Numark Mixtrack Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Numark Mixtrack is a versatile midi DJ controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi DJ 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 Numark Mixtrack with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Mixtrack.

Article Contents

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

Does the Numark Mixtrack work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Numark Mixtrack is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

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

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Mixtrack is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Mixtrack.

Does the Numark Mixtrack come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Mixtrack, therefore it must be bought separately.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared 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 Mixtrack to ableton

Connecting the Numark Mixtrack 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 DJ controller.

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

The Mixtrack is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

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

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Mixtrack, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Mixtrack Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Mixtrack can only be assigned to a single 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 Mixtrack, 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 Mixtrack's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mixtrack,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mixtrack, 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 Mixtrack in Ableton Live?

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