How to Use the Ableton External Audio Effect Device

Learn how to use Ableton Live’s External Audio Effect Device.

Let’s talk about how to use the Ableton external audio effect. The Ableton external audio effect allows for running sounds from within Ableton Live through some external gear. Drop the Ableton external audio effect, which is on a track, using the Korg Kaoss Pad and the Teenage Engineering OP1 portable synthesizer. Send the audio out through the OP1 FX interface.

In this case, Audio To is set to outputs 3/4. The Audio To output is sent to the Korg Kaoss Pad inputs. The Audio From is set to 7/8 because the Korg Kaoss Pad will run back to the interface using those outputs. The drums (or whichever audio effect is selected) will be heard with a filtering delay. Using the wind chimes (or whichever additional audio effect(s) is selected), set Audio To to output 5 and returning back to 3/4 (Audio From is set to 3/4 in the OP1 FX interface). Return to the OP1 and select the “cow filter delay”. Pick as many different sounds as preferred and have fun filtering out the sounds. The xylophone effect is pretty cool.

The sounds are run straight from the computer to the Teenage Engineering OP1 and back out through the OP1. Go through the mixer section of the OP1 and use the effects located in the mixer section only. Make sure the line input is toggled on within the OP1. It is highly recommended to check out the Ableton external audio effect plug-in or device and try running it through many types of gear. You can have a lot of fun giving your sounds new life through many different types of external gear.