Vestax Vci 300 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Vestax Vci 300 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 Vestax Vci 300 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Vci 300.

Article Contents

Does the Vestax Vci 300 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Vestax Vci 300 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Vci 300 to ableton
How to midi map the Vestax Vci 300 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Vci 300
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Vestax Vci 300 work with Ableton Live?

In short, yes, the Vestax Vci 300 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 Vci 300 to a variety of functions.

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 Vci 300 is a MIDI capable device, it is fully suited to function with Ableton Live.

Creating your own midi mappings in Ableton is simple, and gives you the ability to control a variety of Ableton Live's components with your Vci 300.

Does the Vestax Vci 300 come with ableton Live included?

The Vci 300 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

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 Vci 300 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Vestax Vci 300 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 Vci 300 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Vci 300 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 Vci 300 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Vci 300 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 Vci 300 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Vci 300 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 Vestax Vci 300 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 Vci 300, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Vci 300.
5. Moving the physical control on your Vci 300 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 Vci 300

For the fastest way to map your Vci 300, you can't go wrong with Ableton's midi mapping system, but make sure you take into account these limitations...

Saving your Vci 300 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 Vci 300 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 Vci 300, 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 Vci 300's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Vci 300,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Vci 300, 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 Vci 300 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Vci 300 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Vci 300 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Vci 300.
4. Make sure that the Vci 300 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.