The idea was to use the MPC in controller mode to record inputs in Ableton, but it wasn’t just about doing that. I wanted to route multiple audio sources in Ableton, specifically sound from both my MPC and a USB mic at the same time.
You can arm multiple tracks in Ableton, so all I needed was the correct Ableton input and output setup to receive signals from both sources. (Easier said than done when you’ve never done it.)
Step 1: Configuring Input and Output Devices
I needed three things: the MPC software, my sound settings, and Ableton to all communicate through their input and output devices.
I made sure the MPC software’s input was set to MPC One+ Audio, while the output was set to Multi-Output Device. In Ableton, the input device was set to Aggregate Device, and the output was on Multi-Output Device.
When creating the aggregate device on Mac, I had to include both the MPC and the USB mic inside. This is done in Audio MIDI Setup, allowing multiple sources (MPC, USB mic, etc.) to function under one audio interface.
Note: Ableton only allows one input device and one output device at a time, so an aggregate device setup is necessary for multiple inputs.
Step 2: Fixing Input Issues with iShowU Audio Capture
I used an extra source because for some reason Ableton wasn’t registering both the MPC and USB mic without it. That took a second to get right but eventually Ableton started receiving sound from the mic when I placed it on the right channel, which was channels 3 and 4. Channels 1 and 2 were for the MPC but nothing was being captured.
What ended up fixing my problem was the iShowU Audio Capture software. I can’t explain why it worked but I know it does. Once I added that inside the aggregate device it created channels 5 and 6; these are what Ableton used to receive audio from the MPC.
But I can only assume the MPC and iShowU software are connecting in some way and allowing sound to pass through Ableton, because no other combination I tried with the inputs and outputs were working before that.
Step 3: Recording Both MPC and USB Mic in Ableton
Now, when I load sounds on the MPC, the audio registers in Ableton. I can press MPC pads while speaking into the mic, and both sources record on their own respective tracks.
This setup allows me to:
• Record MPC and USB mic in Ableton simultaneously
• Route multiple audio sources in Ableton using an aggregate device
• Use iShowU Audio Capture to fix input detection issues
I’m sure there are other ways to record multiple inputs in Ableton, but for now, this setup works perfectly.