Behringer Vmx 300 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Behringer's Vmx 300 is an exceptionally flexible midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi DJ controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Behringer Vmx 300 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Vmx 300.

Article Contents

Does the Behringer Vmx 300 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Behringer Vmx 300 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Vmx 300 to ableton
How to midi map the Behringer Vmx 300 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Vmx 300
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Behringer Vmx 300 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Behringer Vmx 300 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Vmx 300 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 Vmx 300 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Vmx 300.

Does the Behringer Vmx 300 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Vmx 300, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast 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 Vmx 300 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Behringer Vmx 300 with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Vmx 300 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Vmx 300 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 Vmx 300 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Vmx 300 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 Vmx 300 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Vmx 300 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 Vmx 300 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 Vmx 300, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Vmx 300.
5. Moving the physical control on your Vmx 300 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 Vmx 300

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Vmx 300, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Vmx 300 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Vmx 300 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 Vmx 300, 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 Vmx 300's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Vmx 300,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Vmx 300, 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 Vmx 300 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Vmx 300 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Vmx 300 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Vmx 300.
4. Make sure that the Vmx 300 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.