Pioneer Ddj Sx2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Pioneer Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Ddj Sx2.

Article Contents

1. Does the Pioneer Ddj Sx2 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the Pioneer Ddj Sx2 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Ddj Sx2 to ableton
4. How to midi map the Pioneer Ddj Sx2 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Ddj Sx2
   1. Saving your Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2 work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Pioneer Ddj Sx2 is usable with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Ddj Sx2 to multiple functions inside the program.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Ddj Sx2 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 Sx2.

Does the Pioneer Ddj Sx2 come with ableton Live included?

The Ddj Sx2 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.

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 Sx2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Pioneer Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2 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 Sx2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ddj Sx2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Ddj Sx2, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2 is capable of controlling only one 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 Sx2, 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 Sx2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ddj Sx2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ddj Sx2, 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 Sx2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ddj Sx2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ddj Sx2 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 Sx2.
4. Make sure that the Ddj Sx2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.