Faderfox Uc3 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Faderfox Uc3 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 show you the whole process of how to operate the Faderfox Uc3 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Uc3.

Article Contents

Does the Faderfox Uc3 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Faderfox Uc3 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Uc3 to ableton
How to midi map the Faderfox Uc3 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Uc3
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Faderfox Uc3 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Faderfox Uc3 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Uc3 to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Uc3 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Uc3.

Does the Faderfox Uc3 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Uc3, so it needs to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast 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 Uc3 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Faderfox Uc3 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 Uc3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Uc3 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 Uc3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Uc3 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 Uc3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Uc3 will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Faderfox Uc3 to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within 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 Uc3, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Uc3.
5. Moving the physical control on your Uc3 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 Uc3

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Uc3, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Uc3 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 Uc3 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 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 Uc3, 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 Uc3's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Uc3,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Uc3, 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 Uc3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Uc3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Uc3 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Uc3.
4. Make sure that the Uc3 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.