Faderfox Lx1 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Faderfox's Lx1 is an exceptionally flexible midi controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Faderfox Lx1 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Lx1.

Article Contents

Does the Faderfox Lx1 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Faderfox Lx1 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Lx1 to ableton
How to midi map the Faderfox Lx1 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Lx1
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Faderfox Lx1 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Faderfox Lx1 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Lx1 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 Lx1 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 Lx1.

Does the Faderfox Lx1 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Lx1, therefore it must be bought 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 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 Lx1 to ableton

Connecting the Faderfox Lx1 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 Lx1 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Lx1 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 Lx1 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Lx1 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 Lx1 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Lx1 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Faderfox Lx1 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 Lx1, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Lx1.
5. Moving the physical control on your Lx1 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 Lx1

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Lx1, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Lx1 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Lx1 can only be assigned to control a single 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 Lx1, 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 Lx1's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Lx1,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Lx1, 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 Lx1 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Lx1 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Lx1 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Lx1.
4. Make sure that the Lx1 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.