Ableton/Live/UG/17 Routing and IO/01 Monitoring
- Monitoring passes a track's input to its output through the device chain, so you hear what you play, with effects and interface latency.
- Each audio and MIDI track has three monitor modes:
- Auto (Ableton/Track/IO/Monitor/Auto) — monitors while the track is armed, but not while it plays clips. Suits most recording.
- In — always monitors the input and silences the track's clips, turning it into an aux-style input. The track's Activator switch turns blue to show it.
- Off (Ableton/Track/IO/Monitor/Off) — never monitors. For acoustic instruments heard in the room, an external mixer, or an interface's direct monitoring. Set Overall Latency in the Audio Settings when recording this way.
- With In or Auto, Keep Monitoring Latency in Recorded Audio is on by default, lining the recording up with what you heard. Leave it on for software instruments and effects; turn it off for acoustic instruments or external monitoring. Right-click the In or Auto button to switch it.
- Clicking a Monitor button applies to all selected tracks. With In/Out shown,
Delete or Edit → Return to Default resets it: Off for audio tracks, Auto for MIDI tracks.