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

Mixvibes's U Mix Control Pro 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 tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Mixvibes U Mix Control Pro with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the U Mix Control Pro.

Article Contents

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

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

In short, yes, the Mixvibes U Mix Control Pro is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the U Mix Control Pro 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 U Mix Control Pro is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

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

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

The U Mix Control Pro does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the U Mix Control Pro to ableton

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

The U Mix Control Pro 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 Mixvibes U Mix Control Pro 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 U Mix Control Pro, 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 Pro.
5. Moving the physical control on your U Mix Control Pro 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 Pro

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

Saving your U Mix Control Pro 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 control on your U Mix Control Pro can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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

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