Stanton Scs 4dj Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Stanton Scs 4dj 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 Stanton Scs 4dj with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Scs 4dj.

Article Contents

Does the Stanton Scs 4dj work with Ableton Live?
Does the Stanton Scs 4dj come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Scs 4dj to ableton
How to midi map the Stanton Scs 4dj in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Scs 4dj
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Stanton Scs 4dj work with Ableton Live?

In summary, the Stanton Scs 4dj is usable with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live does not come with a MIDI remote script, the Scs 4dj can still be mapped to many of the software's functions.

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 4dj 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 4dj.

Does the Stanton Scs 4dj come with ableton Live included?

The Scs 4dj doesn’t come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, so this would need 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.

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 4dj to ableton

Linking and configuring the Stanton Scs 4dj 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 Scs 4dj to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Scs 4dj 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 4dj from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Scs 4dj 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 4dj (Sync can also be optionally checked).

Set up of the Scs 4dj with Ableton Live is now complete.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After linking up the Stanton Scs 4dj to Ableton Live using the steps provided, you can now assign the physical buttons, pads, keys etc on the device to specific functions within Ableton Live via MIDI mapping as follows:

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

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Scs 4dj, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Scs 4dj Midi Mappings is cumbersome

When saving an Ableton session, your mappings will be saved as part of that session. Therefore, if you create a new session, you will need to remap your controls.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Scs 4dj can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Ableton’s internal midi mapping mode is unfortunately missing many control options. Options such as selected track and selected device control aren’t possible using this method. You can see a list of all available Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Scs 4dj, 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 4dj's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Scs 4dj,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Scs 4dj, 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 4dj in Ableton Live?

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