Dj Tech I Mix Reload Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Dj Tech’s I Mix Reload is an exceptionally flexible midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi DJ controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Dj Tech I Mix Reload with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the I Mix Reload.

Article Contents

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

Does the Dj Tech I Mix Reload work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Dj Tech I Mix Reload is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the I Mix Reload can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 I Mix Reload is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your I Mix Reload.

Does the Dj Tech I Mix Reload come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the I Mix Reload, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison 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 I Mix Reload to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Dj Tech I Mix Reload 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 DJ controller.

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

The I Mix Reload is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Dj Tech I Mix Reload 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 I Mix Reload, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the I Mix Reload.
5. Moving the physical control on your I Mix Reload 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 I Mix Reload

Ableton’s midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your I Mix Reload, however, you must take into account some potential limitations…

Saving your I Mix Reload 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your I Mix Reload 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 provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren’t possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

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

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