Denon Dn X1700 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Dn X1700 from Denon 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 guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Denon Dn X1700 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Dn X1700.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Dn X1700 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Dn X1700 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Dn X1700 to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Dn X1700 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Dn X1700
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Dn X1700 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Denon Dn X1700 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Dn X1700 to a variety of 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 X1700 will be usable with Ableton Live.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live's components with your Dn X1700.

Does the Denon Dn X1700 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Dn X1700, so this 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 Dn X1700 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Denon Dn X1700 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 Dn X1700 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dn X1700 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 X1700 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dn X1700 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 X1700 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Dn X1700 has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Denon Dn X1700 to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 Dn X1700, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dn X1700.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dn X1700 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 X1700

For the fastest way to map your Dn X1700, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Dn X1700 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

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Dn X1700 can only be assigned to 1 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 Dn X1700, 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 X1700's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dn X1700,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dn X1700, 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 X1700 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dn X1700 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dn X1700 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 X1700.
4. Make sure that the Dn X1700 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.