Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Pioneer’s Toraiz Sp 16 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi 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 Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Toraiz Sp 16.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Toraiz Sp 16 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Toraiz Sp 16
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Toraiz Sp 16 to a variety of 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 Toraiz Sp 16 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Toraiz Sp 16.

Does the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 come with ableton Live included?

The Toraiz Sp 16 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 Toraiz Sp 16 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software’s settings from your midi .

1. Connect the Toraiz Sp 16 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Toraiz Sp 16 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 Toraiz Sp 16 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Toraiz Sp 16 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 Toraiz Sp 16 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Toraiz Sp 16 has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Pioneer Toraiz Sp 16 to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 Toraiz Sp 16, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Toraiz Sp 16.
5. Moving the physical control on your Toraiz Sp 16 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 Toraiz Sp 16

Ableton’s midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Toraiz Sp 16, however, you must take into account some potential limitations…

Saving your Toraiz Sp 16 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Toraiz Sp 16 can only be assigned to control a single 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 Toraiz Sp 16, 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 Toraiz Sp 16’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Toraiz Sp 16,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Toraiz Sp 16, 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 Toraiz Sp 16 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Toraiz Sp 16 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Toraiz Sp 16 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Toraiz Sp 16.
4. Make sure that the Toraiz Sp 16 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.