Reloop Beatmix 2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Reloop's Beatmix 2 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 teach you everything needed in order to use the Reloop Beatmix 2 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Beatmix 2.

Article Contents

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

In short, yes, the Reloop Beatmix 2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Beatmix 2 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 Beatmix 2 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 Beatmix 2.

Does the Reloop Beatmix 2 come with ableton Live included?

The Beatmix 2 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased 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.

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 Beatmix 2 to ableton

Connecting the Reloop Beatmix 2 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 Beatmix 2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Beatmix 2 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 Beatmix 2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Beatmix 2 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 Beatmix 2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Beatmix 2 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 Reloop Beatmix 2 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 Beatmix 2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Beatmix 2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Beatmix 2 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 Beatmix 2

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Beatmix 2, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Beatmix 2 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 indicates that each control on your Beatmix 2 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Beatmix 2, 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 Beatmix 2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Beatmix 2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Beatmix 2, 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 Beatmix 2 in Ableton Live?

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