Bounce Tracks to Audio FAQ
As of Live 12, Bounce commands let you commit an entire track, group track, or specific time selection to a new audio file that includes track device effects processing. This guide answers frequently asked questions about Bounce commands in Live. For detailed information about options for committing audio in Live, visit Committing Audio in Live and the Live Audio Fact Sheet.
Bounce features
When to use Bounce commands
Bounced audio files
Troubleshooting
Bounce features
What is Paste Bounced Audio?
The command Paste Bounced Audio [Cmd + Alt/Option + V] is available when a region that outputs audio (either an audio or MIDI clip) has been selected and copied into the clipboard. The command then bounces the selection, with processing applied, and pastes the rendered audio directly into an audio track. Pasted audio reflects the current state of the copied material.
Can I bounce group tracks?
Bounce Group in Place captures audio from all participating tracks in the group whose audio is routed to the group itself. Tracks routed outside the group are not included in the bounce.
The result is a single audio track containing audio from the group and participating return tracks.
The resulting audio reflects audio output from the Group as it currently reaches the Main track, before any Main track effects (pre-FX).
Audio from Return tracks in the Group track's signal path is included in the bounce.
Why do I still see separate clips in the Arrangement after Bounce to New Track?
Although a single audio file is created for the whole selection, clips placed in the new track are trimmed to match the original clip layout. You can drag clip edges to reveal the full content, including tails or silence.
Which settings are committed when using Bounce...(Live 12) or Freeze and Flatten (Live 11)?
Bounce or Flatten replaces original clips and devices with new audio files, and commits sound changes due to clip settings and devices on the track. Track settings like volume, pan, and send levels are not committed to the new audio file, but are replicated on the newly created track.
For detailed information on committing audio within a Set, visit Committing Audio in Live.
When to use Bounce commands
Do Bounce commands work the same way in Session and Arrangement?
Bounce Track in Place
Works in both Arrangement and Session at the same time.
Replaces the original track in both views.
Any clips on the track in either Arrangement Session clip are rendered to audio.
Bounce to New Track
Creates a new track in both Arrangement and Session Views.
Only clips in the current view are rendered to audio.
The new track in the alternate view is created, but empty.
What's the difference between Consolidate and Bounce?
Audio
- Consolidating audio clips in Arrangement View creates a new audio file represented by a new Clip. Sound changes applied by Clip View attributes like Gain, Pitch, and Warp are committed to the new audio, but track device effects processing is not.
- Bounce creates a new audio file, with track effects device processing committed.
MIDI
- Consolidating MIDI clips joins the clips as a single, new MIDI clip, and consolidating a selected part of a MIDI clip crops the selection.
- Bouncing a MIDI clip, whether in place or to a new track, replaces the MIDI clip with an Audio clip and commits effects on the source track.
For detailed information on committing audio within a Set, visit Committing Audio in Live.
Bounced audio files
Does Bouncing create new clips and audio files? How are they named?
Clips and files created by Bounce operations follow the automatic naming conventions of Ableton Live.
Track Naming
- When you drag an audio sample or MIDI clip into a new/empty track, Live automatically renames the track after the clip’s filename, as long as the track has a default name like 1 Audio or 1 MIDI.
- Any subsequent clips you drop into that track don’t change the track’s name automatically.
- When you bounce a clip to a new track, the new track inherits the track name (not the clip name) and appends (Bounce).
Clip Naming
- Bounce Track in Place preserves the current names of clips, with (Bounce) appended.
- Bounce to New Track names the bounced clip after the source clip, with (Bounce) appended.
As an example:
1. Dragging in kick.wav to a new Audio Track results in clip “Kick” on track “# Kick.”
2. Dropping snare.wav onto the same track results in clip “Snare” on track “# Kick.”
3. Selecting "Snare" (clip) → Bounce to New Track results in clip "Snare (Bounce)" on track "#-Kick (Bounce).”
Where are processed audio files stored?
Bounce, Consolidate, and Freeze files are automatically saved to the relevant folder generated at the path Project Folder → Samples → Processed.
To avoid missing files, it’s important to keep your Live Sets organized within unique Project folders. Learn more about Saving Projects.
Troubleshooting
Why is the Bounce to New Track option not showing?
To access the Bounce to New Track command, you need to first make a time selection in Arrangement View that includes a region of Audio or MIDI, or select a clip in Session view. Then right-click on the selection to open the context menu or use the shortcut [CMD + B].