Stanton Scs 3d Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Stanton's Scs 3d is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi DJ controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will teach you everything needed in order to use the Stanton Scs 3d with Ableton Live, including the processes of linking, setting up and midi mapping the Scs 3d.

Article Contents

Does the Stanton Scs 3d work with Ableton Live?
Does the Stanton Scs 3d come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Scs 3d to ableton
How to midi map the Stanton Scs 3d in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Scs 3d
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Stanton Scs 3d work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the Stanton Scs 3d 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 Scs 3d 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 Scs 3d is a MIDI enabled tool, it will be completely compatible with Ableton Live.

You can easily create midi mappings for Ableton, allowing you to access many functions of Ableton Live with your Scs 3d.

Does the Stanton Scs 3d come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Scs 3d, so this must be bought separately.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Although Intro and Standard are both powerful, Suite offers extra features, such as 70GB of library sounds, in contrast to Standard's 10GB.

For those who want to guarantee they have access to the largest selection of Audio and MIDI effects, we suggest investing in Ableton Live Suite, as it has a much larger selection than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Scs 3d to ableton

Linking the Stanton Scs 3d to Ableton Live is a simple process, and when you have them connected you can control the software's parameters from your midi DJ controller.

1. Connect the Scs 3d to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Scs 3d 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 Scs 3d from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Scs 3d 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 Scs 3d (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Scs 3d 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 Stanton Scs 3d 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 Scs 3d, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Scs 3d.
5. Moving the physical control on your Scs 3d 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 Scs 3d

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Scs 3d, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Scs 3d 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 indicates that each control on your Scs 3d is capable of controlling only one 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 Scs 3d, 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 Scs 3d's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Scs 3d,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Scs 3d, 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 Scs 3d in Ableton Live?

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