Pioneer Ddj Ergo K Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Pioneer's Ddj Ergo K 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 explain all you need to know on using the Pioneer Ddj Ergo K with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Ddj Ergo K.

Article Contents

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

Does the Pioneer Ddj Ergo K work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Pioneer Ddj Ergo K is compatible with Ableton Live.

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

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Ddj Ergo K is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

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 Ergo K.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Ergo K come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Ddj Ergo K, 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.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Ddj Ergo K to ableton

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

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

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

Saving your Ddj Ergo K Midi Mappings is cumbersome

It is important to note that your mappings are stored with the Ableton session when saving. Consequently, when you create a new session, you will have to remap your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

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

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