Faderfox 4midiloop Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Faderfox's 4midiloop is a fantastically adaptable midi DJ 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 Faderfox 4midiloop with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the 4midiloop.

Article Contents

Does the Faderfox 4midiloop work with Ableton Live?
Does the Faderfox 4midiloop come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the 4midiloop to ableton
How to midi map the Faderfox 4midiloop in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the 4midiloop
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Faderfox 4midiloop work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Faderfox 4midiloop is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the 4midiloop to a variety of 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 4midiloop 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 4midiloop.

Does the Faderfox 4midiloop come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the 4midiloop, so this must be bought 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.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the 4midiloop to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Faderfox 4midiloop 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 4midiloop to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the 4midiloop 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 4midiloop from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the 4midiloop 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 4midiloop (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The 4midiloop has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Faderfox 4midiloop to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in Ableton Live by doing the following:

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

For the fastest way to map your 4midiloop, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your 4midiloop Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your 4midiloop can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 4midiloop, 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 4midiloop's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your 4midiloop,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your 4midiloop, 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 4midiloop in Ableton Live?

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