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

The Xdj Xz from Pioneer is an incredibly versatile midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Pioneer Xdj Xz with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Xdj Xz.

Article Contents

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

Does the Pioneer Xdj Xz work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Pioneer Xdj Xz is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

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

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Xdj Xz is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 Xdj Xz.

Does the Pioneer Xdj Xz come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Xdj Xz, so it needs 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.

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 Xdj Xz to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Pioneer Xdj Xz with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they’re connected you’ll be able to adjust the software’s parameters from your midi DJ controller.

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

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

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

Saving your Xdj Xz 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 indicates that each control on your Xdj Xz is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren’t currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Xdj Xz, 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 Xz’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Xdj Xz,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Xdj Xz, 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 Xz in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Xdj Xz is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Xdj Xz 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 Xz.
4. Make sure that the Xdj Xz is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.