Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Mixvibes's U Mix Control 2 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi DJ controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the U Mix Control 2.

Article Contents

Does the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the U Mix Control 2 to ableton
How to midi map the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the U Mix Control 2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the U Mix Control 2 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 U Mix Control 2 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 U Mix Control 2.

Does the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the U Mix Control 2, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison 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 U Mix Control 2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the U Mix Control 2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the U Mix Control 2 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 U Mix Control 2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the U Mix Control 2 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 U Mix Control 2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The U Mix Control 2 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Mixvibes U Mix Control 2 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 U Mix Control 2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the U Mix Control 2.
5. Moving the physical control on your U Mix Control 2 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 U Mix Control 2

For the fastest way to map your U Mix Control 2, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your U Mix Control 2 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your U Mix Control 2 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 U Mix Control 2, 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 U Mix Control 2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your U Mix Control 2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your U Mix Control 2, 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 U Mix Control 2 in Ableton Live?

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