How to Export a Beat in Ableton Live: WAV, MP3 and Stems

Your beat is done. Now it needs to come out of Ableton Live, as a WAV, an MP3 or as separate tracks for a rapper or mix engineer. Here's how to export it without losing anything.

Step 1: open Export Audio/Video

According to Ableton, you open the export window with Export Audio/Video in the File menu, or with Ctrl+Shift+R (Cmd+Shift+R on a Mac).

Tip: put the tempo and key in the file name, for example "beat name 140bpm Cmin". Not sure about the key? Check it with the free Beat Lab.

Step 2: choose what to export

Under Rendered Track you choose what goes into your file. According to Ableton, Main exports the signal of your whole mix, All Individual Tracks exports every track separately and Selected Tracks Only exports just the tracks you selected. In older versions of Live, Main is still called Master.

Step 3: start and length

Render Start and Render Length set where your export starts and how long it is. According to Ableton, you can also select a section in the Arrangement View first. Make the length long enough that the tail of your reverb or a long 808 at the end is still in it.

Step 4: WAV settings

Pick WAV under File Type. According to Ableton, you can also choose AIFF or FLAC. Under Bit Depth you choose 16, 24 or 32 bit, and under Sample Rate the sample rate.

Exporting to 16-bit? Then you can use dither. According to Ableton, dither adds a very small amount of noise and should only be applied once to any audio file. If your beat is still going to a mix or mastering engineer, leave dither off for now.

Step 5: an MP3 too

Turn on Encode MP3 if you also want an MP3. According to Ableton, Live then renders a 320 kbps MP3. Want to convert a file later? Use the free audio converter.

Step 6: export stems

Does a rapper or mix engineer want your beat in separate tracks? Pick All Individual Tracks. According to Ableton, you then get the post-fader signal of every track separately.

Watch out with Include Return and Main Effects. According to Ableton, that also includes the return tracks your tracks use and the effects on your Main track. Whether you want it on or off depends on what your mix engineer wants. Ask if you're not sure.

Step 7: listen back to your export

Open the file and listen all the way through. Is the ending there? Does it sound the same as in Live? Want to know how loud your export is? Check it with the free master checker.

Common mistakes

• Render Length too short. Then the end of your reverb or 808 gets chopped off.
• Choosing Main when you wanted stems. Then you get one file with your whole mix.
• Dithering twice. Only do it on the final export.
• Turning on Normalize without thinking. According to Ableton, Live then normalizes the audio of your export. If you don't know why you're turning it on, leave it off.

No beat finished yet? Read how to make a trap beat in Ableton Live. Working in FL Studio? Read how to export a beat in FL Studio. Rather start with a beat to rap on right away? Browse all beats.

FAQ

How do I export a beat as WAV in Ableton Live?

Open Export Audio/Video with Ctrl+Shift+R (Cmd+Shift+R), pick Main under Rendered Track, choose WAV under File Type and set your bit depth and sample rate.

How do I export stems in Ableton Live?

Pick All Individual Tracks under Rendered Track. You then get every track as a separate file.

Can Ableton Live make an MP3?

Yes. Turn on Encode MP3. According to Ableton, you then get a 320 kbps MP3.

Source: the Ableton Live manual.