Numark Party Mix Pro Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

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

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Numark Party Mix Pro with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Party Mix Pro.

Article Contents

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

Does the Numark Party Mix Pro work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Numark Party Mix Pro is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Party Mix Pro can still be mapped to many of the software’s functions.

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 Party Mix Pro 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 Party Mix Pro.

Does the Numark Party Mix Pro come with ableton Live included?

The Party Mix Pro doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased 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.

If you’re looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Party Mix Pro to ableton

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

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

Set up of the Party Mix Pro with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Numark Party Mix Pro 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 Party Mix Pro, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Party Mix Pro.
5. Moving the physical control on your Party Mix Pro 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 Party Mix Pro

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Party Mix Pro, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Party Mix Pro Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

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

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren’t possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

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

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