Denon Mc3000 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Denon Mc3000 is a versatile midi DJ controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi DJ controller is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Denon Mc3000 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Mc3000.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Mc3000 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Mc3000 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Mc3000 to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Mc3000 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Mc3000
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Mc3000 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Denon Mc3000 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Mc3000 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

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 Mc3000 will be usable with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Mc3000.

Does the Denon Mc3000 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Mc3000, 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.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Mc3000 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Denon Mc3000 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 Mc3000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mc3000 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 Mc3000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mc3000 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 Mc3000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mc3000 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Denon Mc3000 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 Mc3000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mc3000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mc3000 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 Mc3000

For the fastest way to map your Mc3000, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Mc3000 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 Mc3000 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 Mc3000, 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 Mc3000's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mc3000,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mc3000, 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 Mc3000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mc3000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mc3000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mc3000.
4. Make sure that the Mc3000 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.