Yaeltex Dort Ableton tutorial – connect, setup & midi map

The Dort from Yaeltex is an incredibly versatile midi 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 show you the whole process of how to operate the Yaeltex Dort with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Dort.

Article Contents

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

Does the Yaeltex Dort work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Yaeltex Dort is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Dort can still be mapped to many of the software’s 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 Dort 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 Dort.

Does the Yaeltex Dort come with ableton Live included?

The Dort 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.

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 Dort to ableton

Connecting the Yaeltex Dort 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 controller.

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

Set up of the Dort with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Yaeltex Dort to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Dort, there are however, some limitations to be aware of…

Saving your Dort 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 Dort 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 Dort, 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 Dort’s mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
– map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dort,
– access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dort, 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 Dort in Ableton Live?

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