Evolution Uc33 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Evolution's Uc33 is a fantastically adaptable midi controller that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Evolution Uc33 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Uc33.

Article Contents

Does the Evolution Uc33 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Evolution Uc33 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Uc33 to ableton
How to midi map the Evolution Uc33 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Uc33
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Evolution Uc33 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Evolution Uc33 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Uc33 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 Uc33 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live's components with your Uc33.

Does the Evolution Uc33 come with ableton Live included?

The Uc33 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased 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.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Uc33 to ableton

Linking the Evolution Uc33 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Uc33 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Uc33 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 Uc33 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Uc33 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 Uc33 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Uc33 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Evolution Uc33 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 Uc33, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Uc33.
5. Moving the physical control on your Uc33 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 Uc33

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Uc33, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Uc33 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 Uc33 can only be assigned to 1 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 Uc33, 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 Uc33's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Uc33,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Uc33, 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 Uc33 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Uc33 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Uc33 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Uc33.
4. Make sure that the Uc33 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.