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

Reloop's Beatpad 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 guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Reloop Beatpad 2 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Beatpad 2.

Article Contents

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

Does the Reloop Beatpad 2 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Reloop Beatpad 2 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Beatpad 2 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Beatpad 2 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Beatpad 2.

Does the Reloop Beatpad 2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Beatpad 2, so it needs to be purchased 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 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 Beatpad 2 to ableton

Linking the Reloop Beatpad 2 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

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

The Beatpad 2 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Reloop Beatpad 2 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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

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

Saving your Beatpad 2 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Beatpad 2 can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

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 Beatpad 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 Beatpad 2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Beatpad 2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Beatpad 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 Beatpad 2 in Ableton Live?

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