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

Pioneer's Ddj Rx 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 Rx with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Ddj Rx.

Article Contents

1. Does the Pioneer Ddj Rx work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Pioneer Ddj Rx come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Ddj Rx to ableton
4. How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj Rx in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj Rx
   1. Saving your Ddj Rx Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Ddj Rx work with Ableton Live?

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

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Ddj Rx to multiple functions inside the program.

All forms of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, Standard and Suite, can work with practically any instrument that sends out MIDI data, and it will be compatible with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. Due to this, the Ddj Rx will be usable with Ableton Live.

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 Rx.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Rx come with ableton Live included?

The Ddj Rx doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need to be purchased 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 Rx to ableton

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

The Ddj Rx will now be setup and ready to use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After successfully connecting the Pioneer Ddj Rx to Ableton live following the steps above, you can now MIDI map the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to functionality within 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 Rx, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj Rx.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj Rx 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 Rx

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

Saving your Ddj Rx 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 Rx can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of 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 Rx, 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 Rx's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj Rx,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj Rx, 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 Rx in Ableton Live?

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