Faderfox Dx2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Faderfox Dx2 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi controller has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Faderfox Dx2 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Dx2.

Article Contents

Does the Faderfox Dx2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Faderfox Dx2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Dx2 to ableton
How to midi map the Faderfox Dx2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Dx2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Faderfox Dx2 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Faderfox Dx2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Dx2 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 Dx2 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Dx2.

Does the Faderfox Dx2 come with ableton Live included?

The Dx2 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison 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 Dx2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Faderfox Dx2 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Dx2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dx2 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 Dx2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dx2 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 Dx2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Dx2 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Faderfox Dx2 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 Dx2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dx2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dx2 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 Dx2

For the fastest way to map your Dx2, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Dx2 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

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Dx2 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren't possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Dx2, 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 Dx2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dx2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dx2, 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 Dx2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dx2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dx2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Dx2.
4. Make sure that the Dx2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.