Before you open the dialog
- Take a limiter or maximizer off the master bus (or bypass it) so the master does the final limiting, and leave peaks around −6 to −3 dBFS. Keep any bus compressor that is part of your mix sound.
- Mind the view: the exported file contains only what you heard before rendering, so if you mix Session clips with the Arrangement, only the active clips of each track are captured. Make the Arrangement the whole song.
- Select the range in the Arrangement first. Render Start and Render Length then fill themselves in; by default they cover the whole Set.
The Export Audio/Video dialog, option by option
Open File, then Export Audio/Video, or press Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows or Cmd+Shift+R on Mac. The names below are Live 12's; in Live 11 the Main track is called Master.
| Option | Set it to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rendered Track | Main | The post-fader signal at the Main output: the file sounds exactly like what you hear |
| Render Start / Render Length | Whole song | Include the last tail; the length is yours to set |
| Include Return and Main Effects | Greyed out with Main selected | It only matters when you export individual tracks; Main already carries returns and effects |
| Render as Loop | Off | It wraps an effect tail into the start of the file: right for a loop, wrong for a song |
| Convert to Mono | Off | You want the stereo file |
| Normalize | Off | It raises the highest peak to the available headroom, which defeats the headroom you left |
| Sample Rate | The Set's rate (44.1 or 48 kHz) | A rate equal to or higher than the Set's exports in one step; a lower one adds a downsampling pass |
| Encode PCM, File Type | On, WAV | WAV, AIFF and FLAC are the options; WAV is the safest to hand on |
| Bit Depth | 24 (or 32) | Choose 16, 24 or 32 |
| Dither Options | Triangular at 24-bit, or 32-bit with none; never POW-r | Ableton's manual says POW-r is only for the final output and should never be used for files that go on to a further mastering stage |
| Encode MP3 | Off | Live adds a small amount of silence at the start of an MP3, and an MP3 is lossy |
Mistakes that Live makes easy
- Leaving Normalize on, then wondering why the file has no headroom left.
- Exporting a Set with a limiter on the Main track and then mastering it again.
- Rendering with POW-r dither and handing that file to a mastering tool. Dither is applied once, on the last file anyone makes.
- Choosing a Rendered Track other than Main by accident: you get one track, not the song.
Drop the file into OBRA
- Open obra.art/mastering and drop in the WAV from Live. It is read in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
- Wait a few seconds: you get three masters, Natural, OBRA and Loud, with every move explained.
- Switch between them while the song plays, and against your original at the same loudness (OBRA matches it so louder does not fool you).
- Open the Platforms view to see how Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube will play the master.
- Download the 24-bit WAV or FLAC. Two songs a day are free with no account.
Ableton's manual says exported files can be uploaded to streaming platforms or shared with mixing engineers; OBRA's masters are delivered as 24-bit WAV or FLAC that distributors accept.
If the mix itself is the problem
A master cannot fix a mix that is out of balance. If you hear that, upload your tracks to OBRA ULTRA: an OBRA engineer mixes and masters the song and sends a WAV and a written note, $19 / €19 / £19 per round, back within 72 hours (limited spots each week).
Frequently asked questions
What export settings should I use in Ableton Live for mastering?
File Type WAV, Bit Depth 24, the Set's sample rate, Rendered Track Main, Normalize off, Render as Loop off, Convert to Mono off, and Triangular dither (or 32-bit with none). No MP3.
Should I normalize in Ableton before mastering?
No. Normalize raises the loudest peak to the available headroom, which removes the headroom a mastering tool needs.
Which dither should I use when exporting from Live?
At 24-bit, Triangular (Live's default) is the safest if the file will be processed further; Ableton's manual says the POW-r modes should never be used for files going to a mastering stage.
Can I master an Ableton Live track for free?
Yes. Export the WAV and drop it into OBRA Audio Mastering: two songs a day free, no account, 24-bit WAV or FLAC back.