DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Midi Fighter Pro from DJ Tech Tools 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.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Midi Fighter Pro.

Article Contents

Does the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro work with Ableton Live?
Does the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Midi Fighter Pro to ableton
How to midi map the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Midi Fighter Pro
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

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

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 Midi Fighter Pro is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Midi Fighter Pro.

Does the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro come with ableton Live included?

The Midi Fighter Pro doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

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.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Midi Fighter Pro to ableton

Connecting the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro 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 Midi Fighter Pro to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Midi Fighter Pro 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 Midi Fighter Pro from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Midi Fighter Pro 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 Midi Fighter Pro (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Midi Fighter Pro with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter Pro 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 Midi Fighter Pro, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Midi Fighter Pro.
5. Moving the physical control on your Midi Fighter Pro 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 Midi Fighter Pro

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

Saving your Midi Fighter Pro 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Midi Fighter Pro can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 Midi Fighter Pro, 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 Midi Fighter Pro's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Midi Fighter Pro,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Midi Fighter Pro, 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 Midi Fighter Pro in Ableton Live?

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