Denon Prime 4 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Denon’s Prime 4 is a fantastically adaptable midi DJ controller that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Denon Prime 4 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Prime 4.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Prime 4 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Prime 4 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Prime 4 to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Prime 4 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Prime 4
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Prime 4 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Denon Prime 4 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Prime 4 can still be mapped to many of the software’s functions.

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 Prime 4 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Prime 4.

Does the Denon Prime 4 come with ableton Live included?

The Prime 4 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared to Standard’s 10GB.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Prime 4 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Denon Prime 4 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 Prime 4 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Prime 4 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 Prime 4 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Prime 4 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 Prime 4 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Prime 4 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Denon Prime 4 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Prime 4, there are however, some limitations to be aware of…

Saving your Prime 4 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 Prime 4 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 Prime 4, 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 Prime 4’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Prime 4,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Prime 4, 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 Prime 4 in Ableton Live?

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