TLC - Track Latency Compensation
TLC V1.03 – Track Latency Compesation TLC is a Max ...
- Type
- Audio Effect
- Author
- Mamat
- Version
- 1.3
- License
- None
- Live version
- 12.4
- Max version
- 9.1.4
- Downloads
- 84
- Updated
- 2026-07-05
Description
TLC V1.03 – Track Latency Compesation
TLC is a Max for Live audio device designed to help manage plugin latency across multiple Ableton Live tracks.
It scans the current track, reads the latency reported by Live for each device or plugin, and displays the total track latency in milliseconds. Tracks can then be assigned to compensation groups. Within each group, TLC uses the slowest track as the reference and automatically adds delay compensation to the faster tracks so that all tracks in the same group are aligned.
Main features:
* Automatic track latency scan
* Per-plugin latency display
* Group-based latency compensation
* Up to 8 compensation groups: A to H
* Clear visual interface with:
* Track latency
* Group target
* Added compensation
* Total after compensation
* Plugin latency list
* Comp ON / BYPASS button
* Scan Now and Auto Scan modes
* Internal calibration offset of +64 samples for improved real-world alignment
* Stereo audio path using tapin~ / tapout~
* Designed for live sound, hybrid mixing setups, and latency-sensitive Ableton Live sessions
Typical use cases:
* Aligning parallel processing tracks
* Matching latency between different plugin chains
* Managing latency in live processing setups
* Comparing low-latency and high-latency plugin chains
* Building grouped delay compensation inside Ableton Live
Important notes:
TLC does not remove plugin latency. It delays faster tracks so they match the slowest track inside the same compensation group.
For best results, place one instance of TLC on every track that should belong to the same compensation group. All instances should use the same version of the device.
This is an experimental project and still in development. There may be bugs, mistakes, or situations where the device does not behave exactly as expected. Feel free to download it, test it, modify it, fix it, improve it, and build your own version from it. Feedback and improvements are welcome.
This device relies on Ableton Live’s reported plugin latency through the Live API, so results may depend on how accurately each plugin reports its own latency.
Version notes:
V1.00 includes group compensation, plugin latency display, Auto Scan, and a +64 sample calibration offset based on real-world testing.
Created by Mamat / Matthieu Leroy.
Comments (2)
Maybe im wrong tho, and this actually fixes it, which would be amazing. Going to try it out later.
TLC is not meant to be a magic fix for every internal PDC issue in Live. Since it relies on the latency reported by Live and the plugins, it mainly works as a track/group alignment tool: it finds the slowest track inside a compensation group and delays the faster tracks to match it.
The reason I made this patch is that I often use Ableton Live as a live plugin server, with external sources passing through Live in real time. In that context, I need to keep the overall latency as low as possible, so I cannot simply rely on Live’s global delay compensation in the usual way, because it affects the whole set/session. I wanted something more detailed and selective, where I can decide which tracks should be compensated together and which ones should stay as low-latency as possible.
So yes, if the issue is an internal timing/PDC problem inside a single plugin chain, for example a rhythmic effect or sidechain device placed after a high-latency plugin, TLC may not fully solve that.
That said, I think a more advanced version could probably be made by using something like TH Latency Measure.amxd, or a similar measurement system, to measure the real delay between tracks instead of only relying on reported latency. In theory, it could also help measure delay inside a chain. I’m a bit worried that this could become heavier or more complex, especially for live use, but it could definitely be an interesting direction for a future version.
So for now, TLC is mostly a selective track/group compensation tool for live plugin-server workflows, not a complete replacement for Live’s internal PDC system. Feedback and tests are very welcome.