Dj Tech Dj For All Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Dj Tech's Dj For All is an exceptionally flexible midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when is used with Ableton Live. This midi DJ controller has a plethora of features, making it perfect for Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Dj Tech Dj For All with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Dj For All.

Article Contents

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

Does the Dj Tech Dj For All work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Dj Tech Dj For All is compatible with Ableton Live.

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

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Dj For All is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Dj For All.

Does the Dj Tech Dj For All come with ableton Live included?

The Dj For All doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison 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 Dj For All to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Dj Tech Dj For All with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

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

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

For the fastest way to map your Dj For All, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

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

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