AbletonMCP - Advanced Ableton Live Model Context Protocol Integration

AbletonMCP connects Ableton Live to Claude AI through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling comprehensive AI-assisted music production, track creation, and Live session manipulation with 37 powerful tools.

🎵 Features

Session Management

• Session Information: Get detailed session data including tempo, time signature, track counts

• Playback Control: Start/stop playback with precision

• Tempo Control: Adjust session tempo in real-time

Track Management

• Track Creation: Create MIDI and audio tracks

• Track Operations: Delete, duplicate, and rename tracks

• Track Control: Arm/disarm for recording, mute/solo functionality

• Track Information: Get detailed track information and status

Mixing & Audio Controls

• Volume Control: Adjust individual track volumes

• Panning Control: Set track panning positions

• Send Levels: Control send effects and returns

• Audio Routing: Manage track routing and sends

Clip Management

• Clip Creation: Create MIDI clips with custom lengths

• Note Programming: Add MIDI notes with pitch, timing, velocity, and mute control

• Clip Operations: Copy, delete, and manipulate clips

Scene Management

• Scene Control: Fire scenes for live performance

• Scene Creation: Create and delete scenes

• Scene Organization: Manage scene structure

Recording

• Recording Control: Start and stop recording

• Track Arm: Arm tracks for recording

• Recording Management: Handle recording states

Device Management

• Device Loading: Add instruments and effects

• Parameter Control: Adjust device parameters

• Device Management: Remove devices, activate/deactivate

• Parameter Discovery: Get device parameter information

🏗️ Architecture

The system consists of two main components:

1. Ableton Remote Script (AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py)

A MIDI Remote Script that runs inside Ableton Live, creating a socket server to receive and execute commands from the MCP server.

Key Features:

• Socket-based communication (localhost:9877)

• Thread-safe command processing

• Comprehensive error handling

• Real-time Ableton Live API integration

2. MCP Server (MCP_Server/server.py)

A Python server implementing the Model Context Protocol, connecting to the Ableton Remote Script and exposing 37 tools to Claude AI.

Key Features:

• FastMCP implementation

• Comprehensive tool set

• Robust error handling

• Real-time communication

📋 Prerequisites

• Ableton Live 10 or newer (tested with Live 12.3b9)

• Python 3.8 or newer

• Claude Desktop with MCP support

• Windows/macOS/Linux support

🚀 Installation

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/Milesy1/MCP-Ableton-API.git
cd MCP-Ableton-API

Step 2: Install Dependencies

# Install using pip
pip install -e .

# Or install dependencies directly
pip install mcp[cli]>=1.3.0

Step 3: Install the Ableton Remote Script

Windows:

1. Navigate to one of these locations:

   • C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Ableton\Live x.x.x\Preferences\User Remote Scripts

   • C:\ProgramData\Ableton\Live XX\Resources\MIDI Remote Scripts\

   • C:\Program Files\Ableton\Live XX\Resources\MIDI Remote Scripts\

2. Create a folder called AbletonMCP

3. Copy AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py into the AbletonMCP folder

macOS:

1. Navigate to one of these locations:

   • Applications > Right-click Ableton Live > Show Package Contents > Contents/App-Resources/MIDI Remote Scripts/

   • /Users/[Username]/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live XX/User Remote Scripts

2. Create a folder called AbletonMCP

3. Copy AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py into the AbletonMCP folder

Step 4: Configure Ableton Live

1. Launch Ableton Live

2. Go to Settings/Preferences → Link, Tempo & MIDI

3. In the Control Surface dropdown, select "AbletonMCP"

4. Set Input and Output to "None"

Step 5: Configure Claude Desktop

1. Open Claude Desktop

2. Go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config

3. Edit claude_desktop_config.json:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "AbletonMCP": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["C:\\path\\to\\your\\MCP-Ableton-API\\MCP_Server\\server.py"]
        }
    }
}

Note: Replace the path with your actual installation path.

