Denon Dn Hc1000s Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Denon Dn Hc1000s 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 Denon Dn Hc1000s with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Dn Hc1000s.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Dn Hc1000s work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Dn Hc1000s come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Dn Hc1000s to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Dn Hc1000s in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Dn Hc1000s
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Dn Hc1000s work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Denon Dn Hc1000s is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Dn Hc1000s can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Dn Hc1000s will be usable with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Dn Hc1000s.

Does the Denon Dn Hc1000s come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Dn Hc1000s, therefore it must be bought separately.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared 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 Dn Hc1000s to ableton

Linking and configuring the Denon Dn Hc1000s 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 Dn Hc1000s to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dn Hc1000s 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 Dn Hc1000s from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dn Hc1000s 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 Dn Hc1000s (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Dn Hc1000s with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Denon Dn Hc1000s 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 Dn Hc1000s, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dn Hc1000s.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dn Hc1000s 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 Dn Hc1000s

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Dn Hc1000s, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Dn Hc1000s 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 Dn Hc1000s is capable of controlling only one 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 Dn Hc1000s, 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 Dn Hc1000s's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dn Hc1000s,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dn Hc1000s, 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 Dn Hc1000s in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dn Hc1000s is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dn Hc1000s is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Dn Hc1000s.
4. Make sure that the Dn Hc1000s is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.