Pioneer Ddj Sr2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Ddj Sr2 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 Sr2 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Ddj Sr2.

Article Contents

Does the Pioneer Ddj Sr2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Pioneer Ddj Sr2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Ddj Sr2 to ableton
How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj Sr2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj Sr2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Pioneer Ddj Sr2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Pioneer Ddj Sr2 is fully 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 Sr2 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 Sr2 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 Sr2.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Sr2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Ddj Sr2, so this 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.

If you prefer to have all the Audio and MIDI effects, we recommend getting Ableton Live Suite, because it comes with much more of them than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Ddj Sr2 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Pioneer Ddj Sr2 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 Sr2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj Sr2 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 Sr2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj Sr2 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 Sr2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ddj Sr2 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 Sr2 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 Sr2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj Sr2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj Sr2 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 Sr2

With Ableton's midi mapping system, you can swiftly map your Ddj Sr2, however, you must be aware of a few restrictions...

Saving your Ddj Sr2 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 means that each button or knob on your Ddj Sr2 can only be assigned to control a single 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 Sr2, 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 Sr2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj Sr2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj Sr2, 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 Sr2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj Sr2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj Sr2 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 Sr2.
4. Make sure that the Ddj Sr2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.