Denon Sc2900 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Denon Sc2900 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 Sc2900 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Sc2900.

Article Contents

1. Does the Denon Sc2900 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Denon Sc2900 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Sc2900 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Denon Sc2900 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Sc2900
   1. Saving your Sc2900 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 Sc2900 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Denon Sc2900 is usable with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Sc2900 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 Sc2900 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 Sc2900.

Does the Denon Sc2900 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Sc2900, so it needs to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast 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 Sc2900 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Denon Sc2900 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 Sc2900 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Sc2900 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 Sc2900 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Sc2900 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 Sc2900 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Sc2900 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 Sc2900 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 Sc2900, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Sc2900.
5. Moving the physical control on your Sc2900 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 Sc2900

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Sc2900, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Sc2900 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each control on your Sc2900 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 Sc2900, 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 Sc2900's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Sc2900,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Sc2900, 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 Sc2900 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Sc2900 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Sc2900 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Sc2900.
4. Make sure that the Sc2900 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.