The Pioneer Ddj 200 is a versatile midi DJ controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it’s an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi DJ controller is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.
This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Pioneer Ddj 200 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Ddj 200.
Article Contents
- Does the Pioneer Ddj 200 work with Ableton Live?
- Does the Pioneer Ddj 200 come with ableton Live included?
- How to connect the Ddj 200 to ableton
- How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj 200 in Ableton Live
- The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj 200
- Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Ddj 200 work with Ableton Live?
To sum it up, the Pioneer Ddj 200 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.
The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Ddj 200 to multiple functions inside the program.
All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Ddj 200 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.
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 Ddj 200.
Does the Pioneer Ddj 200 come with ableton Live included?
The Ddj 200 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. 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 Ddj 200 to ableton
Connecting and setting up the Pioneer Ddj 200 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 Ddj 200 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj 200 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 Ddj 200 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj 200 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 Ddj 200 (Sync can also be optionally checked).
The Ddj 200 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 Pioneer Ddj 200 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 Ddj 200, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj 200.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj 200 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 Ddj 200
Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Ddj 200, there are however, some limitations to be aware of…
Saving your Ddj 200 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.
Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Ddj 200 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.
Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
Unfortunately, Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode does not provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren’t possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.
We have a great solution to these problems
If you’re looking to get the most out of your Ddj 200, 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 Ddj 200’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj 200,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj 200, 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 Ddj 200 in Ableton Live?
There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj 200 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj 200 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Ddj 200.
4. Make sure that the Ddj 200 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.