Roland Dj 202 Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

Roland’s Dj 202 is an exceptionally flexible midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi DJ controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Roland Dj 202 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Dj 202.

Article Contents

Does the Roland Dj 202 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Roland Dj 202 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Dj 202 to ableton
How to midi map the Roland Dj 202 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Dj 202
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Roland Dj 202 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Roland Dj 202 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Dj 202 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 Dj 202 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 Dj 202.

Does the Roland Dj 202 come with ableton Live included?

The Dj 202 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Dj 202 to ableton

Connecting the Roland Dj 202 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 Dj 202 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dj 202 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 Dj 202 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dj 202 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 Dj 202 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Dj 202 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Roland Dj 202 to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

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 Dj 202, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dj 202.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dj 202 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 Dj 202

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Dj 202, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of…

Saving your Dj 202 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Dj 202 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 Dj 202, 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 Dj 202’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dj 202,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dj 202, 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 Dj 202 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dj 202 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dj 202 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Dj 202.
4. Make sure that the Dj 202 is selected as the input device in Ableton’s MIDI Preferences.