Roland Dj 505 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Roland Dj 505 is a versatile midi DJ controller and when used alongside Ableton Live, it's an incredible tool filled with potential. This midi DJ controller is equipped with plenty of features that make it the perfect companion to Ableton Live.

In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about using the Roland Dj 505 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Dj 505.

Article Contents

Does the Roland Dj 505 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Roland Dj 505 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Dj 505 to ableton
How to midi map the Roland Dj 505 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Dj 505
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Roland Dj 505 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Roland Dj 505 is 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 Dj 505 to a variety of functions.

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 Dj 505 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 Dj 505.

Does the Roland Dj 505 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Dj 505, so this must be bought separately.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison to Standard's 10GB.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Dj 505 to ableton

Linking and configuring the Roland Dj 505 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 Dj 505 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Dj 505 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 Dj 505 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Dj 505 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 Dj 505 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Dj 505 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 Roland Dj 505 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 Dj 505, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Dj 505.
5. Moving the physical control on your Dj 505 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 Dj 505

For the fastest way to map your Dj 505, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Dj 505 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 Dj 505 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 provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren't possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Dj 505, 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 Dj 505's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Dj 505,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Dj 505, 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 Dj 505 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Dj 505 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Dj 505 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Dj 505.
4. Make sure that the Dj 505 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.