Hercules Dj Console Mk2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Hercules Dj Console Mk2 is a versatile midi DJ controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi DJ controller is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Dj Console Mk2.

Article Contents

Does the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Dj Console Mk2 to ableton
How to midi map the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Dj Console Mk2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Dj Console Mk2 can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 Console Mk2 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible 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 Mk2.

Does the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 come with ableton Live included?

The Dj Console Mk2 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared to Standard's 10GB.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Dj Console Mk2 to ableton

Linking the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 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 Dj Console Mk2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dj Console Mk2 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 Mk2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dj Console Mk2 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 Mk2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Dj Console Mk2 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Hercules Dj Console Mk2 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 Dj Console Mk2, 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 Mk2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dj Console Mk2 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 Mk2

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Dj Console Mk2, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Dj Console Mk2 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

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Dj Console Mk2 can only be assigned to 1 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 Console Mk2, 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 Mk2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dj Console Mk2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dj Console Mk2, 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 Mk2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dj Console Mk2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dj Console Mk2 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 Mk2.
4. Make sure that the Dj Console Mk2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.