Roland Mx 1 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Roland Mx 1 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi controller has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Roland Mx 1 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Mx 1.

Article Contents

Does the Roland Mx 1 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Roland Mx 1 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Mx 1 to ableton
How to midi map the Roland Mx 1 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Mx 1
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Roland Mx 1 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Roland Mx 1 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The Mx 1 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 Mx 1 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Mx 1.

Does the Roland Mx 1 come with ableton Live included?

You get a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite with the Mx 1, but its worth noting that the features of Ableton Live Lite are not as full as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

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.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Mx 1 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Roland Mx 1 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi controller.

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

The Mx 1 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 Roland Mx 1 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 Mx 1, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mx 1.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mx 1 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 Mx 1

For the fastest way to map your Mx 1, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Mx 1 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Mx 1 can only be assigned to 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 Mx 1, 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 Mx 1's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mx 1,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mx 1, 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 Mx 1 in Ableton Live?

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