Reloop Beatmix 4 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Reloop's Beatmix 4 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Reloop Beatmix 4 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Beatmix 4.

Article Contents

Does the Reloop Beatmix 4 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Reloop Beatmix 4 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Beatmix 4 to ableton
How to midi map the Reloop Beatmix 4 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Beatmix 4
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Reloop Beatmix 4 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Reloop Beatmix 4 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Beatmix 4 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Beatmix 4 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Beatmix 4.

Does the Reloop Beatmix 4 come with ableton Live included?

The Beatmix 4 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 Beatmix 4 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Reloop Beatmix 4 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Beatmix 4 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Beatmix 4 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 4 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Beatmix 4 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 4 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Beatmix 4 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Reloop Beatmix 4 to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

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

For the fastest way to map your Beatmix 4, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Beatmix 4 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 4 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 4, 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 4's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Beatmix 4,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Beatmix 4, 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 4 in Ableton Live?

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