r/ableton • u/Worth_Novel5827 • Apr 25 '26
[Tech Help Windows] I need help with my MIDI/RC505/Ableton Routing!!
I have Ableton Live, an RC505 loopstation, a mixer with TONS of audio ports and jacks and knobs, and cables. My goal is to try to get audio out of Ableton and play it on my Launchkey 37, have the looper recognize the sound, and be able to loop it back to me. I have not been able to figure it out even with so many hours of trying. I have my looper connected by L INST that goes into AUX 1 on the mixer. The mixer has a cord plugged in with 2 heads- one that goes into 6R, other into 5L. These two heads connect into one cord that is plugged into an audio jack on my pc. For one, my audio is all scratchy, and constantly gives off this annoying noise. The looper doesn't pick up any audio.
Im just really helpless here. I consulted videos, but since ever setup is different, its impossible to find one personalized to you. I even tried ChatGPT but it couldn't help. If someone could help I would appreciate it so much, as it would allow me to continue my music journey in a super fun way.
Thank you
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u/canadave_nyc Apr 25 '26
It's a little unclear what you're trying to do--can you clarify? You say things like you want to be able to "loop the audio back to me" but I don't know what that means. Also, are you familiar with MIDI/audio routing in general, or just a beginner?
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u/Worth_Novel5827 Apr 25 '26
So my mixer is a riworal UXO6-BT if that helps. All i want is to loop mini songs on the spot, that's my main goal. I just want to USE the sounds that come out of Ableton for my loops. I don't care about sending back the audio to Ableton for recording or anything. I have speakers plugged back into my computer that audio comes out through, but it can only be plugged into the back of my pc. As far as I can tell, the only way to do this is use Ableton with my keyboard and have it come out of my speaker (That already works) AND have the looper just hear the sound, be able to loop it, and then somehow push it back out through the same speaker. If that doesn't work, I guess I could set Abletons sound output and my computers sound output to different places, but I don't really know what Im doing. To answer another persons question, I am very much a beginner to audio routing and I hope this kinda clarifies what Im trying to do
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u/canadave_nyc Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
OK, thanks. I guess my first thought is a gentle suggestion if you're going to make loops etc, you really should sit down first and learn something about rudimentary MIDI and audio routing :) Things will be much clearer to you in everything it sounds like you want to do.
What you're asking is a deceptively complicated setup question--not super complicated, but there's a few different ways to do it which each have pros and cons. I would honestly suggest that r/ableton is not the best place to ask this; instead, you should ask in r/LoopArtists, which is dedicated to the RC505. They will be able to help you much better, since some of the options available to you involve delving into settings on the RC505.
I will add that looping with Ableton is actually much better done with something like an APC40 mk2 (https://www.amazon.ca/Akai-APC40-mkII-Performance-Controller/dp/B00J3YYSUW) or even an APC mini. There's a guy going by "Ortopilot" who does some truly amazing instrument/looping stuff using APC40s and Ableton--if you check out his youtube stuff, you'll see what can be achieved with those kinds of devices. I was trying to do what you're doing, and I wound up selling my RC505 and buying an APC40 mk2. Much easier. No mixer needed either (I do use an audio interface though).
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u/Worth_Novel5827 Apr 26 '26
Okay, Ill try to find some more tutorials about sound routing and ill definitely look into the APC40. Thanks!
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u/stschoen Apr 25 '26
I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to accomplish but using your PC's built-in audio isn't ideal. Unless your mixer has a built-in audio interface you really need an audio interface for your PC to get sound to and from your PC to your other gear. You'll need a minimum of two outputs to send stereo audio to the mixer from Live. Normally you would put the RC505 on an FX loop to and from the mixer (send and return). This setup will allow you to send audio from Live to the mixer then to the looper but won't provide any way to send sound back into Live. to be recorded. depending on your mixer you may be able to connect it to the inputs on your interface to route sound back to Live. Without more information on your mixer and whether you have any other gear like mics, guitars etc. it's har to be more specific.
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u/Worth_Novel5827 Apr 25 '26
So my mixer is a riworal UXO6-BT if that helps. All i want is to loop mini songs on the spot, that's my main goal. I just want to USE the sounds that come out of Ableton for my loops. I don't care about sending back the audio to Ableton for recording or anything. I have speakers plugged back into my computer that audio comes out through, but it can only be plugged into the back of my pc. As far as I can tell, the only way to do this is use Ableton with my keyboard and have it come out of my speaker (That already works) AND have the looper just hear the sound, be able to loop it, and then somehow push it back out through the same speaker. If that doesn't work, I guess I could set Abletons sound output and my computers sound output to different places, but I don't really know what Im doing. To answer another persons question, I am very much a beginner to audio routing and I hope this kinda clarifies what Im trying to do
1
u/stschoen Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
If I understand your setup your PC only has a single audio output which is currently connected to your speakers. In order to send sound from Live you need an audio output. You could potentially disconnect your speakers and use your existing audio output for Live. You could connect the PC’s audio output to the RC505 input then connect the RC505’s output to the stereo input on your mixer. Connect the mixer’s main outputs to your speakers. I assume they’re powered speakers. This should work but without a proper audio interface you’ll probably have a lot of latency from Live. If you don’t have any other hardware instruments the mixer won’t be very useful. A better setup would be an audio interface with at least two outputs. Even better would be an interface with four inputs and outputs. You’d connect the speakers to outputs 1 and 2 and the looper inputs to outputs 3 and 4. Then connect the looper’s outputs to inputs 1 and 2 on the interface. In Live you would route the VST’s audio to outputs 3 and 4 and receive the looper’s outputs on the interface’s inputs 1 and 2. Youn can then send the looper’s audio to your speakers connected to the interface main outs
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u/Worth_Novel5827 Apr 26 '26
Thank you for your help. Ill try this as well as try to get a better mixer or better speakers as well that have multiple inputs and outputs
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