Multi-Channel Output Routing for Tracks in Live

 

This blog is part of our new series of tutorials based on the functions and features included in Ableton for Live Performance using background tracks.

Want to learn how to use Ableton Live in real time, with a professional digital audio trainer? It’s faster than blogs, videos, or tutorials. Call OBEDIA for one on one training for Ableton Live and all digital audio hardware and software. Mention this blog to get 15 bonus minutes with your signup! Call 615-933-6775 and dial 1, or visit our website to get started.

Need a Pro Audio laptop or Desktop PC to run Ableton Live software and all of its features at its best?

Check out our pro audio PCs at PCAudioLabs.

 

Multi-Channel Output Routing for Tracks in Live

So, lets say you only have a multi-channel interface, and you want to perform Live with background tracks and metronome.

When you have multiple outputs, you can route each track individually, giving the monitor and front-of-house engineers complete control of your sound.

So think about a 6-channel interface.

You could use 2 channels for all the keys, another 2 channels for percussion, one for bass and one for metronome.

How can we do this?

Let’s give it a shot!

 

1. Open your Ableton Live set:

 

 

2. Locate your tracks:

 

 

As it can be seen, the background tracks are all currently being sent to the “Master” bus which actually goes to the output pair 1-2.

However, this is not what we want.

Since we have 6 available outputs, we will route our tracks the following way:

• Drums tracks: Stereo Out 1-2 (pair)
• Keys tracks: Stereo Out 3-4 (pair)
• Bass tracks: Mono Out 5
• Metronome (cue): Mono Out 6

 

3. Locate the output area of the first track, in this case the “Drums”, and assign it to 1-2:

 

 

4. Repeat the same step for the “Keys”, using Outputs 3-4:

 

5. Now route the Bass output:

We have decided to route the Bass to a mono output because realistically, it is carrying mono information.

 

 

6. Route the cue output (metronome) to the remaining output:

For the purpose of this tutorial, the output will be #6.

 

 

So now you have routed all of your tracks and metronome to their designated outputs.

Think about it this way, if you are on stage, you will now have a stereo DI to connect your stereo “DRUMS” tracks, another stereo DI for your “KEYS” tracks, a mono DI for your “BASS” track, and another mono DI for your metronome. This will give the live sound engineer complete control of the house mix and the individual in-ear mixes for the musicians.

 

And that is it! Now you know how to set your Multi-Channel Output Routing for Tracks in Live.

Using Ableton Live software to produce music would be ideal with one of our professionally designed PCAudioLabs Systems due our high-performance specifications in order to work with any of the Digital Audio Workstations supported. If you would like to order one of our PCAudioLabs computers, please call us at 615-933-6775 or click this link for our website.