Faderfox Mb1 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

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Faderfox's Mb1 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.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Faderfox Mb1 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Mb1.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Faderfox Mb1 work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Faderfox Mb1 come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Mb1 to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Faderfox Mb1 in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Mb1
    1. Saving your Mb1 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 Faderfox Mb1 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Faderfox Mb1 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Mb1 to midi map to numerous functions in 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 Mb1 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Mb1.

Does the Faderfox Mb1 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Mb1, so this must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared 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 Mb1 to ableton

Linking the Faderfox Mb1 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Mb1 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mb1 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 Mb1 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mb1 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 Mb1 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mb1 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 Faderfox Mb1 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 Mb1, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mb1.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mb1 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 Mb1

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Mb1, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Mb1 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 Mb1 is capable of controlling only one 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 Mb1, 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 Mb1's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mb1,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mb1, 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 Mb1 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mb1 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mb1 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mb1.
4. Make sure that the Mb1 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.