Denon Mcx 8000 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Denon's Mcx 8000 is a fantastically adaptable midi DJ controller that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Denon Mcx 8000 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Mcx 8000.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Mcx 8000 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Mcx 8000 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Mcx 8000 to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Mcx 8000 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Mcx 8000
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Mcx 8000 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Denon Mcx 8000 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Mcx 8000 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Mcx 8000 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Mcx 8000.

Does the Denon Mcx 8000 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Mcx 8000, 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 seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Mcx 8000 to ableton

Linking the Denon Mcx 8000 to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Mcx 8000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mcx 8000 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 Mcx 8000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mcx 8000 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 Mcx 8000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mcx 8000 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Denon Mcx 8000 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 Mcx 8000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mcx 8000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mcx 8000 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 Mcx 8000

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Mcx 8000, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Mcx 8000 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 means that each control on your Mcx 8000 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 include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Mcx 8000, 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 Mcx 8000's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mcx 8000,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mcx 8000, 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 Mcx 8000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mcx 8000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mcx 8000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mcx 8000.
4. Make sure that the Mcx 8000 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.