Pioneer Ddj Flx6 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Pioneer's Ddj Flx6 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 show you the whole process of how to operate the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Ddj Flx6.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Ddj Flx6 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj Flx6
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Ddj Flx6 can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Ddj Flx6 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function 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 Flx6.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Ddj Flx6, therefore it must be bought separately.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared 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 Flx6 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 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 Flx6 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj Flx6 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 Flx6 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj Flx6 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 Flx6 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Ddj Flx6 with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Pioneer Ddj Flx6 to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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 Flx6, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj Flx6.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj Flx6 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 Flx6

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Ddj Flx6, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Ddj Flx6 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 indicates that each control on your Ddj Flx6 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren't possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Ddj Flx6, 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 Flx6's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj Flx6,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj Flx6, 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 Flx6 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj Flx6 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj Flx6 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 Flx6.
4. Make sure that the Ddj Flx6 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.