Behringer Bcr2000 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Bcr2000 from Behringer is an incredibly versatile midi controller and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Behringer Bcr2000 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Bcr2000.

Article Contents

Does the Behringer Bcr2000 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Behringer Bcr2000 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Bcr2000 to ableton
How to midi map the Behringer Bcr2000 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Bcr2000
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Behringer Bcr2000 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Behringer Bcr2000 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Bcr2000 is pre-programmed with a midi remote script in Ableton Live, so all you have to do is connect it (refer to the information below on how to do that).

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Bcr2000 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Bcr2000.

Does the Behringer Bcr2000 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Bcr2000, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared to Standard's 10GB.

If you're looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Bcr2000 to ableton

Connecting the Behringer Bcr2000 with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Bcr2000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Bcr2000 and your computer.
2. Launch Ableton Live and open the MIDI preferences.
Double click the Ableton Live icon to launch the software. Then, in the top menu of Ableton, go to the Preferences menu by opening the ‘Live’ menu and clicking ‘Preferences’.
3. Select the Bcr2000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Bcr2000 are checked.
4. Ensure that the ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are all checked.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Bcr2000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Bcr2000 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Behringer Bcr2000 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

1. Select the MIDI Map Mode button in the top right corner of the Live window. The button should turn orange, indicating that the MIDI Map Mode is enabled.
2. Select the parameter you wish to control in Ableton by clicking it with the cursor, the parameter will become highlighted.
3. Move a control on the Bcr2000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Bcr2000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Bcr2000 will now move the position of the corresponding parameter in Ableton.
6. Repeat steps 2 - 4 for any other parameters you wish to map.
7. When you’re finished mapping, press the MIDI Map Mode button again to disable it.

The Limitations of midi mapping the Bcr2000

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Bcr2000, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Bcr2000 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Bcr2000 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Bcr2000, our Ableton Midi Script Creator tool 'Control Surface Studio' is exactly what you need!
With it, you'll be able to:
- save and re-use your Bcr2000's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Bcr2000,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Bcr2000, than Live's internal midi mapping mode allows.

Learn more about Control Surface Studio and see how it can help you by clicking here!

FAQ / Troubleshooting

Why can't I hear my Bcr2000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Bcr2000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Bcr2000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Bcr2000.
4. Make sure that the Bcr2000 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.