Roland Fantom X6 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Roland's Fantom X6 is a fantastically adaptable midi enabled synthesizer that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Roland Fantom X6 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Fantom X6.

Article Contents

Does the Roland Fantom X6 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Roland Fantom X6 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Fantom X6 to ableton
How to midi map the Roland Fantom X6 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Fantom X6
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Roland Fantom X6 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Roland Fantom X6 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The Fantom X6 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.

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 Fantom X6 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 Fantom X6.

Does the Roland Fantom X6 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Fantom X6, so this must be bought 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.

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 Fantom X6 to ableton

Connecting the Roland Fantom X6 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 enabled synthesizer.

1. Connect the Fantom X6 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Fantom X6 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 Fantom X6 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Fantom X6 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 Fantom X6 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Fantom X6 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 Roland Fantom X6 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 Fantom X6, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Fantom X6.
5. Moving the physical control on your Fantom X6 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 Fantom X6

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Fantom X6, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Fantom X6 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Fantom X6 can only be assigned to a single 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 Fantom X6, 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 Fantom X6's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Fantom X6,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Fantom X6, 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 Fantom X6 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Fantom X6 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Fantom X6 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Fantom X6.
4. Make sure that the Fantom X6 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.