Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Reloop's Beatmix 2 Mk2 is an exceptionally flexible midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi DJ controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Beatmix 2 Mk2.

Article Contents

Does the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Beatmix 2 Mk2 to ableton
How to midi map the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Beatmix 2 Mk2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 Beatmix 2 Mk2 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Mk2.

Does the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Beatmix 2 Mk2, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast to Standard's 10GB.

If you're looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Beatmix 2 Mk2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 Beatmix 2 Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Beatmix 2 Mk2 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Reloop Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 Beatmix 2 Mk2, 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 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 Mk2

For the fastest way to map your Beatmix 2 Mk2, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 indicates that each control on your Beatmix 2 Mk2 is capable of controlling only one 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 Beatmix 2 Mk2, 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 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Beatmix 2 Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Beatmix 2 Mk2, 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 Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Beatmix 2 Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Beatmix 2 Mk2 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 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Beatmix 2 Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.