using Live with multichannel audio interface outputs?

[funkyape]

Hi. Been using Live for a while now but cannot get multichannel audio output - is it even possible?! I only use the live sample triggering cells page (not the sequencing timeline) - running OSX on a mac and an 8 channel 'Art' firewire audio interface.

So far, I have set up the audio interface and enabled the channels in the audio preferences, opened up the I/O options next to the master fader, I can select the appropriate 1-8 audio output per column I/O settings - but the problem as I see it is that the master fader only gives me output 1-2 or 3-4 not all 1-8 at once? I can see no option/way of having multi-master faders for each pair of stereo outputs (I work this way in Logic Studio with multichannel)?

I want functionality to use Live to trigger sound effects/music from different sets of speakers. A not too complex task - at least I thought......?!

Thanks.

[Rabalder]

Set up several "master channels" and route them to your preferred external output.
Now you can map one masterfader to all "master channels", or one fader to each channel, or both.

[funkyape]

Set up several "master channels" and route them to your preferred external output.
Now you can map one masterfader to all "master channels", or one fader to each channel, or both.

This is what I want to do - but can't see how to create 'new master faders'?! Where do you select this - I can't find it in the menu bar?

[Rabalder]

Just use ordinary audio channels. But instead of sending the audio to "master" on the output section on the corresponding channel, send it to "ext.out" and then select 1+2 or 3+4 ect..

[funkyape]

Just use ordinary audio channels. But instead of sending the audio to "master" on the output section on the corresponding channel, send it to "ext.out" and then select 1+2 or 3+4 ect..

Thanks for your help. I had already done this - but I see no way of 'disabling' or 're-routing' the 'MASTER' I/O (cue and master out). Whilst you can set each audio channel with their own 'ext' and channel out - the master fader out has to also be set to something (when surely it should be bypassed if going direct from each channel)? - The result is that we only get stereo sound out matching the master fader and not from each channels' routing?!

[Rabalder]

I dont fully understand what you mean.!? But say you have 3 stereo external outputs. 1+2, 3+4 and 5+6.
Each of these could have their own volum fader, or you could map one fader to affect them all at once.
Ive never used the cue-function, so Im not really qualified on that area..

If you use external outputs on each channel, there wouldnt be any need for a master channel since
you already have 3 of them. But if using cue, Im not so sure..

[funkyape]

I dont fully understand what you mean.!? But say you have 3 stereo external outputs. 1+2, 3+4 and 5+6.
Each of these could have their own volum fader, or you could map one fader to affect them all at once.
Ive never used the cue-function, so Im not really qualified on that area..

If you use external outputs on each channel, there wouldnt be any need for a master channel since
you already have 3 of them. But if using cue, Im not so sure..

Thanks for your continued help. The first part - yes you are correct - x3 pairs of audio outs via a firewire interface. You can select these as ext outs on audio channels and the corresponding numbered audio output.

The second part of your suggestion is - as far as i'm aware is unavoidable? The 'master fader' is created by default with any new session and I can't see a way of deleting it?

Has anybody else successfully had 'surround/multi-output sound' output from Live? Rabalder - have you achieved this?
As far I can see it - the master fader is the problem? Can I either;
a. delete the master fader somehow - and have outputs direct from each audio channel?
b. Create multiple master faders (like Logic) to have stereo pairs of speakers for the internal routing of Live?

[Rabalder]

But why is the master channel a problem??
"and have outputs direct from each audio channel?" - You dont need to remove the master for this to work?? Just leave it alone..!?

What am I missing?
(Im currently at work, so Im not able to try it out..)

Are you shure its not your audio interfacers internal mixer thats the problem??

[funkyape]

But why is the master channel a problem??
"and have outputs direct from each audio channel?" - You dont need to remove the master for this to work?? Just leave it alone..!?

What am I missing?
(Im currently at work, so Im not able to try it out..)

Are you shure its not your audio interfacers internal mixer thats the problem??

The master channel is a problem because all the audio channels go through the master channel obviously and you cannot set up the master channel sound output to more than a single stereo pair. This is the problem.

No interface software is required on the mac - it is purely a pre-amp in/out. It works with a show control software system called QLab - so it's not a hardware issue i think?

[cids]

An audio track only goes to the master track if you want it to! That's why each track has its own "Audio To" selection!

[funkyape]

An audio track only goes to the master track if you want it to! That's why each track has its own "Audio To" selection!

yeah I appreciate that - but I can't disable the master fader or the master fader routing/output - it will only route to one of the 1-8 paired multichannel outputs? The corresponding result is that even if i route 8 seperate audio tracks - each with an ext audio out to 1-8, the master channel still decides which pair of 1&2, 3&4, 5&6 or 7&8 I can hear and correspondingly is routed via the i/o?

[auditory canvas]

I think you're getting confused with what people are trying to tell you.

If you sent all tracks to output 3+4 and your master is outputting on 1+2, then there will be no audio routed to the master, it will all be output to 3+4.

Routing to other outputs on each track effectively removes that track from being sent to the master.

To understand this better, and achieve proper multi channel/buss outs, do this:

create 3 audio tracks, call them master 2, master 3, master 4,

Set the output on each of those tracks to external out, then to 3+4, 5+6, 7+8, respectively.

set the input selector on each track to "in".

Set your original master to output 1+2.

You now have 4 master tracks, the original plus 3 more.

Create 4 more audio tracks, and add clips to them.

Send the output of track 1 to master, track 2 to master 2, track 3 to master 3, track 4 to master 4

You can send multiple tracks to each master for sub bussing, summing, just like you can with the original master.

The outputs of each master will now be directly routed to the relevant channels on your soundcard, how those are summed at the soundcard end are up to your soundcard settings, and which outputs are routed to your monitors. You need to make sure that your soundcard is summing the inputs of 1+2, 3+4, 4+5, and 6+7 and routingthem all to the master/monitor output - this is done with the software for your soundcard, not within Live.

[auditory canvas]

Here's a screenshot that should help understand the above routing better.

[funkyape]

I think you're getting confused with what people are trying to tell you.

If you sent all tracks to output 3+4 and your master is outputting on 1+2, then there will be no audio routed to the master, it will all be output to 3+4.

Routing to other outputs on each track effectively removes that track from being sent to the master.

To understand this better, and achieve proper multi channel/buss outs, do this:

create 3 audio tracks, call them master 2, master 3, master 4,

Set the output on each of those tracks to external out, then to 3+4, 5+6, 7+8, respectively.

set the input selector on each track to "in".

Set your original master to output 1+2.

You now have 4 master tracks, the original plus 3 more.

Create 4 more audio tracks, and add clips to them.

Send the output of track 1 to master, track 2 to master 2, track 3 to master 3, track 4 to master 4

You can send multiple tracks to each master for sub bussing, summing, just like you can with the original master.

The outputs of each master will now be directly routed to the relevant channels on your soundcard, how those are summed at the soundcard end are up to your soundcard settings, and which outputs are routed to your monitors. You need to make sure that your soundcard is summing the inputs of 1+2, 3+4, 4+5, and 6+7 and routingthem all to the master/monitor output - this is done with the software for your soundcard, not within Live.

Thanks for your help - I'll give it a go and report back!

[jessemiller]

Still having problems? I do this all the time - if you route a channel to external out and then chose an output that is different than the master output (i'm guessing it is set for 1/2) then that channel will not route to the master fader and only to the external output.

Or you coud output multiple channels to a group and have the group route to an external output.