remix-mcp

A Rust MCP server that enables AI assistants to control Ableton Live via OSC.

📖 Documentation

Features

• 266 tools for comprehensive Ableton Live control

• Real-time OSC via AbletonOSC

• Auto-installer for the AbletonOSC Remote Script

• Cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux)

Quick Start

1. Install remix-mcp

Via uv (recommended, requires uv):

uvx remix-mcp install

Download binary from Releases

Build from source:

git clone --recursive https://github.com/christopherwxyz/remix-mcp
cd remix-mcp
cargo build --release

2. Install AbletonOSC

remix-mcp install

Then in Ableton Live:

1. Restart Ableton Live

2. Open Preferences (Cmd+, / Ctrl+,)

3. Go to Link/Tempo/MIDI

4. Under Control Surface, select AbletonOSC

You should see: AbletonOSC: Listening for OSC on port 11000

3. Add MCP Server

Claude Desktop:

1. Open Claude Desktop Settings > Developer

2. Click Edit Config to open claude_desktop_config.json

3. Add the server configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ableton": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["remix-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

4. Restart Claude Desktop

Claude Code:

claude mcp add ableton -- uvx remix-mcp

Usage

Ask Claude things like:

• "Create a MIDI track with Drift and add reverb"

• "Set the tempo to 128 BPM"

• "Create a 4-bar drum pattern"

• "Add an arpeggiator to the selected track"

• "Search the browser for bass sounds"

See the documentation for more examples.

Tools

Architecture

Claude/Client <--stdio/JSON-RPC--> remix-mcp <--UDP/OSC--> AbletonOSC <--> Ableton Live

CLI

remix-mcp serve              # Start MCP server (default)
remix-mcp install            # Install AbletonOSC Remote Script
remix-mcp install --force    # Reinstall
remix-mcp status             # Check installation

Troubleshooting

No sound from MIDI tracks? Samplers need samples loaded. Use load_default_instrument to load Drift (a synth that works immediately).

Connection timeout?

1. Check Ableton Live is running

2. Verify AbletonOSC is enabled in Preferences > Link/Tempo/MIDI

3. Ensure ports 11000/11001 are free

AbletonOSC not in Control Surface list?

1. Run remix-mcp install

2. Restart Ableton Live

Development

See the contributing guide for development guidelines.

License

MIT

Acknowledgments

• AbletonOSC by Daniel Jones