🎛️ Available Tools

Session Tools

• get_session_info - Get detailed session information

• set_tempo - Change session tempo

• start_playback - Start playback

• stop_playback - Stop playback

Track Tools

• create_midi_track - Create MIDI tracks

• create_audio_track - Create audio tracks

• delete_track - Delete tracks

• duplicate_track - Duplicate tracks

• set_track_name - Rename tracks

• get_track_info - Get track details

• set_track_arm - Arm/disarm tracks

• set_track_mute - Mute/unmute tracks

• set_track_solo - Solo/unsolo tracks

Mixing Tools

• set_track_volume - Adjust track volumes

• set_track_panning - Control track panning

• set_track_send - Adjust send levels

Clip Tools

• create_clip - Create MIDI clips

• add_notes_to_clip - Add MIDI notes

• copy_clip - Copy clips

• delete_clip - Delete clips

Scene Tools

• fire_scene - Trigger scenes

• create_scene - Create scenes

• delete_scene - Delete scenes

Recording Tools

• start_recording - Start recording

• stop_recording - Stop recording

Device Tools

• add_device - Add instruments/effects

• remove_device - Remove devices

• set_device_parameter - Adjust device parameters

• set_device_active - Enable/disable devices

• get_device_parameters - Get device parameter info

🎵 Usage Examples

Basic Track Creation

"Create a new MIDI track with a synth bass instrument"
"Add an audio track for vocals"
"Set track 1 to arm for recording"

Mixing and Effects

"Set the volume of track 2 to 80%"
"Pan track 3 to the left (-0.5)"
"Add reverb to track 1 with 30% wet signal"
"Set the master volume to 85%"

MIDI Programming

"Create a 4-bar MIDI clip in track 1"
"Add a C major chord progression to the clip"
"Create a drum pattern with kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4"

Scene Management

"Create a new scene called 'Verse'"
"Fire scene 2"
"Delete the last scene"

Advanced Composition

"Create a Metro Boomin style hip-hop beat with 808s and hi-hats"
"Build an 80s synthwave track with arpeggiated bass"
"Create a jazz chord progression in track 1"

🔧 Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

• Ensure Ableton Live is running with the AbletonMCP control surface selected

• Check that the MCP server path in Claude Desktop config is correct

• Verify Python dependencies are installed

Tool Not Available

• Restart Claude Desktop after configuration changes

• Clear Claude Desktop cache if tools don't appear

• Check MCP server logs for errors

Timeout Errors

• Break complex requests into smaller steps

• Ensure Ableton Live is responsive

• Check socket connection (localhost:9877)

Performance Issues

• Close unnecessary Ableton Live tracks

• Avoid simultaneous complex operations

• Monitor system resources

🏗️ Development

Project Structure

MCP-Ableton-API/
├── AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/    # Ableton Live Remote Script
│   └── __init__.py
├── MCP_Server/                  # MCP Server Implementation
│   └── server.py
├── pyproject.toml              # Project Configuration
├── README.md                   # This File
├── LICENSE                     # MIT License
├── Dockerfile                  # Container Configuration
└── smithery.yaml              # Smithery Configuration

Adding New Tools

1. Add command handler in AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py

2. Add tool endpoint in MCP_Server/server.py

3. Update command routing in the Remote Script

4. Test and document the new functionality

Testing

# Test MCP server
python -m MCP_Server.server

# Test socket communication
python create_midi.py

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

Development Setup

1. Fork the repository

2. Create a feature branch

3. Make your changes

4. Add tests if applicable

5. Submit a pull request

Code Style

• Follow PEP 8 for Python code

• Add comprehensive docstrings

• Include error handling

• Update documentation

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Ableton for the amazing Live software and API

• Anthropic for Claude AI and MCP protocol

• MCP Community for the Model Context Protocol

• Contributors who help improve this project

🔗 Links

• GitHub Repository

• Ableton Live

• Model Context Protocol

• Claude AI

📞 Support

If you encounter any issues or have questions:

1. Check the troubleshooting section

2. Search existing GitHub Issues

3. Create a new issue with detailed information

4. Join the discussion in the community

Made with ❤️ for the music production community

Transform your Ableton Live workflow with AI-powered assistance!