ableton-mcp

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set_device_sidechain_routing

Destructive

Plan or apply a guarded sidechain source type or channel change for an Ableton device, then reread channels; rejects unsupported or ambiguous choices and won't enable external sidechain.

Instructions

Plan or apply one guarded native device-sidechain source type or channel change. Read refreshed channels after changing source type. Rejects unsupported devices and ambiguous choices; does not enable external sidechain automatically.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`dryRun`	No	False executes with token and hash.
`trackId`	Yes	track-N from list_tracks, return-N from get_set_mixer, or master.
`deviceId`	Yes	ID from list_devices.
`planHash`	No	Plan hash.
`sourceTypeId`	No	Exact available sidechain source type ID.
`sourceChannelId`	No	Exact available sidechain channel ID.
`confirmationToken`	No	Single-use plan token.
`expectedStateVersion`	Yes	Observed stateVersion.

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
No arguments

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.3.1Oct 23, 2026

removedOutput schema / additionalProperties
```
Removed value: -true
```

addedOutput schema / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "oneOf": [
+      {
+        "properties": {
+          "confirmation": {
+            "properties": {
+              "expiresAt": {
+                "type": "number"
+              },
+              "planHash": {
+                "pattern": "^[a-f0-9]{64}$",
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "token": {
+                "minLength": 1,
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "token",
+              "planHash",
+              "expiresAt"
+            ],
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "dryRun": {
+            "const": true
+          },
+          "plan": {
+            "type": "object"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "dryRun",
+          "plan",
+          "confirmation"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      {
+        "properties": {
+          "dryRun": {
+            "const": false
+          },
+          "operationOutcome": {
+            "properties": {
+              "evidence": {
+                "items": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "type": "array"
+              },
+              "reason": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "schemaVersion": {
+                "const": 1
+              },
+              "status": {
+                "enum": [
+                  "applied",
+                  "outcome_unknown",
+                  "postconditions_failed",
+                  "pending_postconditions",
+                  "pending_user_action"
+                ]
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "schemaVersion",
+              "status",
+              "reason",
+              "evidence"
+            ],
+            "type": "object"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "dryRun",
+          "operationOutcome"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      }
+    ],
+    "properties": {
+      "dryRun": {
+        "type": "boolean"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "dryRun"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "properties": {
+      "error": {
+        "properties": {
+          "message": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "outcome": {
+            "enum": [
+              "unknown",
+              "not_executed"
+            ]
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "message",
+          "outcome"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "error"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  }
+]

Changed7 schema fields changedv0.3.0Oct 19, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / confirmationToken / description

Previous value: -"Short-lived, single-use token returned by the matching dry run."New value: +"Single-use plan token."

changedInput schema / properties / deviceId / description

Previous value: -"Stable device ID returned by list_devices."New value: +"ID from list_devices."

changedInput schema / properties / dryRun / description

Previous value: -"Omit or true to return a plan; false requires a valid confirmationToken."New value: +"False executes with token and hash."

changedInput schema / properties / expectedStateVersion / description

Previous value: -"Exact stateVersion observed immediately before planning."New value: +"Observed stateVersion."

changedInput schema / properties / planHash / description

Previous value: -"Hash returned by the matching dry run."New value: +"Plan hash."

changedInput schema / properties / trackId / description

Previous value: -"Stable device-owner ID: track-N from list_tracks, return-N from get_set_mixer, or master."New value: +"track-N from list_tracks, return-N from get_set_mixer, or master."

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedv0.1.0Sep 23, 2026

TDQS

A3.9/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already flag destructiveHint=true and idempotentHint=false, and the description adds real substance beyond them: a plan/apply guard with token and hash, rejection of unsupported devices and ambiguous choices, and the fact that external sidechain is not auto-enabled. It does not say what a rejected attempt returns or how state version conflicts surface, which keeps it short of a 5.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three short sentences, front-loaded with the action and followed by the sequencing rule and the exclusions; nothing is padded. 'Ambiguous choices' is the one loosely worded phrase, but it still steers the agent toward exact IDs.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

An output schema exists and annotations carry the safety profile, so the description only needs the operating model, which it supplies: guarded plan/apply, rejection conditions, and the no-auto-enable caveat. It stops short of saying which devices actually support native sidechain, but that is arguably discoverable via inspection tools.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so all eight parameters including dryRun, planHash, and confirmationToken are already documented. The description adds the conceptual plan/apply distinction but no format, ordering, or dependency rules beyond the schema; baseline 3 is correct.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb pair and resource: 'Plan or apply one guarded native device-sidechain source type or channel change.' An agent can tell this mutates sidechain routing rather than general device state. It never names the obvious read sibling get_device_sidechain_routing, so sibling differentiation is only implied.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

'Plan or apply' establishes the two-phase usage and 'does not enable external sidechain automatically' is an explicit exclusion that prevents a wrong expectation. 'Read refreshed channels after changing source type' is a post-change instruction that implicitly points to the read tool, but the sibling is not named, leaving the alternative to inference.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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