Live Routing and Monitoring Explained

In this video, we'll be talking about all the routing and monitoring that you can do in Ableton Live. To start, we first need to open the In/Out Section.

Monitoring in Live

Let's discuss the monitoring options in Live:

• In:

  • The input is always monitored.
  • Clips in the track will not be audible when played.
  • This is also called a "feed signal," allowing you to hear the input even when the track is not armed.
  • For example, if I set it to "In," it would be audible even if not armed.
  • When activated, the button turns orange, and you will see a microphone icon.

• Auto:

  • The input is monitored when the track is armed.
  • The clip is audible when played but otherwise only the input signal is heard.

• Off:

  • No input monitoring occurs.
  • The clips are always audible when played, but the input meters are greyed out.
  • This option is useful when monitoring acoustic instruments since you can already hear the sound.

Adjusting Latency

For "Off" monitoring, you should adjust the overall latency in the preferences. Adjust the Driver Error Compensation as well.

• Access this through:
  • Help View > All Built-in Lessons > Hardware Sub.
  • Set up the driver error compensation.

This adjustment is only necessary when you're using monitoring set to "Off."

Routing

Next, let's discuss routing.

• Audio or MIDI from: This signifies the track input.

  • For MIDI tracks, it's a MIDI input.
  • For audio tracks, it's an audio input.

• Track Output:

  • In audio tracks, this is referred to as an audio output.
  • The same applies to a MIDI track that contains a MIDI instrument.

External Inputs and Outputs

For Audio From, utilize the External In setting:

• Ext In: This simply stands for "external in."
• Choose whatever inputs you have available (e.g., stereo input).
• Adjust this in the preferences under Audio > Input Configuration.

External audio can be mono, but internally in Live, everything is processed in stereo.

For MIDI From:

• You have either "All Ins" or can choose based on your configured MIDI controllers and keyboards.
• Underneath, you can select all channels or just an individual channel (best if all messages are sent on channel 1).

MIDI Output Configuration

In MIDI To, you may initially set this to "No output" unless something is configured.

• If you've configured a synthesizer, it will show there as well, even if it doesn't produce sound but can send feedback, like visual feedback.

For MIDI setup, access it all in the preferences under MIDI Sync.

MIDI Indicators

In Live, you also have MIDI in and out indicators located here and here:

• Upper ones show incoming MIDI to Live.
• Lower ones indicate MIDI data sent out.
• These signals indicate MIDI messages for remote control (e.g., MIDI keyboard controlling parameters).

Synchronization

You can also turn on additional MIDI indicators for MIDI clock and timecode when synchronizing with an external sync source:

• This only works if sync is on for a MIDI input or output port and is generally useful for advanced users wanting to sync Live with a synthesizer or other equipment.

Internal Routing Flexibility

Routing in Live is very flexible but can be confusing. Here's how you can route Track A into Track B:

• Method 1: Set the audio output of Track 5 to Track 6. Now, audio will be sent to Track 6.
• Method 2: Set the audio from input of Track 6 to Track 5.

Pre/Post Effects Choices

• Pre Effects: Takes the signal before any effects applied.
• Post Effects: Takes the signal after effects.
• Post Mixer: Considers mixer adjustments like panning or volume.

You can route audio tracks into other audio tracks and even record MIDI tracks to audio tracks, provided there's an instrument in the MIDI track.

Creating Submixes

For example, if you have a MIDI track containing a drum rack, you could set its audio output to Track 6.

• By default, all audio outputs are set to Master.
• You could also use this for creating submix channels by routing multiple tracks into one.

For example:

1. Set to no input and monitoring to "In" for Track 6.
2. This allows you to hear sounds routed into this track.

To create submixes more easily, consider grouping tracks.

Example: Creating an Audio Clip

Let's take a practical example:

1. Take the MIDI clip and create a new audio clip with Command (or Control) T.
2. Set this to record and choose the audio from, say, Beat 4.
3. Opt for Post Mixer since it only has an instrument, then record the audio.

This method is beneficial if you prefer working destructively.

Routing External Audio

If your audio interface has more than one stereo output or multiple mono outputs, you can route the audio externally for individual tracks.

• Additionally, you can send to the master or to individual channels, or even use sends only for return channels for submixes.

We'll see each other in the next video!