Pairing a Numark M2 Mixer w/ Ableton Live 9

Pairing a Numark M2 Mixer w/ Ableton Live 9

Hi Guys,

I am running out of options before I pack up this mixer and send it back to the store. I have had it for a week or two and have not been able to sync it with Ableton even with all the troubleshooting/reverse engineering. I intend to use the mixer for use of mixing in Ableton standard A/B 2-channel sort of stuff. I currently have an RCA L/R running from the mixer’s master into a 1/4’ TLR input on both of the L/R monitors. I also have RCA L/R running from CH1 and CH2 of the mixer running into inputs 1/2 and 3/4 on my Scarlett soundcard. I set the 1/2 and 3/4 inputs/outputs up in Ableton and set both virtual decks to their corresponding output whether it was 1 + 2 or 1/2 + 3/4. I keep getting sound out of only one side of the crossfader, and even then both songs will play on separate speakers on the same channel. I have literally tried everything troubleshooting/reverse engineering wise so just looking for any help before I switch out the mixer. May just get a different brand 2-channel if the M2 cannot be hooked up, but really enjoying the look and feel of this one.

Here are some pictures of the setup:

Sounds like theres nothing wrong with the mixer and everything wrong with your ableton routing TBH.

On the output config use Stereo channels 1/2 3/4

On the Channels choose

No input
Ext. Out: 1/2 or 3/4

ENSURE YOUR XFADE ASSIGN IS OFF, ALL SENDS ARE TURNED DOWN AND MASTER VOLUME FADER DOWN !

Play a Track from channel 1 - this should output to soundcard ch 1/2 going to your mixer channel 1
Play a Track from channel 2 - this should output on soundcard ch 3/4 going to your mixer channel 2

Lastly, your software may be reporting the sound card channel numbers incorrectly, if you don’t get sound on the expected output try another one.

Final Words: If I were in your shoes I’d ditch the Numark altogether and pick up a secondhand APC40 MK1 instead for around $100 - theres nothing really to gain with the M2 aside from EQ’s (which can be mapped within Ableton anyhow).

Awesome post, deevey!!

I currently own an Akai APC mk2 (my mk1 got dust in it and the USB port doesn’t pick up anymore)
I bought the Numark M2 to use it’s EQ’s and crossfader as I was previously setting that up on my APC through an EQ VST and using Ableton’s crossfader. I was looking for a hardware feel and simple mixer to do all my A/B EQ mixing on and then use the APC for clip launching and processing (effects, etc.)

I will try the suggested routing that you posted and see what happens.

How do I turn off XFade Assign?

The “A B” buttons under the channel fader. You might need to hit the “X” icon beside the master fader to get the x fader and assignments showing up.

I hear ya, one of my pet peeves was not having proper “mechanical” style EQ’s per channel on the APC … And no real way around it without adding external gear which kinda sucked.

I ended up using the top bank of knobs as LOW EQ’s and HP/LP filter and they used the Pan as a latching selector to allow me to adjust Mid/High and a few other bits and bobs (4 main decks + 4 wet/dry/sample deck layout).

If Akai just added 3 knobs per channel the APC would be damn near perfect for the Ableton DJ … or if Livid added a grid to the DS1 or the VCM 600 had encoders for FX :roll_eyes: … Seems no one has managed to get it “just right”