AbletonMCP

Instructions

Implementation Reference

• MCP_Server/server.py:344-370 (handler)

  MCP tool handler for 'add_notes_to_clip'. Forwards the parameters to the Ableton remote script via socket command and returns success message.

  @mcp.tool()
  def add_notes_to_clip(
      ctx: Context, 
      track_index: int, 
      clip_index: int, 
      notes: List[Dict[str, Union[int, float, bool]]]
  ) -> str:
      """
      Add MIDI notes to a clip.
      
      Parameters:
      - track_index: The index of the track containing the clip
      - clip_index: The index of the clip slot containing the clip
      - notes: List of note dictionaries, each with pitch, start_time, duration, velocity, and mute
      """
      try:
          ableton = get_ableton_connection()
          result = ableton.send_command("add_notes_to_clip", {
              "track_index": track_index,
              "clip_index": clip_index,
              "notes": notes
          })
          return f"Added {len(notes)} notes to clip at track {track_index}, slot {clip_index}"
      except Exception as e:
          logger.error(f"Error adding notes to clip: {str(e)}")
          return f"Error adding notes to clip: {str(e)}"

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:484-523 (helper)

  Core implementation in Ableton remote script that adds MIDI notes to the specified clip using Live API: clip.set_notes()

  def _add_notes_to_clip(self, track_index, clip_index, notes):
      """Add MIDI notes to a clip"""
      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]
          
          if not clip_slot.has_clip:
              raise Exception("No clip in slot")
          
          clip = clip_slot.clip
          
          # Convert note data to Live's format
          live_notes = []
          for note in notes:
              pitch = note.get("pitch", 60)
              start_time = note.get("start_time", 0.0)
              duration = note.get("duration", 0.25)
              velocity = note.get("velocity", 100)
              mute = note.get("mute", False)
              
              live_notes.append((pitch, start_time, duration, velocity, mute))
          
          # Add the notes
          clip.set_notes(tuple(live_notes))
          
          result = {
              "note_count": len(notes)
          }
          return result
      except Exception as e:
          self.log_message("Error adding notes to clip: " + str(e))
          raise

• MCP_Server/server.py:351-358 (schema)

  Input schema defined in the tool docstring, describing parameters: track_index (int), clip_index (int), notes (list of dicts with pitch, start_time, duration, velocity, mute). Type hints also provide schema.

  """
  Add MIDI notes to a clip.
  
  Parameters:
  - track_index: The index of the track containing the clip
  - clip_index: The index of the clip slot containing the clip
  - notes: List of note dictionaries, each with pitch, start_time, duration, velocity, and mute
  """

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:229-232 (registration)

  Remote script recognizes 'add_notes_to_clip' as a modifying command requiring main thread scheduling.

  elif command_type in ["create_midi_track", "set_track_name", 
                       "create_clip", "add_notes_to_clip", "set_clip_name", 
                       "set_tempo", "fire_clip", "stop_clip",
                       "start_playback", "stop_playback", "load_browser_item"]:

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:252-256 (handler)

  Command dispatcher in remote script that routes 'add_notes_to_clip' to the _add_notes_to_clip method.

  elif command_type == "add_notes_to_clip":
      track_index = params.get("track_index", 0)
      clip_index = params.get("clip_index", 0)
      notes = params.get("notes", [])
      result = self._add_notes_to_clip(track_index, clip_index, notes)