Pioneer Djm 800 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Pioneer Djm 800 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 guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Pioneer Djm 800 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Djm 800.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Djm 800 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Djm 800 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Djm 800 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Djm 800 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Djm 800
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Djm 800 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Pioneer Djm 800 is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Djm 800 to multiple functions inside the program.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Djm 800 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Djm 800.

Does the Pioneer Djm 800 come with ableton Live included?

The Djm 800 doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

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 Djm 800 to ableton

Connecting the Pioneer Djm 800 with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you’ll be able to adjust the software’s parameters from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Djm 800 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Djm 800 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 Djm 800 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Djm 800 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 Djm 800 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Djm 800 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 Djm 800 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 Djm 800, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Djm 800.
5. Moving the physical control on your Djm 800 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 Djm 800

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Djm 800, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Djm 800 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Djm 800 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 Djm 800, 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 Djm 800’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Djm 800,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Djm 800, 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 Djm 800 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Djm 800 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Djm 800 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Djm 800.
4. Make sure that the Djm 800 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.