Numark Idj Pro Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Numark's Idj Pro is a fantastically adaptable midi DJ controller that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Numark Idj Pro with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Idj Pro.

Article Contents

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

To put it briefly, the Numark Idj Pro is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Idj Pro to multiple functions inside the program.

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 Idj Pro 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 Idj Pro.

Does the Numark Idj Pro come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Idj Pro, so it needs to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison 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 Idj Pro to ableton

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

The Idj Pro will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Numark Idj Pro to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within 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 Idj Pro, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Idj Pro.
5. Moving the physical control on your Idj Pro 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 Idj Pro

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

Saving your Idj Pro 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

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Idj Pro can only be assigned to a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

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

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