AbletonMCP

Implementation Reference

• MCP_Server/server.py:293-305 (handler)

  MCP tool handler for 'create_clip'. Proxies the request to the Ableton remote script by sending a 'create_clip' command over socket with parameters.

  @mcp.tool()
  def create_clip(ctx: Context, track_index: int, clip_index: int, length: float = 4.0) -> str:
      try:
          ableton = get_ableton_connection()
          result = ableton.send_command("create_clip", {
              "track_index": track_index,
              "clip_index": clip_index,
              "length": length
          })
          return f"Created new clip at track {track_index}, slot {clip_index} with length {length} beats"
      except Exception as e:
          logger.error(f"Error creating clip: {str(e)}")
          return f"Error creating clip: {str(e)}"

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:544-571 (handler)

  Core implementation of clip creation in the Ableton Live remote script. Uses the Ableton API to validate indices and call clip_slot.create_clip(length) on the specified track's clip slot.

  def _create_clip(self, track_index, clip_index, length):
      """Create a new MIDI clip in the specified track and clip slot"""
      try:
          if track_index < 0 or track_index >= len(self._song.tracks):
              raise IndexError("Track index out of range")
          
          track = self._song.tracks[track_index]
          
          if clip_index < 0 or clip_index >= len(track.clip_slots):
              raise IndexError("Clip index out of range")
          
          clip_slot = track.clip_slots[clip_index]
          
          # Check if the clip slot already has a clip
          if clip_slot.has_clip:
              raise Exception("Clip slot already has a clip")
          
          # Create the clip
          clip_slot.create_clip(length)
          
          result = {
              "name": clip_slot.clip.name,
              "length": clip_slot.clip.length
          }
          return result
      except Exception as e:
          self.log_message("Error creating clip: " + str(e))
          raise

• MCP_Server/server.py:104-110 (registration)

  Lists 'create_clip' as a modifying command in the server's send_command method, which applies extra timeouts and delays.

  is_modifying_command = command_type in [
      "create_midi_track", "create_audio_track", "set_track_name",
      "create_clip", "add_notes_to_clip", "set_clip_name",
      "set_tempo", "fire_clip", "stop_clip", "set_device_parameter",
      "start_playback", "stop_playback", "load_instrument_or_effect",
      "load_browser_item"
  ]

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:251-255 (helper)

  Command dispatcher in remote script's _process_command that routes 'create_clip' command to the _create_clip handler.

  elif command_type == "create_clip":
      track_index = params.get("track_index", 0)
      clip_index = params.get("clip_index", 0)
      length = params.get("length", 4.0)
      result = self._create_clip(track_index, clip_index, length)

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:229-236 (helper)

  Lists 'create_clip' as a state-modifying command in the remote script's command processor, scheduling it on the main thread with response queue.

  elif command_type in ["create_midi_track", "create_audio_track", "delete_track", "duplicate_track",
                       "set_track_name", "set_track_arm", "set_track_mute", "set_track_solo",
                       "set_track_volume", "set_track_panning", "set_track_send",
                       "create_clip", "add_notes_to_clip", "set_clip_name", "copy_clip", "delete_clip",
                       "set_tempo", "fire_clip", "stop_clip", "fire_scene", "create_scene", "delete_scene",
                       "start_playback", "stop_playback", "start_recording", "stop_recording",
                       "load_browser_item", "add_device", "remove_device", "set_device_parameter",
                       "set_device_active", "get_device_parameters"]: