Denon Mc4000 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Denon's Mc4000 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 tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Denon Mc4000 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Mc4000.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Mc4000 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Mc4000 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Mc4000 to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Mc4000 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Mc4000
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Mc4000 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Denon Mc4000 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Mc4000 to multiple functions inside the program.

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Mc4000 will be usable with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Mc4000.

Does the Denon Mc4000 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Mc4000, so it needs to be purchased separately.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared 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 Mc4000 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Denon Mc4000 with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Mc4000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mc4000 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 Mc4000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mc4000 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 Mc4000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mc4000 will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Denon Mc4000 to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within Ableton Live by doing the following:

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 Mc4000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mc4000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mc4000 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 Mc4000

For the fastest way to map your Mc4000, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Mc4000 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 indicates that each control on your Mc4000 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

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 Mc4000, 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 Mc4000's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mc4000,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mc4000, 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 Mc4000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mc4000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mc4000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mc4000.
4. Make sure that the Mc4000 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.