Presonus Faderport 16 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Presonus Faderport 16 is a versatile midi controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi controller is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Presonus Faderport 16 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Faderport 16.

Article Contents

Does the Presonus Faderport 16 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Presonus Faderport 16 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Faderport 16 to ableton
How to midi map the Presonus Faderport 16 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Faderport 16
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Presonus Faderport 16 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Presonus Faderport 16 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Faderport 16 comes with a midi remote script to ensure it functions with Ableton Live, so just plug it in (see the instructions below to see how) and you're good to go.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Faderport 16 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 Faderport 16.

Does the Presonus Faderport 16 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Faderport 16, so this 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.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Faderport 16 to ableton

Linking the Presonus Faderport 16 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Faderport 16 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Faderport 16 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 Faderport 16 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Faderport 16 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 Faderport 16 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Faderport 16 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 Presonus Faderport 16 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 Faderport 16, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Faderport 16.
5. Moving the physical control on your Faderport 16 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 Faderport 16

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Faderport 16, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Faderport 16 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 Faderport 16 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 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 Faderport 16, 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 Faderport 16's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Faderport 16,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Faderport 16, 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 Faderport 16 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Faderport 16 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Faderport 16 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Faderport 16.
4. Make sure that the Faderport 16 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.