Pioneer Ddj 1000srt Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Pioneer's Ddj 1000srt 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 tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Ddj 1000srt.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Ddj 1000srt to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj 1000srt
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Ddj 1000srt to midi map to numerous functions in 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 Ddj 1000srt 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 Ddj 1000srt.

Does the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Ddj 1000srt, so it needs to be purchased separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison to Standard's 10GB.

If you're looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Ddj 1000srt to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt 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 Ddj 1000srt to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj 1000srt 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 Ddj 1000srt from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj 1000srt 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 Ddj 1000srt (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ddj 1000srt is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Pioneer Ddj 1000srt and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

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 Ddj 1000srt, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj 1000srt.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj 1000srt 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 Ddj 1000srt

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Ddj 1000srt, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Ddj 1000srt Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Be aware that when saving your mappings, they will be stored with the Ableton session. Therefore, starting a new session will require you to re-map your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Ddj 1000srt 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 Ddj 1000srt, 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 Ddj 1000srt's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj 1000srt,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj 1000srt, 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 Ddj 1000srt in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj 1000srt is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj 1000srt is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Ddj 1000srt.
4. Make sure that the Ddj 1000srt is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.