Denon Prime 2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Denon Prime 2 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Denon Prime 2 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Prime 2.

Article Contents

1. Does the Denon Prime 2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Denon Prime 2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Prime 2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Denon Prime 2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Prime 2
   1. Saving your Prime 2 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Prime 2 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Denon Prime 2 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Prime 2 to multiple functions inside the program.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Prime 2 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Prime 2.

Does the Denon Prime 2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Prime 2, so it needs to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared to Standard's 10GB.

If you're looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Prime 2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Denon Prime 2 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 Prime 2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Prime 2 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 Prime 2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Prime 2 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 Prime 2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Prime 2 will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Denon Prime 2 to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within 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 Prime 2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Prime 2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Prime 2 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 Prime 2

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Prime 2, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Prime 2 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Prime 2 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

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 Prime 2, 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 Prime 2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Prime 2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Prime 2, 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 Prime 2 in Ableton Live?

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