# Ableton MCP server

> Control Ableton Live from your assistant: create tracks, MIDI clips and arrangements, and load instruments and effects.

- Listing: https://mcp.tc/i/ableton
- Connect: this is a local (stdio) server; install it on your machine (see Install). The listing link is a page, not an MCP endpoint.
- Type: local (stdio)
- Auth: no API key needed
- Category: [Design, Websites & CMS](https://mcp.tc/c/design)
- Vendor: Siddharth Ahuja
- Homepage: <https://github.com/ahujasid/ableton-mcp>
- Repository: <https://github.com/ahujasid/ableton-mcp>
- Package: pypi `ableton-mcp`

## About

Connects an AI assistant to Ableton Live through a socket-based Remote Script. You can create and edit MIDI and audio tracks, write MIDI clips with notes, load instruments and effects from Ableton's library, build full arrangements in Arrangement View, and control playback and clip launching.

It runs locally over stdio with uvx ableton-mcp and needs no sign-in or API key. Ableton Live 10 or newer must be running with the AbletonMCP Remote Script installed and selected as a Control Surface. Anonymous telemetry is included and can be disabled.

## What it can do

- Create and modify MIDI and audio tracks
- Create and edit MIDI clips with notes
- Load instruments, effects and sounds from Ableton's library
- Build song sections in Arrangement View
- Start and stop playback and fire clips
- Control transport across Session and Arrangement View

## Example prompts

- "Create a new MIDI track with a bass instrument and add a four-bar bassline."
- "Build an arrangement with intro, buildup, drop, breakdown and outro."
- "Load a reverb on the drum track and start playback."
- "Add a MIDI clip with a C minor chord progression to the selected track."

## Install

### Claude Code

1. Run this in a terminal, in your project folder:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio ableton -- uvx ableton-mcp
```

2. Start Claude Code and type `/mcp`. **ableton** should show as connected.

Add `--scope user` to make it available in every project.

### Claude Desktop

1. Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**. It opens `claude_desktop_config.json`. Add:

`claude_desktop_config.json`:

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

2. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

Needs uv (Python) on your computer. The file lives in `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/` on macOS and `%APPDATA%\Claude\` on Windows.

### Cursor

[Add to Cursor](<https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=ableton&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoidXZ4IiwiYXJncyI6WyJhYmxldG9uLW1jcCJdfQ%3D%3D>) (opens Cursor)

Or add it by hand to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (this project):

`mcp.json`:

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

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

### VS Code

[Install in VS Code](<https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=ableton&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22ableton-mcp%22%5D%7D>) (opens VS Code)

Or from a terminal:

```bash
code --add-mcp '{"name":"ableton","type":"stdio","command":"uvx","args":["ableton-mcp"]}'
```

Or commit it to the repo in `.vscode/mcp.json`:

`.vscode/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "ableton": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "ableton-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

### Devin Desktop

1. Add it to `~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json` (macOS and Linux) or `%APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json` (Windows):

`mcp_config.json`:

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

2. Refresh the MCP server list in Cascade.

Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf.

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add ableton -- uvx ableton-mcp
```

Or edit `~/.codex/config.toml` directly:

`config.toml`:

```toml
[mcp_servers.ableton]
command = "uvx"
args = ["ableton-mcp"]
```

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

### Gemini CLI

```bash
gemini mcp add ableton uvx ableton-mcp
```

This adds it to the current project. Add `-s user` to use it everywhere.

### Any client

Most clients that start local servers accept this shape:

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

Zed puts servers under `context_servers` in its settings, with the same `command`, `args` and `env` fields.

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

## Details

- Server version: 1.4.5
- Last checked: 2026-10-03
- Listed: 2026-10-03
- Updated: 2026-10-03

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Source: https://mcp.tc/i/ableton (mcp.tc is an independent directory, not affiliated with this server's publisher). Corrections: https://mcp.tc/report