Numark Orbit Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Numark's Orbit is a fantastically adaptable midi 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.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Numark Orbit with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Orbit.

Article Contents

1. Does the Numark Orbit work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Numark Orbit come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Orbit to ableton
4. How to midi map the Numark Orbit in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Orbit
   1. Saving your Orbit 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 Orbit work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Numark Orbit is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Orbit can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

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 Orbit is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Orbit.

Does the Numark Orbit come with ableton Live included?

The Orbit doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared 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 Orbit to ableton

Linking and configuring the Numark Orbit to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi controller.

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

Set up of the Orbit with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Numark Orbit to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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

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

Saving your Orbit 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 means that each control on your Orbit 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 Orbit, 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 Orbit's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Orbit,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Orbit, 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 Orbit in Ableton Live?

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