Icon Qcon Ex G2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Icon Qcon Ex G2 is a versatile midi controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi controller is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Icon Qcon Ex G2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Qcon Ex G2.

Article Contents

Does the Icon Qcon Ex G2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Icon Qcon Ex G2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Qcon Ex G2 to ableton
How to midi map the Icon Qcon Ex G2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Qcon Ex G2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Icon Qcon Ex G2 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Icon Qcon Ex G2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Qcon Ex G2 to multiple functions inside the program.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Qcon Ex G2 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

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 Qcon Ex G2.

Does the Icon Qcon Ex G2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Qcon Ex G2, 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.

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 Qcon Ex G2 to ableton

Connecting the Icon Qcon Ex G2 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 Qcon Ex G2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Qcon Ex G2 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 Qcon Ex G2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Qcon Ex G2 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 Qcon Ex G2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Qcon Ex G2 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 Icon Qcon Ex G2 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 Qcon Ex G2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Qcon Ex G2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Qcon Ex G2 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 Qcon Ex G2

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Qcon Ex G2, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Qcon Ex G2 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Qcon Ex G2 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Qcon Ex G2, 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 Qcon Ex G2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Qcon Ex G2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Qcon Ex G2, 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 Qcon Ex G2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Qcon Ex G2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Qcon Ex G2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Qcon Ex G2.
4. Make sure that the Qcon Ex G2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.