Ableton Forum

Ableton Live 12 Intro
Windows 11

Is it possible to record a midi instrument in a clip in session view for as long as you are playing? By default it seems to only record for 1 bar than it loops back and records on top of itself. I understand that you can set the length to 2 bars, or 3 bars, etc. But is there a way to have it record the clip for as long as you're playing?

You can record a session clip as long as you want..
Maybe I misunderstand the problem..

schlam wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 12, 2025 7:04 pm

You can record a session clip as long as you want..
Maybe I misunderstand the problem..

By default, if you open Ableton Live 12 intro in session view, loan a midi drum kit in a midi track. Click a clip. Hit the session record button (not the black circle arrangement record button) it will only record 1 bar. Even if you keep playing. It'll just record 1 bar and then loop back to the beginning of the bar.

It sounds like you're overdubbing into an existing clip, which already has a certain length.

To record to a new clip, which will grow to any length until you stop recording, click the black circle in one of the empty slots of your track.

RobrechtV wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 13, 2025 2:08 pm

It sounds like you're overdubbing into an existing clip, which already has a certain length.

To record to a new clip, which will grow to any length until you stop recording, click the black circle in one of the empty slots of your track.

Thank you! I was confused. I would double click the rectangle to create a clip. Then I would hit the session record button. I was thinking I was recording a "new" clip. But what I was actually doing was recording on top of an existing clip that was 1 bar.
I realize now, I don't need to click the rectangle to create a new clip. I just need to hit the gray record button and start recording.
Thanks!

I see there's actually three different record buttons.
Gray circle on clip - Record Button
Black circle at top of screen - Arrangement Record Button
Black Line circle at top - Session Record Button

I understand the arrangement record button is for recording in arrangement view, but whats the difference between the gray record button and the session record button?

Session record will add recording into the selected clip slot.

It can be useful to assign the session record button to a key or button or something instead of having to assign ‘record’ of every single clip slot on the grid. It is 1 button to map instead of mapping a lot of buttons.