Allen And Heath Xone Db4 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Allen And Heath Xone Db4 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi DJ controller has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Xone Db4.

Article Contents

Does the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Xone Db4 to ableton
How to midi map the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Xone Db4
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Xone Db4 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Xone Db4 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Xone Db4.

Does the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Xone Db4, therefore it must be bought 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.

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 Xone Db4 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Xone Db4 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Xone Db4 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 Xone Db4 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Xone Db4 are checked.
4. Ensure that the ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are all checked.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Xone Db4 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Xone Db4 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Allen And Heath Xone Db4 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 Xone Db4, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Xone Db4.
5. Moving the physical control on your Xone Db4 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 Xone Db4

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Xone Db4, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Xone Db4 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Xone Db4 can only be assigned to a single Ableton Live parameter.

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 Xone Db4, 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 Xone Db4's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Xone Db4,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Xone Db4, 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 Xone Db4 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Xone Db4 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Xone Db4 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Xone Db4.
4. Make sure that the Xone Db4 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.