Behringer Cmd Micro Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Behringer's Cmd Micro 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.

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

Article Contents

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

Does the Behringer Cmd Micro work with Ableton Live?

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

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Cmd Micro can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Cmd Micro is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Cmd Micro.

Does the Behringer Cmd Micro come with ableton Live included?

The Cmd Micro does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared 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 Micro to ableton

Linking the Behringer Cmd Micro to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

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

The Cmd Micro is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Behringer Cmd Micro to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

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 Micro, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Cmd Micro.
5. Moving the physical control on your Cmd Micro 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 Micro

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

Saving your Cmd Micro Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

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

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of 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 Micro, 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 Micro's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Cmd Micro,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Cmd Micro, 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 Micro in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Cmd Micro is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Cmd Micro 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 Micro.
4. Make sure that the Cmd Micro is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.