Vestax Tr 1 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Vestax's Tr 1 is an exceptionally flexible midi and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi 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 Vestax Tr 1 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Tr 1.

Article Contents

1. Does the Vestax Tr 1 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Vestax Tr 1 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Tr 1 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Vestax Tr 1 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Tr 1
   1. Saving your Tr 1 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 Vestax Tr 1 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Vestax Tr 1 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Tr 1 can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Tr 1 will be usable 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 Tr 1.

Does the Vestax Tr 1 come with ableton Live included?

The Tr 1 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need 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.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Tr 1 to ableton

Connecting the Vestax Tr 1 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 .

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

Set up of the Tr 1 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Vestax Tr 1 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Tr 1, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Tr 1 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 Tr 1 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 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 Tr 1's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Tr 1,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Tr 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 Tr 1 in Ableton Live?

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