ableton-cli

ableton-cli is a Python CLI to control and inspect Ableton Live through a local Remote Script. It is designed for both humans and automation (Skills/agents), with stable JSON output and fixed exit codes.

Prerequisites

• Ableton Live
• Python 3.10+
• uv

Quick Setup

1. Install dependencies:

uv sync

2. Install the Remote Script files:

uv run ableton-cli install-remote-script --yes

3. In Ableton Live, open Preferences and set Control Surface to AbletonCliRemote.

4. Run diagnostics:

uv run ableton-cli doctor

5. Verify connection:

uv run ableton-cli ping

Core Commands

Representative commands:

uv run ableton-cli doctor
uv run ableton-cli install-remote-script --yes
uv run ableton-cli install-skill --yes
uv run ableton-cli wait-ready
uv run ableton-cli song info
uv run ableton-cli song undo
uv run ableton-cli song redo
uv run ableton-cli transport play
uv run ableton-cli transport tempo set 128
uv run ableton-cli transport position get
uv run ableton-cli transport position set 32
uv run ableton-cli transport rewind
uv run ableton-cli tracks list
uv run ableton-cli track volume get --track-index 0
uv run ableton-cli track volume set 0.7 --track-index 0
uv run ableton-cli track panning set -- -0.25 --track-index 0
uv run ableton-cli track send set 1 0.6 --track-index 0
uv run ableton-cli track routing input get --selected-track
uv run ableton-cli track routing output set --type Master --channel 3/4 --track-name "Bass"
uv run ableton-cli return-tracks list
uv run ableton-cli return-track volume set 0 0.5
uv run ableton-cli master info
uv run ableton-cli master devices list
uv run ableton-cli master device load query:Audio\ Effects#Utility --position end
uv run ableton-cli master device parameter set --device-index 0 --parameter-key gain -- -1.5
uv run ableton-cli audio loudness analyze --path ./renders/remix.wav --engine ffmpeg
uv run ableton-cli audio spectrum analyze --path ./renders/remix.wav --profile anime-club
uv run ableton-cli audio transient analyze --path ./loops/drum-break.wav --bpm 174 --max-slices 16
uv run ableton-cli remix mastering target set --project ./proj/remix_project.json --profile anime-club-demo
uv run ableton-cli remix mastering analyze --project ./proj/remix_project.json --render ./renders/remix.wav
uv run ableton-cli remix mastering plan --project ./proj/remix_project.json
uv run ableton-cli remix mastering apply --project ./proj/remix_project.json --dry-run
uv run ableton-cli remix mastering qa --project ./proj/remix_project.json --render ./renders/remix.wav
uv run ableton-cli mixer crossfader set -- -0.2
uv run ableton-cli mixer cue-routing get
uv run ableton-cli clip create 0 0 --length 4
uv run ableton-cli clip notes add 0 0 --notes-json '[{"pitch":60,"start_time":0.0,"duration":0.5,"velocity":100,"mute":false}]'
uv run ableton-cli clip cut-to-drum-rack --source-file ./loops/drum-break.wav --transient --bpm 174 --max-slices 16 --create-trigger-clip --trigger-clip-slot 1
uv run ableton-cli clip cut-to-drum-rack --source-track 1 --source-clip 0 --slice-count 8 --create-trigger-clip --trigger-clip-slot 1
uv run ableton-cli arrangement clip create 0 --start 8 --length 4 --notes-json '[{"pitch":60,"start_time":0.0,"duration":0.5,"velocity":100,"mute":false}]'
uv run ableton-cli arrangement clip notes get 0 0 --start-time 0.0 --end-time 4.0 --pitch 60
uv run ableton-cli arrangement clip notes import-browser 0 0 sounds/Bass\ Loop.alc --mode replace --import-length --import-groove
uv run ableton-cli arrangement clip delete 0 --start 0 --end 16
uv run ableton-cli arrangement from-session --scenes "0:24,1:48"
uv run ableton-cli clip fire 0 0
uv run ableton-cli scenes list
uv run ableton-cli browser search drift --item-type loadable
uv run ableton-cli browser search "Drum Rack" --path drums --item-type loadable --limit 10
uv run ableton-cli browser search "Kit" --path drums --item-type loadable --limit 10
uv run ableton-cli browser load 0 query:Synths#Operator
uv run ableton-cli browser load-drum-kit 0 <rack-uri-from-search> --kit-uri <kit-uri-from-search>
uv run ableton-cli batch run --steps-file ./steps.json
uv run ableton-cli device parameter set 0.25 --track-index 0 --device-index 0 --parameter-index 0
uv run ableton-cli synth find --type wavetable
uv run ableton-cli synth wavetable keys
uv run ableton-cli synth wavetable set 0.6 --selected-track --selected-device --parameter-key filter_cutoff
uv run ableton-cli effect find --type eq8
uv run ableton-cli effect eq8 keys
uv run ableton-cli effect eq8 set 0.6 --track-query Bass --device-query EQ --parameter-key band1_freq

