Gemini Sdj 2000 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Gemini's Sdj 2000 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 Gemini Sdj 2000 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Sdj 2000.

Article Contents

1. Does the Gemini Sdj 2000 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Gemini Sdj 2000 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Sdj 2000 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Gemini Sdj 2000 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Sdj 2000
   1. Saving your Sdj 2000 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 Gemini Sdj 2000 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Gemini Sdj 2000 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Sdj 2000 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 Sdj 2000 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live's components with your Sdj 2000.

Does the Gemini Sdj 2000 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Sdj 2000, therefore it must be bought 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 Sdj 2000 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Gemini Sdj 2000 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 Sdj 2000 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Sdj 2000 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 Sdj 2000 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Sdj 2000 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 Sdj 2000 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Sdj 2000 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Gemini Sdj 2000 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 Sdj 2000, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Sdj 2000.
5. Moving the physical control on your Sdj 2000 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 Sdj 2000

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Sdj 2000, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Sdj 2000 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Sdj 2000 can only be assigned to control a single 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 Sdj 2000, 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 Sdj 2000's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Sdj 2000,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Sdj 2000, 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 Sdj 2000 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Sdj 2000 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Sdj 2000 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Sdj 2000.
4. Make sure that the Sdj 2000 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.