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

The Stanton Scs 3m 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.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the Stanton Scs 3m with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Scs 3m.

Article Contents

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

To put it briefly, the Stanton Scs 3m is compatible with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Scs 3m to multiple functions inside the program.

All editions of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, can be used with any device that sends out MIDI data. This is the case for all versions of Live, 9, 10, or 11. Seeing as the Scs 3m is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Scs 3m.

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

Ableton Live Lite is not provided with the Scs 3m, so it needs to be purchased 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.

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 Scs 3m to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Stanton Scs 3m with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi DJ controller.

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

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

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

Saving your Scs 3m Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

With a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Scs 3m can only be assigned to 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 Scs 3m, 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 3m's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Scs 3m,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Scs 3m, 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 3m in Ableton Live?

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