Vestax Vcm 600 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

The Vestax Vcm 600 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 Vestax Vcm 600 with Ableton Live. including how to connect, setup and midi map the Vcm 600.

Article Contents

Does the Vestax Vcm 600 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Vestax Vcm 600 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Vcm 600 to ableton
How to midi map the Vestax Vcm 600 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Vcm 600
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Vestax Vcm 600 work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Vestax Vcm 600 is compatible with Ableton Live.

Out of the box, the Vcm 600 has a midi remote script that is compatible with Ableton Live, so once you connect it (check the section below for more info) it is ready to go.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Vcm 600 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work 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 Vcm 600.

Does the Vestax Vcm 600 come with ableton Live included?

The Vcm 600 does not have Ableton Live Lite, it must be purchased independently.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison to Standard's 10GB.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Vcm 600 to ableton

Linking the Vestax Vcm 600 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 Vcm 600 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Vcm 600 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 Vcm 600 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Vcm 600 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 Vcm 600 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Vcm 600 is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Vestax Vcm 600 to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

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 Vcm 600, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Vcm 600.
5. Moving the physical control on your Vcm 600 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 Vcm 600

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Vcm 600, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Vcm 600 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 indicates that each control on your Vcm 600 is capable of controlling only one parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

When using Ableton's internal midi mapping mode, unfortunately now all options are available, controls such as selected track and selected device control aren't currently possible. View a full list of Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Vcm 600, 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 Vcm 600's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Vcm 600,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Vcm 600, 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 Vcm 600 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Vcm 600 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Vcm 600 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Vcm 600.
4. Make sure that the Vcm 600 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.