Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Hercules's Dj Console 4 Mx 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 teach you everything needed in order to use the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Dj Console 4 Mx.

Article Contents

Does the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx work with Ableton Live?
Does the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Dj Console 4 Mx to ableton
How to midi map the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Dj Console 4 Mx
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Dj Console 4 Mx can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

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 Dj Console 4 Mx is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Dj Console 4 Mx.

Does the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Dj Console 4 Mx, therefore it must be bought separately.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared to Standard’s 10GB.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Dj Console 4 Mx to ableton

Linking and configuring the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Dj Console 4 Mx to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dj Console 4 Mx 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 Console 4 Mx from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dj Console 4 Mx 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 Console 4 Mx (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Dj Console 4 Mx with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Hercules Dj Console 4 Mx to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Dj Console 4 Mx, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Dj Console 4 Mx 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 Dj Console 4 Mx can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Dj Console 4 Mx, 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 Console 4 Mx's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dj Console 4 Mx,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dj Console 4 Mx, 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 Console 4 Mx in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dj Console 4 Mx is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dj Console 4 Mx 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 Console 4 Mx.
4. Make sure that the Dj Console 4 Mx is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.