Audio Tracks on Move FAQ

Learn how to use audio tracks on Move. This FAQ covers recording, monitoring and loading audio. Audio tracks on Move are supported as of Move 2.0.

What are audio tracks on Move?

Audio tracks allow you to record, play, and manipulate audio clips directly on Ableton Move. This includes recording external audio, loading loops, and applying effects to audio clips in a track.

How many audio tracks can Move use?

A Set on Move can contain up to four tracks, and any track can be configured as an audio track. A Set may contain a mix of MIDI tracks (for instruments and Drum Racks) and audio tracks.

How do I create an audio track?

To create an audio track on Move, first select a track in your Set. Then:

1. Select the Track Preset. All icons will be highlighted and the preset name is shown on the display. 
2. Press the wheel to open the browser.
3. Navigate to the top of the current list using the wheel until you see the < Back entry, then press the wheel to go to the main list of categories.
4. Choose Audio Track as the track type.
   
   Once selected, the track will accept audio clips instead of MIDI clips.

How do I record audio in an audio track on Move?

To record audio in an audio track on Move:

1. Select an audio track.
2. Press the Sampling button to arm the track. 
3. Press the wheel to choose either Mic, USB-C or Line In as the input source.
4. Press the Record button or a clip to start recording.
5. Press the Record button or clip again to stop recording. 

The maximal loop length is 16 bars. Move will stop recording once this limit is reached. Move records audio directly into the clip slot while the transport is running.

Can I load audio loops or samples?

Audio loops can be loaded from the Move library or transferred content.

When loading loops:

• Move can automatically match the project tempo.
• Loops can be time-stretched to stay in sync.

To load a loop, sample, or recording in a clip on an audio track: 

1. Select an audio clip slot on an audio track. 
2. Touch the wheel, the sample icon will be highlighted, and the sample name will be shown on the display. 
3. Press the wheel to open the browser.
4. Navigate to the sample and press the wheel to load it. 

To learn how to load samples onto Move, visit Sets and Content on Move.

Does Move warp or time-stretch audio?

Move uses time-stretching to keep clips synchronized with the Set tempo.

When the tempo changes:

• The clip adjusts to stay in time
• Pitch can remain unchanged depending on the stretch mode

Note: When opened in Ableton Live, Audio Clips from Move will use the warping algorithm Complex, which may sound slightly different than Move's time stretching algorithm.

Can I change the pitch of audio clips?

Audio clips can be transposed without changing the tempo, allowing you to match loops to the Set key or create pitched variations of samples.

To change the pitch of audio clips:

1. Select an audio clip slot on an audio track. 
2. Turn the first encoder to transpose the audio clip.

Can I monitor live audio through Move effects?

Audio tracks can be used for live processing. Monitor incoming audio through the audio track’s effect chain to turn Move into an effects box for performances.

Can I set a fixed monitoring track?

A new entry in the settings menu allows the selection of a fixed monitoring track. If set, audio input is always monitored through that track's effects if it is an audio track. The fixed track is only overridden while another track is armed or recording.

Are audio tracks compatible with older versions of Live?

Sets containing audio tracks created on Ableton Move require Live 12.4 or later to open correctly in Ableton Live. Older versions of Live may not load these Sets properly.

Can audio tracks be used for live performance?

Audio tracks are designed for clip-based performance, allowing you to:

• Launch loops
• Record new audio clips during a session
• Process live audio with effects
• Layer audio with MIDI instruments

This makes them useful for live sets, loop-based production, and improvisation.

What audio quality and file type does Move create when recording audio?

Move creates a WAV file with 16-bit integer samples at 44.1 kHz when recording into an audio clip.

Can Move send audio to Ableton Live?

Move can stream audio of audio tracks, MIDI tracks and the main output to Ableton Live using Link Audio. This allows you to:

• Capture Move audio in Live
• Process Move audio with Live devices
• Record Move performances directly into Live

Learn more in the Link Audio FAQ.