Behringer Cmd Lc 1 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Behringer's Cmd Lc 1 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi DJ controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Cmd Lc 1.

Article Contents

Does the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Cmd Lc 1 to ableton
How to midi map the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Cmd Lc 1
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Cmd Lc 1 can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Cmd Lc 1 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Cmd Lc 1.

Does the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Cmd Lc 1, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison to Standard's 10GB.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Cmd Lc 1 to ableton

Connecting the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 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 DJ controller.

1. Connect the Cmd Lc 1 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Cmd Lc 1 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 Cmd Lc 1 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Cmd Lc 1 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 Cmd Lc 1 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Cmd Lc 1 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Behringer Cmd Lc 1 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 Cmd Lc 1, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Cmd Lc 1.
5. Moving the physical control on your Cmd Lc 1 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 Cmd Lc 1

For the fastest way to map your Cmd Lc 1, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Cmd Lc 1 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Cmd Lc 1 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Cmd Lc 1, 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 Cmd Lc 1's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Cmd Lc 1,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Cmd Lc 1, 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 Cmd Lc 1 in Ableton Live?

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