Pioneer Ddj Rev7 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Ddj Rev7 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 Rev7 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Ddj Rev7.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Ddj Rev7 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj Rev7
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the lack of a default MIDI remote script existing within Ableton Live, it is still possible to midi map the Ddj Rev7 to a variety of functions.

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 Rev7 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Ddj Rev7.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Ddj Rev7, so this must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast 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 Rev7 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 with Ableton Live is a simple task, after they're connected you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Ddj Rev7 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj Rev7 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 Rev7 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj Rev7 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 Rev7 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ddj Rev7 has been configured and is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Once you have connected the Pioneer Ddj Rev7 to Ableton Live by following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to the corresponding functions in 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 Ddj Rev7, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj Rev7.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj Rev7 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 Rev7

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Ddj Rev7, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Ddj Rev7 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Ddj Rev7 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 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 Rev7, 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 Rev7's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj Rev7,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj Rev7, 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 Rev7 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj Rev7 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj Rev7 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 Rev7.
4. Make sure that the Ddj Rev7 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.