Faderfox Pc12 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Faderfox's Pc12 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Faderfox Pc12 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Pc12.

Article Contents

1. Does the Faderfox Pc12 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Faderfox Pc12 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Pc12 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Faderfox Pc12 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Pc12
   1. Saving your Pc12 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Faderfox Pc12 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Faderfox Pc12 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 Pc12 to a variety of functions.

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Pc12 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Pc12.

Does the Faderfox Pc12 come with ableton Live included?

The Pc12 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 Pc12 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Faderfox Pc12 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 Pc12 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Pc12 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 Pc12 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Pc12 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 Pc12 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Pc12 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 Pc12 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 Pc12, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Pc12.
5. Moving the physical control on your Pc12 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 Pc12

For the fastest way to map your Pc12, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Pc12 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Pc12 can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Pc12, 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 Pc12's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Pc12,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Pc12, 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 Pc12 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Pc12 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Pc12 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Pc12.
4. Make sure that the Pc12 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.