Offline mastering analysis with the ffmpeg engine requires both ffmpeg and ffprobe on PATH. Without them, audio loudness analyze, audio reference compare, and remix mastering analyze fail explicitly with CONFIG_INVALID.

Ref-aware track, device, and parameter commands now use mutually exclusive selector flags instead of positional indexes. Track selectors: --track-index, --track-name, --selected-track, --track-query, --track-ref. Device selectors: --device-index, --device-name, --selected-device, --device-query, --device-ref. Parameter selectors: --parameter-index, --parameter-name, --parameter-query, --parameter-key, --parameter-ref. tracks list, track info, synth/effect device discovery, and parameter listings emit stable_ref fields so later commands can reuse exact session-local objects.

Complete command coverage:

• skills/ableton-cli/SKILL.md
• docs/skills/skill-actions.md
• docs/skills/examples/*.json

Composition Workflow

For agent-driven composition, run a high-timeout preflight before mutating the set:

uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json wait-ready
uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json doctor
uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json tracks list

Discover browser targets before loading instruments or kits. Browser catalogs vary by Live version, packs, locale, and user library state, so do not assume a fixed Drum Rack or kit URI exists:

uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json browser categories all
uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json browser search "Drum Rack" --path drums --item-type loadable --limit 10
uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json browser search "Kit" --path drums --item-type loadable --limit 10
uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json browser search "Operator" --path instruments --item-type loadable --limit 10

Choose exact uri or path values from those results, then pass them explicitly:

uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json browser load-drum-kit 0 <rack-uri-from-search> --kit-uri <kit-uri-from-search>
uv run ableton-cli --timeout-ms 15000 --output json browser load 1 <synth-uri-or-path-from-search>

JSON Output for Automation

Use --output json for machine-readable output.

uv run ableton-cli --output json ping

Output envelope (stable):

{
  "ok": true,
  "command": "ping",
  "args": {},
  "result": {},
  "error": null
}

Global Options

• --host
• --port
• --timeout-ms
• --protocol-version
• --output [human|json]
• --verbose
• --log-file
• --config <path>
• --no-color
• --quiet
• --record <path>
• --replay <path>
• --read-only
• --require-confirmation
• --yes
• --plan
• --dry-run
• --compact
• --version

Global options must appear before the subcommand.

# Correct
uv run ableton-cli --output json doctor

# Incorrect
uv run ableton-cli doctor --output json

Installer/config commands also support command-local forms:

• --yes
• --dry-run

Protocol

ableton-cli uses local TCP JSONL communication on 127.0.0.1:<port>.

Security Model

• The Remote Script listens on 127.0.0.1 only (local loopback).
• The protocol has no authentication.
• Do not expose the port to untrusted networks.
• Treat write and destructive commands as equivalent to direct user operation in Ableton Live.
• Prefer --read-only for inspection and agent preflight.
• Use --plan or --dry-run to inspect the side effect and target payload before dispatch.
• Use --require-confirmation --yes when automation should fail closed around destructive commands.

