Behringer Bcd3000 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Behringer’s Bcd3000 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Behringer Bcd3000 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Bcd3000.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Behringer Bcd3000 work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Behringer Bcd3000 come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Bcd3000 to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Behringer Bcd3000 in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Bcd3000
    1. Saving your Bcd3000 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 Behringer Bcd3000 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Behringer Bcd3000 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Bcd3000 to multiple functions inside the program.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Bcd3000 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Bcd3000.

Does the Behringer Bcd3000 come with ableton Live included?

The Bcd3000 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. 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 seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Bcd3000 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Behringer Bcd3000 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 Bcd3000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Bcd3000 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 Bcd3000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Bcd3000 are checked.
4. Ensure that the proper ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are checked for both input and output.

  • Track: When checked, this allows MIDI notes and CC messages to be sent/received.
  • Sync: This option enables MIDI clock syncing between Ableton live and the external device.
  • Remote: Allows external MIDI controllers to remotely control parameters within Ableton Live.

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In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Bcd3000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Bcd3000 will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Behringer Bcd3000 to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within 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 Bcd3000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Bcd3000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Bcd3000 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 Bcd3000

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Bcd3000, there are however, some limitations to be aware of…

Saving your Bcd3000 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

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Bcd3000 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren’t currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Bcd3000, 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 Bcd3000’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Bcd3000,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Bcd3000, 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 Bcd3000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Bcd3000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Bcd3000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Bcd3000.
4. Make sure that the Bcd3000 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.