Monitoring in Ableton Live FAQ

What does monitoring through Live mean?

Monitoring means receiving a signal from an input source (which could be an audio input on audio tracks, or a MIDI input on MIDI tracks), processing it with effects (if required), then passing that signal to the track's output where you can listen to it on your speakers or headphones.

When is monitoring through Live useful?

Monitoring through Live is useful when:

• Playing notes on a Live Instrument or plug-in using a MIDI keyboard.
• Singing through a microphone and applying effects on the vocals in Live.
• Connecting an electric guitar and using an amp simulation plug-in while playing.
• Using external hardware with Live.

For an in-depth guide to monitoring options and workflows in Live, refer to the guide Recordings are out of sync.

How do I monitor in Live?

1. Connect an audio device or MIDI device to Live using the appropriate cables.
2. Open Live's Settings and enable the audio input (if it's audio device), or the MIDI port (if it's a MIDI device - make sure Track is enabled for that input port).
3. Open Live's I/O section.
4. Choose your input source in the dropdown: Audio From on audio tracks, MIDI from on MIDI tracks.
5. When the monitor is set to In, you'll always hear play-through signal from your chosen source.
6. When it's set to Auto you'll only hear play-through when the track is armed for recording.

Can I set up a separate headphone monitor mix?

To set up a headphone mix in Ableton Live, you need an audio interface with at least two separate stereo outputs (e.g., Main Out and Headphone Out). To set this up:

1. Go to Live's Settings → Audio. Under Output Config, enable at least two stereo output pairs (e.g., 1/2 for speakers, 3/4 for headphones).
2. On the Main Track, set Audio To to Out 1/2 (your main speakers) and Cue Out to Out 3/4 (your headphones). Enable Cue mode using the toggle above the Cue Volume dial.
   
   
3. On any track, click the headphone icon (next to the solo button) to send its audio to the headphone mix only. You can now hear this track in your headphones without affecting the main output.

• Use the Cue Volume dial (next to the Master fader) to adjust the headphone mix level.
• You can create a custom headphone mix by duplicating tracks and routing them directly to 3/4, or by using sends/returns.

Learn more in the Ableton Reference Manual section Soloing and Cueing.

Does a monitored signal have latency?

Any computer audio signal is subject to latency based on the time it takes for that signal to travel into the computer, through the software, and out through your speakers or headphones. Latency can be reduced by optimizing settings and devices, but not eliminated.

When should the monitor be set to "In" or "Auto"?

• If you prefer to monitor through Live.
• If you want process the monitored signal with effects while playing back/recording.
• If you have no other way to monitor (no interface with direct monitoring, no external mixing desk).

When should the monitor be set to "Off"?

• If you're using direct monitoring. Direct monitoring is a function of certain audio interfaces that allows you to monitor directly through the interface in order to reduce latency.
• If you're monitoring through an external mixing desk.
• If you can hear the source already without a need for monitoring (eg. an acoustic guitar or your voice).
• If you're monitoring the source already through another track in the Live set, and are recording the same signal to a separate track. For example when working with external hardware and recording the audio directly to another track.

Why are my recordings out of sync?

To prevent out-of-sync recordings, follow the steps in this guide: Recordings are out of sync.

When track monitoring in Ableton Live is set to In or Auto, recorded audio or MIDI may be offset due to latency. To avoid this, set monitoring to Off and monitor audio signal via your external audio interface.