Setting up Push 2 (Windows)
Follow the steps in this guide to connect Push 2 with Ableton Live on Windows. Before connecting Push 2, install the latest update to your version of Live on your computer.
When you connect Push 2 with your PC, Live automatically configures the correct MIDI preferences for Push 2. You can start playing Push 2 without manually changing any MIDI preferences in Live.
Connecting Push 2 with Live (all versions)
Setting up Push 2 with Live 12
Setting up Push 2 with Live 11 or earlier
Updating Push 2 firmware
Troubleshooting Push 2 connection
Connecting Push 2 with Live (all versions)
1. Update Live, Windows and Graphics Driver
Before using Push 2, your Live installation, Windows installation, and graphics driver must be fully up to date.
- Push 2 requires Live 9.5 or later to work. Download and install the latest Live version from your User Account.
- Windows must be fully updated with all the latest updates. Windows 7 in particular needs to have Service Pack 1 installed.
- Push 2 uses your computer's graphics card to render its display. The graphics card driver must be fully updated in order for Push 2 to work. The driver usually needs to be downloaded directly from the manufacturer's website.
2. Connect Push 2
- Connect Push 2 directly to a USB port on your computer rather than through a hub.
- If you have to use a hub, it must be powered.
- Use the included USB cable which came with your Push 2.
- Power the Push 2 with its AC adapter to ensure maximum brightness for the display and LEDs.
- Press the power switch in firmly until it clicks to turn the unit on. The power switch is located on the back panel of your Push, behind the master volume knob.
3. Install the Display Driver
- Push 2 display driver is installed the first time you connect Push 2 to your computer, if Live is running and Push is successfully detected by your operating system.
- At this point, Windows should inform you that the device driver is being installed. This might take a few minutes, and in some cases your OS will display a progress bar.
- Once complete, if Push does not start yet and keeps only displaying the Ableton logo, restart the device once by powering off and on again.
- This process will cause Windows to rescan all USB devices, so any existing driver error messages may be displayed once more.
Setting up Push 2 with Live 12
In Live 12, MIDI preferences are configured automatically when Push 2 is connected. It is not necessary to manually select Push 2 Control Surface, Input, or Output in Live 12's MIDI preferences. When configured automatically by Live 12, Push 2 can be used as a Control Surface even though it is not shown in MIDI preferences.
Note: Manually adding Push 2 as a MIDI Control Surface in Live 12 may cause connection issues.
Setting up Push 2 with Live 11 or earlier
- Push 2 will automatically configure as soon as Live is running. This is how your MIDI preferences should look in Live 11 or earlier once Push 2 is plugged into your computer:
- It might take a few seconds for the Push 2 Control Surface to activate. When this happens the Session Ring will display in Session View as shown here:
Updating Push 2 firmware
If a new firmware version is available, it will be installed with the latest Live version on your computer. Live will perform the update automatically once you connect Push 2 for the first time after a Live update. The Push display will notify you once the process has completed, instructing you to restart the device.
The firmware update will only take place if Push is correctly configured as described above.
Troubleshooting Push 2 connection
If Push 2 still does not work as expected after following the steps listed above:
- Try a different USB port on your computer.
- Use the original cable provided with Push 2, then try a different USB cable if needed.
- Make sure the USB cable is fully inserted into Push 2, as it requires a firm press to properly connect. Certain USB cables may not fit into the Push 2 USB port housing.
- If there is resistance when connecting the USB cable, you can try cleaning out Push's USB port with a vacuum cleaner.
- Unplug the AC adapter, and check whether Push 2 receives power from the computer via USB.
- In Live 11 and earlier versions, confirm that the control surface for Push 2 is active in Live's Preferences, and that only one Control Surface slot for Push 2 is selected.
If the above steps don't work, please check the dedicated articles below for these specific issues: