I’m running into a phase issue in Ableton Live when using external hardware via return tracks. I have a few drum channels and synths in Ableton, all set to monitoring “In”. I’m using External Audio Effect devices on return tracks — specifically:
• Return 1: Elysia Xpressor (Neo Cube)
• Return 2: Strymon Big Sky
When I send something like a clap or hi-hat to Return 1 or 2, I get phase issues, especially when blending with the dry signal. I’ve tried adjusting hardware latency manually and using phase inversion, but I can’t get it to align properly.
I’m using an RME UCX II interface and an E-RM Multiclock. There’s no issue with latency while recording, but once I bring in external effects, latency and phase problems show up immediately.
I know I could route everything externally via TotalMix, but I really prefer to keep everything inside Ableton — it’s how I work most efficiently and creatively.
Any advice or similar experiences would be super appreciated. Thanks and good luck to everyone with their music!
Hey, I’m just googling for an answer on this one so you’ll have to test for yourself, but it looks like this may be due to an unintended loop created by the audio being sent and returned multiple times.
It looks like if you have the return track routed back into another track (it says especially an audio track) it can create an unintentional loop leading to artifacts and phasing.
It also says that there’s an invert button on the external audio effect device which by inverting the phase of the processed signal may help align it with the dry signal.
So, I guess that’s at least a couple of things you might be able to look into.
It’s really annoying that Ableton doesn’t have latency detection and compensation for their external audio effect plugin.
On the plus side, both of those units have their own mix/blend controls so you can do parallel with both without worrying about Ableton’s lack of latency compensation, just don’t blend the original tracks in