AbletonMCP

Instructions

Implementation Reference

• MCP_Server/server.py:393-407 (handler)

  MCP tool handler for set_tempo that forwards the command to the Ableton remote script via socket.

  @mcp.tool()
  def set_tempo(ctx: Context, tempo: float) -> str:
      """
      Set the tempo of the Ableton session.
      
      Parameters:
      - tempo: The new tempo in BPM
      """
      try:
          ableton = get_ableton_connection()
          result = ableton.send_command("set_tempo", {"tempo": tempo})
          return f"Set tempo to {tempo} BPM"
      except Exception as e:
          logger.error(f"Error setting tempo: {str(e)}")
          return f"Error setting tempo: {str(e)}"

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:551-562 (helper)

  Actual implementation in Ableton remote script that sets the Live song tempo using the Live API.

  def _set_tempo(self, tempo):
      """Set the tempo of the session"""
      try:
          self._song.tempo = tempo
          
          result = {
              "tempo": self._song.tempo
          }
          return result
      except Exception as e:
          self.log_message("Error setting tempo: " + str(e))
          raise

• MCP_Server/server.py:104-109 (helper)

  Helper check identifying set_tempo as a state-modifying command that requires additional delays and timeouts.

  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"
  ]

• AbletonMCP_Remote_Script/__init__.py:262-265 (helper)

  Dispatch logic in remote script command router that calls the _set_tempo handler.

  elif command_type == "set_tempo":
      tempo = params.get("tempo", 120.0)
      result = self._set_tempo(tempo)
  elif command_type == "fire_clip":