Denon Sc3900 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Denon's Sc3900 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi DJ controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Denon Sc3900 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Sc3900.

Article Contents

Does the Denon Sc3900 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Denon Sc3900 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Sc3900 to ableton
How to midi map the Denon Sc3900 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Sc3900
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Denon Sc3900 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Denon Sc3900 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Sc3900 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Sc3900 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Sc3900.

Does the Denon Sc3900 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Sc3900, therefore it 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.

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 Sc3900 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Denon Sc3900 with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Sc3900 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Sc3900 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 Sc3900 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Sc3900 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 Sc3900 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Sc3900 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 Sc3900 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 Sc3900, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Sc3900.
5. Moving the physical control on your Sc3900 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 Sc3900

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Sc3900, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Sc3900 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 indicates that each control on your Sc3900 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

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 Sc3900, 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 Sc3900's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Sc3900,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Sc3900, 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 Sc3900 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Sc3900 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Sc3900 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Sc3900.
4. Make sure that the Sc3900 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.