Faderfox Uc4 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Uc4 from Faderfox is an incredibly versatile midi controller and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Faderfox Uc4 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Uc4.

Article Contents

Does the Faderfox Uc4 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Faderfox Uc4 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Uc4 to ableton
How to midi map the Faderfox Uc4 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Uc4
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Faderfox Uc4 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Faderfox Uc4 is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Uc4 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 Uc4 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 Uc4.

Does the Faderfox Uc4 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Uc4, therefore it 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 Uc4 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Faderfox Uc4 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they’re connected you’ll be able to adjust the software’s parameters from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Uc4 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Uc4 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 Uc4 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Uc4 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 Uc4 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Uc4 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Faderfox Uc4 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 Uc4, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Uc4.
5. Moving the physical control on your Uc4 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 Uc4

For the fastest way to map your Uc4, you can’t go wrong with Ableton’s midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations…

Saving your Uc4 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Uc4 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 Uc4, 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 Uc4’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Uc4,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Uc4, 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 Uc4 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Uc4 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Uc4 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Uc4.
4. Make sure that the Uc4 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.