Faderfox Dj44 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Faderfox's Dj44 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.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Faderfox Dj44 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Dj44.

Article Contents

1. Does the Faderfox Dj44 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Faderfox Dj44 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Dj44 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Faderfox Dj44 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Dj44
   1. Saving your Dj44 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 Faderfox Dj44 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Faderfox Dj44 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Dj44 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Dj44 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Dj44.

Does the Faderfox Dj44 come with ableton Live included?

The Dj44 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 Dj44 to ableton

Connecting the Faderfox Dj44 with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Dj44 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dj44 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 Dj44 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dj44 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 Dj44 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Dj44 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Faderfox Dj44 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 Dj44, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dj44.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dj44 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 Dj44

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Dj44, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Dj44 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Dj44 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 Dj44, 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 Dj44's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dj44,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dj44, 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 Dj44 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dj44 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dj44 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Dj44.
4. Make sure that the Dj44 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.