Ableton Forum

Hi,

I am curious as to how people get around the somewhat annoying limitation of being able to have no more than 12 return tracks in a session. I frequently need more than 12 return tracks since I run lots of parallel channels throughout the mix. One workaround that I found is to create a new audio track, set it's input the group that I want to run parallel processing with and select 'IN' in the track listen menu. This essentially does create an AUX track but unfortunately you can not send anything else to that AUX track since it's input is listening only to the output of the group.

Can someone please explain to me as to why Ableton only allows you to have 12 return tracks? I believe this limitation hinders Ableton's reputation in the professional mixing environment. I still will continue using Ableton since I married it a few years ago and I don't believe in divorce! However, sometimes these small things really make me question my marriage!!!

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

I feel that Live's channel routing is definitely one of it's strongest points. Here are a few things to take a look at:
1) Effects Racks are awesome for setting up parallel processing. Give this a shot:

-Drop the effect you want to run in parallel (compressor maybe)?
-Group that single effect (select the effect, and Ctrl+G / Cmd+G
-In the effect rack, click all the orbs on the left so everything is showing (knobs, paths, etc).
-You will see a single path, probably called "Chain" pushing your audio through -- below that in a blank area, right click and select "Create Chain" and rename this chain Dry.

You now have parallel processing rocking for this clip -- you can adjust the volumes of the individual chains to taste -- you can also create a Wet/Dry type knob if you wish:

-Just above where the chain paths are named, there are boxes that say "Chain" and "Hide" -- click chain to show the chain routing options.
-This selector allows you to map a knob to control the volumes of each chains volume.
-You will notice a little blip at 0 for each chain. You can click and drag and extend these blips. Drag them both so that they both run from 0-127.
-If you click the very top of the blip, you can adjust the fade amount. For the Dry chain, drag the top blip from the right side to the left, creating a downward saw shape from 0-127.
-Do the same for the other chain with the effects, but backwards -- drag the fader control thinger from left to right, giving you an upward saw.
-And finally, right click where the 0-127 label is on top (you'll see a little green dot at 0 currently) and select Map to Macro 1.
Knob 1 now controls Dry Wet.

Another thing to keep in mind is bussing channels in Live doesn't require you to use a Send/Return type channel -- instead of selecting and audio channel to receive audio from a source, set it to no input, and click the "IN" button just like in your previous example. Now take any channels you want bussed together, and change their Output from Master to that first channel. << this is how I like setting up busses.

Also also, you can group tracks together, and it is processed very similarly, with your main group channel being the bus.


It sounds like a lot, but once you've gone through the motion once or twice, you'll see it's actually super easy, and literally takes less than 30 seconds.

I hope this helps!

Thank you!

Now I'm up to tons more parallel chains with effect racks and the 12 return tracks.

Completely overlooked that part of ableton... or forgot more like it.