Pioneer Xdj 700 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Pioneer’s Xdj 700 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 teach you everything needed in order to use the Pioneer Xdj 700 with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Xdj 700.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Xdj 700 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Xdj 700 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Xdj 700 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Xdj 700 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Xdj 700
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Xdj 700 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Pioneer Xdj 700 is usable with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Xdj 700 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

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 Xdj 700 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Xdj 700.

Does the Pioneer Xdj 700 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn’t included with the Xdj 700, so this must be bought 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.

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 Xdj 700 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Pioneer Xdj 700 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 Xdj 700 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Xdj 700 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 Xdj 700 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Xdj 700 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 Xdj 700 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Xdj 700 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Pioneer Xdj 700 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 Xdj 700, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Xdj 700.
5. Moving the physical control on your Xdj 700 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 Xdj 700

With Ableton’s midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Xdj 700, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions…

Saving your Xdj 700 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Xdj 700 can only be assigned to a single 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 Xdj 700, 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 Xdj 700’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Xdj 700,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Xdj 700, 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 Xdj 700 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Xdj 700 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Xdj 700 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Xdj 700.
4. Make sure that the Xdj 700 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.