Denon Mc 2000 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Denon’s Mc 2000 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Denon Mc 2000 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Mc 2000.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Mc 2000 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Mc 2000 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Mc 2000 to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Mc 2000 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Mc 2000
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Mc 2000 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Denon Mc 2000 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Mc 2000 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Mc 2000 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Mc 2000.

Does the Denon Mc 2000 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Mc 2000, therefore it must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast to Standard’s 10GB.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Mc 2000 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Denon Mc 2000 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 Mc 2000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mc 2000 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 Mc 2000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mc 2000 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.

.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Mc 2000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mc 2000 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 Mc 2000 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 Mc 2000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mc 2000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mc 2000 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 Mc 2000

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Mc 2000, there are however, some limitations to be aware of…

Saving your Mc 2000 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Mc 2000 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Mc 2000, 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 Mc 2000’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mc 2000,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mc 2000, 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 Mc 2000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mc 2000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mc 2000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mc 2000.
4. Make sure that the Mc 2000 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.