Denon Dn Hc5000 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Denon’s Dn Hc5000 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 guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Denon Dn Hc5000 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Dn Hc5000.

Article Contents

  1. Does the Denon Dn Hc5000 work with Ableton Live?
  2. Does the Denon Dn Hc5000 come with ableton Live included?
  3. How to connect the Dn Hc5000 to ableton
  4. How to midi map the Denon Dn Hc5000 in Ableton Live
  5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Dn Hc5000
    1. Saving your Dn Hc5000 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
    2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
    3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
    4. A great solution to these problems
  6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Dn Hc5000 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Denon Dn Hc5000 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Dn Hc5000 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Dn Hc5000 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Dn Hc5000.

Does the Denon Dn Hc5000 come with ableton Live included?

The Dn Hc5000 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Dn Hc5000 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Denon Dn Hc5000 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software’s settings from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Dn Hc5000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dn Hc5000 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 Dn Hc5000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dn Hc5000 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 Dn Hc5000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Dn Hc5000 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Denon Dn Hc5000 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 Dn Hc5000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dn Hc5000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dn Hc5000 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 Dn Hc5000

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Dn Hc5000, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Dn Hc5000 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Dn Hc5000 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren’t currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Dn Hc5000, 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 Dn Hc5000’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dn Hc5000,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dn Hc5000, 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 Dn Hc5000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dn Hc5000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dn Hc5000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Dn Hc5000.
4. Make sure that the Dn Hc5000 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.