Ableton
An MCP server that enables Claude to control Ableton Live in real-time via the AbletonOSC bridge. It allows users to manage playback, create tracks, write MIDI, and adjust mixer or device parameters using natural language commands.
What is Ableton?
Ableton is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to mcp server that enables claude to control ableton live in real-time via the abletonosc bridge. it allows users to manage playback, create tracks, write midi, and adjust mixer or device parameters usin...
An MCP server that enables Claude to control Ableton Live in real-time via the AbletonOSC bridge. It allows users to manage playback, create tracks, write MIDI, and adjust mixer or device parameters using natural language commands.
This server falls under the APIs category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- get_session_info
- get_track_info
- create_midi_track
- set_track_name
- create_clip
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y ableton-mcpManual Installation
npx -y ableton-mcpConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Ableton
The Ableton MCP server bridges Claude and Ableton Live 12 via the AbletonOSC remote script, enabling natural language control of a full digital audio workstation in real time. You can manage transport, create and rename tracks, write MIDI notes and chord progressions, adjust mixer parameters, fire scenes, and read session state — all from a conversational interface. Musicians and producers use it to compose faster, automate repetitive DAW tasks, and experiment with musical ideas without touching the mouse.
Prerequisites
- Ableton Live 12 installed on macOS or Windows
- Python 3.8+ with pip available on your system
- Git with submodule support (git clone --recurse-submodules)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- AbletonOSC remote script configured as a Control Surface in Live's settings
Clone the repository with submodules
The AbletonOSC remote script is included as a Git submodule. You must use --recurse-submodules to pull it alongside the main server code.
git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/mrinalghosh/ableton-mcp.git
cd ableton-mcpInstall the AbletonOSC remote script
Symlink the AbletonOSC directory into Ableton's User Library Remote Scripts folder so Live can discover it. The path differs by platform.
# macOS
ln -s "$PWD/AbletonOSC" "$HOME/Music/Ableton/User Library/Remote Scripts/AbletonOSC"
# Windows (run as Administrator in cmd)
mklink /D "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Ableton\User Library\Remote Scripts\AbletonOSC" "%CD%\AbletonOSC"Enable AbletonOSC in Live's settings
Open Ableton Live, go to Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI, and add AbletonOSC as a Control Surface. Live must be running with this script active for the MCP server to communicate.
Install the Python MCP server
Install the server package in editable mode from the cloned directory. This registers the ableton-mcp command on your system.
pip install -e .Add the server to your MCP client configuration
Register ableton-mcp in your Claude Desktop or Claude Code config file. No environment variables are required; the server communicates with Live over OSC on localhost.
{
"mcpServers": {
"ableton": {
"command": "ableton-mcp"
}
}
}Verify the connection
With Ableton Live running and AbletonOSC loaded, restart your MCP client. Ask Claude to get session info — if the server is working, it will return your Live session's track list and tempo.
Ableton Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration for the Ableton MCP server. Ableton Live must be open with AbletonOSC active as a Control Surface before launching Claude Desktop.
{
"mcpServers": {
"ableton": {
"command": "ableton-mcp"
}
}
}Prompts to try
Sample prompts that demonstrate the server's real-time DAW control capabilities across composition, mixing, and session management.
- "Create a new MIDI track called 'Bass' and add a four-bar clip with a walking bass line in C minor"
- "What tracks are currently in my Live session and what tempo is it set to?"
- "Add a chord progression using ii-V-I in D major to the first MIDI clip"
- "Set the volume of track 3 to -6 dB and pan it 30% to the left"
- "Create a drum pattern with kick on beats 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, and hi-hats on every eighth note"Troubleshooting Ableton
Claude cannot connect to Ableton or tools return errors
Ensure Ableton Live 12 is running before starting Claude Desktop, and that AbletonOSC appears as an active Control Surface in Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI. The OSC server listens on port 11000 by default — check that no firewall or other application is blocking localhost traffic on that port.
ableton-mcp command not found after pip install
The pip install -e . step must be run from inside the cloned ableton-mcp directory. If the command is still missing, confirm the Python scripts directory is on your PATH by running pip show ableton-mcp to see where it was installed.
AbletonOSC symlink does not appear in Live's Control Surfaces list
Restart Ableton Live after creating the symlink. On macOS, verify the symlink target with ls -la ~/Music/Ableton/User\ Library/Remote\ Scripts/. On Windows, mklink requires Administrator privileges — run Command Prompt as Administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ableton
What is Ableton?
Ableton is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that mcp server that enables claude to control ableton live in real-time via the abletonosc bridge. it allows users to manage playback, create tracks, write midi, and adjust mixer or device parameters using natural language commands. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Ableton?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y ableton-mcp. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with Ableton?
Ableton works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Ableton free to use?
Yes, Ableton is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Ableton in Your Editor
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Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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