Move Audio Interface

When connected to your computer via its USB-C Port, Move acts as a class-compliant USB audio interface. In Standalone Mode, Move can be used as an audio input device in Ableton Live or another application and also sample audio, when connected to a USB Host device. In Control Live Mode, Move can be used as both an audio input and output device in Live. The only supported sampling rate and recording resolution is 44100 Hz/16 bit-depth.

Note: On Windows, you need to download and install Live 12.1 to install Move’s audio driver, or download the driver directly from the Download Archive

Move as an audio interface in Standalone Mode
Move as an audio interface in Control Live Mode
Troubleshooting Move as an audio interface

Move as an audio interface in Standalone Mode

When Move is in Standalone Mode, it can be used in Live or another application as an audio input device, to route audio from Move into your DAW. With Move 1.3 and later, you can also sample audio via USB-C, when connected to a USB Host device that can output audio via USB. 

The OS volume slider on both macOS and Windows is fixed at 100% when using Move in Standalone mode. Move Standalone’s main volume control on the unit can still be freely adjusted in this mode.

To record Move's audio output directly into Live:

  1. On Move, go to Setup USB-C Audio and select Main Out

  2. Go to Live  Settings/Preferences.
  3. Set Audio Input Device to Ableton Move Audio.
    Screenshot 2025-02-10 at 16.49.57.png
  4. Set the desired audio track input to Ext. In 1/2.

Note: When recording Move's output directly to your computer and monitoring is enabled, you will get feedback, because Move's default input is the microphone. Therefore, make sure to first select Main Out as Move's USB-C Audio Out as explained above. Setting USB-C Audio Out to Main Out will disable Move's speaker, when a USB-C cable is plugged in. The headphone output will continue to work. Restarting Move will reset USB-C Audio Out settings to Mic. 

To sample Live's audio output directly on Move:

  1. Go to Live  Settings/Preferences.
  2. Set Audio Output Device to Ableton Move Audio.
    Screenshot 2025-02-10 at 16.44.18.png
  3. On Move, press the Sampling button and then click the wheel to change the input to USB-C
    Screenshot 2025-02-10 at 16.54.18.png
  4. Now sample Live's audio received via the USB-C port as explained in Move's Manual: Recording Samples

Move can also sample audio via the USB-C port when connected to other USB Host devices, such as smartphones or tablets. You can learn more about this in our Sampling into Move via USB-C article. 

Move as an audio interface in Control Live Mode

When Move is in Control Live Mode, it can be used as both an audio input and audio output device.

With Move selected as Live's Audio Input Device, you can route audio into Live using either Move’s built-in microphone or the audio input port on the back of Move. When an audio source is plugged into Move's audio input port, the built-in microphone is disabled.

With Move selected as Live’s Audio Output Device, signal from Live is routed either to to Move's headphone output, or to the built-in speakers if no headphones are connected. 

 To set Move as the Audio Input Device in Live:

  1. Go to Live  Settings/Preferences
  2. From the Audio Input Device dropdown menu, select Ableton Move Audio.

To Set Move as the Audio Output Device in Live:

  1. Go to Live  Settings/Preferences
  2. From the Audio Output Device dropdown menu, select Ableton Move Audio.

Troubleshooting Move as an audio interface

If Move does not show up as an available audio interface in Live's Settings:

  • Check that you have the latest version of Ableton Live installed.
  • Disconnect Move from your computer, wait 5 seconds, then reconnect.
  • On Windows, you can download the Move audio driver from the Download Archive.

Using Move as an audio interface in Standalone mode on macOS:

  • The volume slider may appear that it can be adjusted to volumes other than 100%. This is a visual artifact and the volume slider on the operating system is fixed to 100%.

Ableton offers these in-depth help and learning resources: