Pioneer Ddj Sb2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Pioneer Ddj Sb2 is a highly versatile midi controller and is a powerful instrument when used in combination with Ableton Live. This midi DJ controller has a great selection of features that make it perfect for your Ableton Live setup.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Ddj Sb2.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Ddj Sb2 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj Sb2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Ddj Sb2 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

All versions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, are able to be utilized in collaboration with any equipment that sends MIDI data. This is applicable to all releases of Live, such as 9, 10, and 11. As the Ddj Sb2 is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Ddj Sb2.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Ddj Sb2, so it needs 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.

If you're looking to make sure you have the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest you go with Ableton Live Suite, as it has far more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Ddj Sb2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Pioneer Ddj Sb2 to Ableton Live is not too complicated, and once you have them paired together you can control the software's settings from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Ddj Sb2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj Sb2 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 Sb2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj Sb2 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 Sb2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ddj Sb2 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 Sb2 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 Sb2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj Sb2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj Sb2 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 Sb2

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Ddj Sb2, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Ddj Sb2 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

A one-to-one MIDI mapping indicates that each control on your Ddj Sb2 is capable of controlling only one 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 Sb2, 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 Sb2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj Sb2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj Sb2, 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 Sb2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj Sb2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj Sb2 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 Sb2.
4. Make sure that the Ddj Sb2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.