diff --git a/manifold/ONBOARDING.md b/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
index ac4696d..abcda42 100644
--- a/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
+++ b/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ double-click exits). `OutputStage.tsx` is the output columns; drag a bar to set
   defines `OUTPUT_MODES` = **particles** (default) / midi / osc / cv / synth / editor, each mapping to a
   `BackendId`. `DEFAULT_OUTPUT_MODE='particles'`. `outputDisplayCount()` is the shared presentation
   boundary for the stage and routing rows: MIDI uses its configured CC count, while backends without
-  a separate count present the full mode parameter set. This does not reshape the MLP or clear examples.
+  a separate count present the full mode parameter set. The condensed Outputs panel reports this as an
+  `N outputs` chip. This does not reshape the MLP or clear examples.
 - `src/console/output-mode.ts`, `types.ts`, `model.ts` are the shared vocabulary — read these first
   when touching anything cross-cutting:
   - `types.ts`: `Focus`, `OutputMode`, `DrawerKey`, `DrawerDepth`, `FeedbackModeUI`, `SoloMode`,
diff --git a/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx b/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx
index b8fed14..bfe8112 100644
--- a/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx
+++ b/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx
@@ -624,6 +624,7 @@ function RoutingDrawer(ctx: ConsoleCtx, depth: DrawerDepth) {
     <>
       <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 6, flexWrap: 'wrap', alignItems: 'center' }}>
         <Chip tone="var(--accent)">{modeDesc.label}</Chip>
+        <Chip>{activeParams.length} output{activeParams.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}</Chip>
         <Chip tone="var(--accent)">live {counts.live || 0}</Chip>
         <Chip tone="var(--accent-2)">fixed {counts.fixed || 0}</Chip>
         <Chip>off {counts.off || 0}</Chip>
diff --git a/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts b/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts
index cef0785..fea7fbd 100644
--- a/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts
+++ b/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts
@@ -11,18 +11,25 @@ declare global {
 test('output sliders follow the active backend output count', async ({ page }) => {
   await loadProbe(page);
 
-  await page.evaluate(() => {
-    window.__mf!.setOutputMode('midi');
-    window.__mf!.setMidiCcCount(3);
-  });
-  await expect(page.getByTestId('output-stage')).toHaveAttribute('data-output-count', '3');
+  // Drive the real UI path: output target → Outputs drawer → expanded MIDI
+  // config. This deliberately does not use the debug setters; the regression
+  // covers the same interaction an operator performs.
+  await page.getByTitle(/^Mode:/).click();
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'MIDI', exact: true }).click();
+  await page.getByTitle('Outputs').click();
+  await page.getByTitle('Expand').click();
+  await page.getByLabel('CCs').fill('2');
 
-  await page.evaluate(() => window.__mf!.setMidiCcCount(7));
-  await expect(page.getByTestId('output-stage')).toHaveAttribute('data-output-count', '7');
+  // The count remains visible in condensed chrome after leaving the advanced
+  // config, and closing the drawer reveals the same number of stage columns.
+  await page.getByTitle('Condense').click();
+  await expect(page.getByText('2 outputs', { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+  await page.getByTitle('Close').click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('output-stage')).toHaveAttribute('data-output-count', '2');
 
-  const fullCount = await page.evaluate(() => {
-    window.__mf!.setOutputMode('osc');
-    return window.__mf!.paramCount();
-  });
+  // Backends without a configured count present the full mode output set.
+  const fullCount = await page.evaluate(() => window.__mf!.paramCount());
+  await page.getByTitle(/^Mode:/).click();
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'OSC', exact: true }).click();
   await expect(page.getByTestId('output-stage')).toHaveAttribute('data-output-count', String(fullCount));
 });