Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Numark's Mixtrack Pro Ii is a fantastically adaptable midi DJ controller that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Mixtrack Pro Ii.

Article Contents

1. Does the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Mixtrack Pro Ii to ableton
4. How to midi map the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Mixtrack Pro Ii
   1. Saving your Mixtrack Pro Ii Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

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

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Mixtrack Pro Ii will be usable 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 Mixtrack Pro Ii.

Does the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii come with ableton Live included?

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

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison to Standard's 10GB.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Mixtrack Pro Ii to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Numark Mixtrack Pro Ii with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi DJ controller.

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

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

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

Saving your Mixtrack Pro Ii 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Mixtrack Pro Ii is capable of controlling only one 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 Mixtrack Pro Ii, 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 Pro Ii's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mixtrack Pro Ii,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mixtrack Pro Ii, 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 Pro Ii in Ableton Live?

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