AbletonMCP

Control Ableton Live from Claude Code via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Create/edit tracks, control plugins (Waves, FabFilter, iZotope, any VST), fire clips, edit MIDI notes, capture audio — all through natural language.

Architecture

Claude Code
    ↓  MCP Protocol (stdio)
mcp_server/          ← Python MCP server (this project)
    ↓  HTTP JSON (localhost:9001)
AbletonMCP/          ← Ableton Remote Script (Python, runs inside Ableton)
    ↓  Live Python API
Ableton Live

Related MCP server: AbletonMCP

Requirements

• Ableton Live 10, 11, or 12 (any edition)

• Python 3.11+ (for the MCP server)

• Claude Code CLI

Installation

Step 1 — Install the Ableton Remote Script

Copy the AbletonMCP/ folder into Ableton's MIDI Remote Scripts directory:

Result: Remote Scripts/AbletonMCP/__init__.py should exist.

Step 2 — Enable in Ableton

1. Open Ableton Live

2. Go to Preferences → Link, Tempo & MIDI

3. Under Control Surface, select AbletonMCP in any available slot

4. No Input/Output device required — leave them as None

5. Check Ableton's Log file (Help → Show Log File) and confirm you see:

   [AbletonMCP] AbletonMCP started on port 9001

Step 3 — Install the MCP Server

cd ableton-mcp
pip install -e .

For audio capture support (optional):

pip install -e ".[audio]"

Step 4 — Configure Claude Code

Add to your Claude Code MCP config (~/.claude/claude_desktop_config.json or via claude mcp add):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ableton": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "mcp_server.main"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/ableton-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Or using the Claude Code CLI:

claude mcp add ableton python -m mcp_server.main --cwd /path/to/ableton-mcp

Step 5 — Verify

In Claude Code, ask:

Get the current Ableton session state

If Ableton is open with AbletonMCP loaded, you'll see tempo, tracks, etc.

Running Tests

Tests run without Ableton (using a mock bridge server):

pip install -e ".[dev]"
pytest tests/ -v

All 51 tests should pass.

Features & Tools

Session / Transport

Mixer (Master)

Tracks

Track colors accepted as name strings: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, pink, white, gray — or as integer Ableton color ID.

Clips

MIDI note format:

{"pitch": 60, "start": 0.0, "duration": 0.5, "velocity": 100, "mute": false}

• pitch: MIDI note number (0–127, middle C = 60)

• start: position in beats from clip start

• duration: note length in beats

• velocity: 0–127

Devices / Plugins

Works with Ableton native devices (Reverb, Compressor, Operator, Wavetable, etc.) and any installed VST/AU plugin (Waves, FabFilter, iZotope, Native Instruments, Serum, Vital, etc.).

Plugin examples:

add_device(track_index=0, device_name="FabFilter Pro-Q 3")
add_device(track_index=1, device_name="Wave s SSL E-Channel")
add_device(track_index=2, device_name="iZotope Ozone 10")
add_device(track_index=0, device_name="Serum")
add_device(track_index=0, device_name="Compressor")   # Ableton native

Parameter editing examples:

set_parameter_by_name(track_index=0, device_index=0, param_name="Threshold", value=-18.0)
set_parameter_by_name(track_index=0, device_index=1, param_name="Band 1 Gain", value=3.0)

Scenes

Audio

Audio capture setup (virtual routing):

1. Install a virtual audio device:

   • Windows: VB-Cable

   • macOS: BlackHole

2. In Ableton, route your master output to the virtual device

3. Use get_audio_devices to find the exact device name

4. Use start_audio_capture(device_name="CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)")

5. Play in Ableton

6. Use stop_audio_capture(output_path="~/my_recording.wav") to save + analyze

Note on export: Ableton's Python API does not expose the export/render dialog programmatically. The recommended workflow is virtual routing capture or using Ableton's built-in export (File → Export Audio/Video) for offline rendering.

Usage Examples

Natural language in Claude Code

Create a new MIDI track called "Bass" at index 2 with a FabFilter Pro-Q 3 plugin,
then add a 4-bar clip in slot 0 with a C major chord (C4, E4, G4) at beat 0 with duration 2 beats.

Set the tempo to 128 BPM, enable the loop from bar 1 to bar 9, then fire scene "Chorus".

List all parameters of the Compressor on track 0 and set the threshold to -12 dB and ratio to 6:1.

Duplicate track 1, mute the original, and add a Waves SSL E-Channel to the duplicate.

Project Structure

ableton-mcp/
├── AbletonMCP/                  # Ableton Remote Script (install in Ableton)
│   ├── __init__.py              # Entry point, create_instance()
│   ├── bridge_server.py         # HTTP server thread (port 9001)
│   ├── api_handler.py           # URL routing
│   └── live_api/
│       ├── session.py           # Transport, tempo, loop, mixer
│       ├── tracks.py            # Track CRUD, sends
│       ├── clips.py             # Clip + MIDI note management
│       ├── devices.py           # Plugin add/remove/parameter control
│       ├── scenes.py            # Scene management
│       └── audio.py             # Audio capture via virtual routing
├── mcp_server/                  # MCP Server (Claude talks to this)
│   ├── main.py                  # Server entry point
│   ├── bridge_client.py         # HTTP client to AbletonMCP
│   └── tools/
│       ├── session_tools.py
│       ├── track_tools.py
│       ├── clip_tools.py
│       ├── device_tools.py
│       ├── scene_tools.py
│       └── audio_tools.py
├── tests/
│   ├── mock_bridge/server.py    # Simulates Ableton for offline testing
│   ├── conftest.py
│   ├── test_session.py
│   ├── test_tracks.py
│   ├── test_clips.py
│   ├── test_devices.py
│   └── test_scenes.py
└── pyproject.toml

Troubleshooting

"Cannot connect to Ableton bridge at localhost:9001"

• Confirm AbletonMCP is selected in Ableton Preferences → Control Surfaces

• Check Ableton's log file for [AbletonMCP] started on port 9001

• Make sure no firewall blocks localhost:9001

Plugin not found when using add_device

• Plugin must be installed and scanned by Ableton (Preferences → Plug-Ins)

• Use the exact name as it appears in Ableton's browser

• VST3 plugins are preferred over VST2 when both are installed

"Parameter X not found"

• Use get_device or list_parameters first to see exact parameter names

• Parameter names are case-insensitive but must otherwise match exactly

Tests fail

• Run pip install -e ".[dev]" first

• Tests do not require Ableton — they use a mock bridge server

• Ensure port 9002 is free (used by mock server during testing)

Known Limitations

• Device reordering: Ableton's Python API does not support moving devices within a chain. Delete and re-add in desired order.

• Direct WAV export: Ableton's API cannot trigger the export dialog programmatically. Use virtual routing capture or Ableton's built-in export.

• Return track deletion: Not supported via API (Ableton limitation).

• Audio clips: MIDI note editing only applies to MIDI clips. Audio clips support loop/warp settings only.

• Plugin browser search: Uses Ableton's browser tree traversal. Very large plugin collections may be slow to search on first use.