Request

{
  "type": "command",
  "name": "song_info",
  "args": {},
  "meta": {
    "request_timeout_ms": 15000
  },
  "request_id": "8c9f9b0c1a9d4dc2abdf2d53f3a19be9",
  "protocol_version": 2
}

Response (success)

{
  "ok": true,
  "request_id": "8c9f9b0c1a9d4dc2abdf2d53f3a19be9",
  "protocol_version": 2,
  "result": {
    "tempo": 120.0
  },
  "error": null
}

Response (failure)

{
  "ok": false,
  "request_id": "8c9f9b0c1a9d4dc2abdf2d53f3a19be9",
  "protocol_version": 2,
  "result": null,
  "error": {
    "code": "INVALID_ARGUMENT",
    "message": "bpm must be between 20.0 and 999.0",
    "hint": "Fix command arguments and retry.",
    "details": null
  }
}

Low-latency operation

For single commands, use existing subcommands as before. For repeated automation commands, prefer batch stream to keep one process alive and avoid process startup overhead.

batch stream expects one JSON object per stdin line and emits one JSON response line per request:

cat <<'JSONL' | uv run ableton-cli batch stream
{"id":"a1","steps":[{"name":"song_info","args":{}}]}
{"id":"a2","steps":[{"name":"track_volume_get","args":{"track_ref":{"mode":"index","index":0}}}]}
JSONL

Compatibility validation is now explicit:

• uv run ableton-cli ping for protocol/version metadata
• uv run ableton-cli doctor for supported command integrity checks

Exit Codes

• 0 success
• 2 invalid arguments
• 3 invalid configuration
• 10 Ableton not connected
• 11 Remote Script not installed/detected
• 12 timeout
• 13 protocol mismatch
• 20 execution failure
• 99 internal error

Unsupported-by-API behavior

If a command is exposed by CLI/Remote but Live API cannot perform it, the command fails explicitly with:

• error.code=INVALID_ARGUMENT
• error.details.reason=not_supported_by_live_api

This currently applies to API-limited operations such as song new/undo/redo/save/export, arrangement record start|stop, scenes move, and tracks delete when the running Live API lacks the required primitive.

Completion

Typer built-in completion is available:

uv run ableton-cli --install-completion
uv run ableton-cli --show-completion

Man Page

Generate:

scripts/generate_man.sh

Install locally (optional):

scripts/install_man.sh

Then:

man ableton-cli

Skills Integration

Use these steps to enable the ableton-cli skill for agent workflows:

1. Complete Quick Setup and confirm connectivity with uv run ableton-cli ping.
2. Install the skill:

uv run ableton-cli install-skill --yes
uv run ableton-cli install-skill --target claude --yes
uv run ableton-cli install-skill --target cursor --yes

3. Confirm detailed install notes in docs/skills/install.md.
4. Run agent automation using uv run ableton-cli ... commands.

Cursor users do not need any install step when working inside this repository: .cursor/rules/*.mdc and .cursor/skills/ableton-cli/SKILL.md are committed, so the agent picks up ableton-cli conventions automatically when the project is opened. The install-skill --target cursor command only mirrors the same SKILL file into the user-level ~/.cursor/skills/ so it is also discoverable in other workspaces.

Skill-oriented references:

• Primary skill spec: skills/ableton-cli/SKILL.md
• Stable action mappings: docs/skills/skill-actions.md
• JSON output examples: docs/skills/examples/*.json

All skill command examples assume the uv run ableton-cli ... form.

Contributing

Development workflows (local checks, quality gates, and merge criteria) are documented in CONTRIBUTING.md.

Troubleshooting

1. Run uv run ableton-cli doctor.
2. Confirm Ableton is running and AbletonCliRemote is selected as Control Surface.
3. Confirm host/port (127.0.0.1:8765 by default).
4. Try a longer timeout: --timeout-ms 30000.
5. If protocol mismatches, use --protocol-version <n> or uv run ableton-cli config set protocol_version <n>.

AbletonCliRemote not shown in Control Surface list

1. Reinstall the script files: uv run ableton-cli install-remote-script --yes.
2. Restart Ableton Live completely.
3. Run uv run ableton-cli --output json doctor and check:
   • remote_script_files
   • remote_script_entrypoint
4. Verify installed paths under:
   • ~/Music/Ableton/User Library/Remote Scripts/AbletonCliRemote
   • ~/Documents/Ableton/User Library/Remote Scripts/AbletonCliRemote

Remote Script update not taking effect immediately

If behavior still looks old after install-remote-script --yes (for example, unchanged command errors):

1. In Ableton Live Preferences, set Control Surface to None.
2. Set it back to AbletonCliRemote.
3. Re-run uv run ableton-cli --output json ping and uv run ableton-cli --output json doctor.
4. If unchanged, restart Ableton Live and retry.