Ableton Live provides an External Audio Effect that can be used as an insert effect or on a return channel.  The External Audio Effect routes audio from a track's device chain out to external hardware and returns the effect output back to Live.  Our MIDI-capable pedals have a "kill dry" bypass mode that only outputs the wet signal, which is useful when the pedal is used on a return channel. The bypass mode is configurable using our web editor.  


A MIDI track can be used to record knob movements and sequence the pedal's parameters using MIDI continuous controller (CC) messages.  To send MIDI to the pedal from Ableton Live,

  1. Choose Link / MIDI Preferences > MIDI Ports, locate the input and output ports for the pedal and set their Track buttons to On.
  2. Create a MIDI track with no instrument.
  3. Set the track's Output Type to the pedal's MIDI port and its Output Channel to match the MIDI channel that the pedal is configured for (channel 1 by default).


See the "MIDI Continuous Controller Messages" section of your pedal's owner's manual to find out which controller number(s) to use.  For example, the Tensor responds to MIDI CC 20 for speed, with reverse playback at 0, stopped at 64, and forward at 127.


More information is available in the Ableton Live Manual and Knowledge Base:

Configuring your pedal

Use our web editor to set up your pedal to work well as an external effect:

  • Set the Max. Input Level to match your audio interface input/output levels (+5 dBu usually works well for unbalanced line inputs/outputs).
  • Set Input/Output Configuration to Stereo In / Stereo Out.
  • If you are using the pedal on a return channel, set Bypass Mode to Kill Dry.
  • Set MIDI Channel to match what you use specify in Ableton.  For USB MIDI devices, you can leave it on Channel 1 (default).  If you are using a DIN MIDI interface and TRS MIDI adapter, make sure that each MIDI device is on its own channel.