Dj Tech Cdj 101 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Cdj 101 from Dj Tech is an incredibly versatile midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Dj Tech Cdj 101 with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Cdj 101.

Article Contents

Does the Dj Tech Cdj 101 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Dj Tech Cdj 101 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Cdj 101 to ableton
How to midi map the Dj Tech Cdj 101 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Cdj 101
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Dj Tech Cdj 101 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Dj Tech Cdj 101 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Cdj 101 can still be midi mapped to many functions within 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 Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101.

Does the Dj Tech Cdj 101 come with ableton Live included?

The Cdj 101 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 Cdj 101 to ableton

Linking the Dj Tech Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Cdj 101 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Dj Tech Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Cdj 101.
5. Moving the physical control on your Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Cdj 101, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101 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 Cdj 101, 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 Cdj 101's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Cdj 101,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Cdj 101, 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 Cdj 101 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Cdj 101 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Cdj 101 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Cdj 101.
4. Make sure that the Cdj 101 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.