Pioneer Ddj 800 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Ddj 800 from Pioneer is an incredibly versatile midi DJ controller and is a powerful tool when used in combination with Ableton Live. The Akai MPK Mini has a wealth of features that make it perfect for use with Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Pioneer Ddj 800 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Ddj 800.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Ddj 800 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Ddj 800 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Ddj 800 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj 800 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj 800
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Ddj 800 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Pioneer Ddj 800 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Ddj 800 can still be midi mapped to many functions within 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 800 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Ddj 800.

Does the Pioneer Ddj 800 come with ableton Live included?

The Ddj 800 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Ddj 800 to ableton

Linking the Pioneer Ddj 800 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 Ddj 800 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj 800 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 800 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj 800 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 800 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ddj 800 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Pioneer Ddj 800 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 Ddj 800, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj 800.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj 800 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 800

For the fastest way to map your Ddj 800, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Ddj 800 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Ddj 800 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 Ddj 800, 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 800's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj 800,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj 800, 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 800 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj 800 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj 800 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 800.
4. Make sure that the Ddj 800 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.