- M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro Series - Setup in Reason
- M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro Series - Setup in Studio One
Which DAW presets does the Hammer 88 Pro come with?
Hammer 88 Pro DAW Presets:
- Pro Tools
- MPC Beats
- Ableton Live
- Studio One
- Reason
- Cubase
- Logic
- Bitwig
- Garage Band
- Reaper
- FL Studio
Can I control my virtual instruments while the Hammer 88 Pro is set to control my DAW?
When the Hammer 88 Pro is in Preset Mode, the keyboard’s editable controls can be set to functions that can be configured to control your virtual instruments. A number of individual preset mappings can be created and then saved to the keyboard’s internal memory for you to load on the fly!
To set the keyboard to operate in Preset Mode, press the Preset Button. The Preset button LED will be on to show that Preset Mode is selected. To change the currently selected preset:
1. Press and hold the Preset Button to open the Preset Select menu on the Display.
2. Turn the Select/Scroll Encoder to cycle through the available Presets on the Display. As you turn the encoder, the currently selected Preset will update on the Display.
3. When the preset you want is shown on the Display, press the Select/Scroll Encoder to confirm your selection.
Available Factory Presets:
- MPC Plugin
- DB33
- BOOM
- Vacuum
- Xpand!2
- Velvet
- Mini Grand
- Hybrid 3