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

The Ddj Rzx 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.

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

Article Contents

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

Does the Pioneer Ddj Rzx work with Ableton Live?

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

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Ddj Rzx can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

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 Rzx 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 Rzx.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Rzx come with ableton Live included?

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

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Even though Intro and Standard are both effective, Suite offers a lot more, including 70GB of library sounds, compared to Standard's 10GB.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Ddj Rzx to ableton

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

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

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

Saving your Ddj Rzx Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Mappings are saved along with your Ableton session. Therefore, if a new session is created, you must re-map all of your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Ddj Rzx can only be assigned to 1 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 Rzx, 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 Rzx's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj Rzx,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj Rzx, 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 Rzx in Ableton Live?

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