Roland Tr 8 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Roland's Tr 8 is an exceptionally flexible midi controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Roland Tr 8 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Tr 8.

Article Contents

1. Does the Roland Tr 8 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Roland Tr 8 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Tr 8 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Roland Tr 8 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Tr 8
   1. Saving your Tr 8 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Roland Tr 8 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Roland Tr 8 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Tr 8 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 Tr 8 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Tr 8.

Does the Roland Tr 8 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Tr 8, 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.

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 Tr 8 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Roland Tr 8 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 controller.

1. Connect the Tr 8 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Tr 8 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 Tr 8 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Tr 8 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 Tr 8 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Tr 8 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Roland Tr 8 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 Tr 8, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Tr 8.
5. Moving the physical control on your Tr 8 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 Tr 8

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Tr 8, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Tr 8 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Tr 8 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 Tr 8, 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 Tr 8's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Tr 8,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Tr 8, 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 Tr 8 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Tr 8 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Tr 8 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Tr 8.
4. Make sure that the Tr 8 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.