Hercules Dj Control Instinct Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Hercules Dj Control Instinct 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 Control Instinct with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Dj Control Instinct.

Article Contents

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

In short, yes, the Hercules Dj Control Instinct is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Dj Control Instinct to a variety of functions.

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 Control Instinct 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 Control Instinct.

Does the Hercules Dj Control Instinct come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Dj Control Instinct, so this 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.

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 Control Instinct to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Hercules Dj Control Instinct with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi DJ controller.

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

The Dj Control Instinct has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Hercules Dj Control Instinct to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 Control Instinct, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dj Control Instinct.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dj Control Instinct 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 Control Instinct

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Dj Control Instinct, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Dj Control Instinct Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Dj Control Instinct can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of 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 Control Instinct, 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 Control Instinct's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dj Control Instinct,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dj Control Instinct, 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 Control Instinct in Ableton Live?

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