Ableton Live + Claude Code: Complete MCP Integration
Ableton Live is a MCP server that an MCP server to control Ableton Live..
When integrated with Claude Code, you can:
- Create, modify, and control audio/MIDI tracks
- Control live performance parameters and session view
- Send and receive OSC messages for real-time control
This guide provides step-by-step instructions to set up Ableton Live in Claude Code, including configuration, examples, and troubleshooting.
What You'll Achieve
After completing this setup:
- Ableton Live will be fully integrated and operational
- You can use Ableton Live tools directly in Claude Code
- All Ableton Live capabilities will be available for your workflows
- Access to 4 different tools
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have:
- Python 3.8+
- Git
- Ableton Live installed
- Claude Code installed and configured
- Compatible operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Installation
Step 1: Install Ableton Live
Manual installation steps:
- Install Python 3.8 or higher
- Install uv package manager
- Clone repository: git clone https://github.com/Simon-Kansara/ableton-live-mcp-server.git
- Navigate to project: cd mcp_ableton_server
- Install dependencies: uv sync
Configuration
Step 2: Configure Claude Code
- Install Claude Code
Download and install Claude Code from the official website
Visit: https://claude.ai/code
Note: Claude Code is available as a native application, not via npm
- Navigate to Project
Open terminal in your project directory where you want to use the MCP server
- Install MCP Server
Install the MCP server you want to use (e.g., via npm, pip, or other package manager)
- Configure MCP Server
Add MCP server configuration to project CLAUDE.md file or use --mcp-config flag
Note: CLAUDE.md is preferred for project-specific configuration
- Test Integration
Start Claude Code and verify MCP server is working
claude
Note: Use interactive mode to test MCP server functionality
Configuration Details
Add to your project's CLAUDE.md file:
## MCP Servers
### Ableton Live
- **Installation**: ableton live
- **Configuration**:
- **Description**: an MCP server to control Ableton Live.
Claude Code will automatically detect and load MCP servers from your project context.
Examples
Once configured, you can use Ableton Live in Claude Code:
Prepare Recording Setup
Set up tracks for recording a rock band
Ask Claude Code: "Prepare a set to record a rock band with drums, bass, guitar, and vocals"
Expected Result: Multiple audio tracks created with appropriate input routing and naming
Configure Voice Track Routing
Set input routing for vocal tracks
Ask Claude Code: "Set the input routing channel of all tracks that have "voice" in their name to Ext. In 2"
Expected Result: All vocal tracks configured to receive input from external input 2
Live Performance Setup
Configure session view for live performance
Ask Claude Code: "Set up a live performance session with 8 tracks and 16 scenes for electronic music"
Expected Result: Session view configured with tracks and scenes ready for live triggering
Transport Control
Control playback and recording
Ask Claude Code: "Start recording on track 3 and set tempo to 120 BPM"
Expected Result: Recording initiated on specified track with tempo adjusted
Testing Your Setup
- Run claude in your project directory
- Ask Claude to list available tools and verify Ableton Live tools are present
- Test Ableton Live functionality by asking Claude to use specific tools
Test commands:
claude
claude --debug
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Ableton Live Not Responding
Symptoms: OSC messages not received, No communication with Live
Cause: OSC control surface not enabled or incorrect port configuration
Solution:
- Enable AbletonOSC control surface in Live preferences
- Verify OSC ports match configuration (11000/11001)
- Restart Ableton Live after configuration changes
- Check firewall settings allow OSC communication
Port Already in Use
Symptoms: Socket binding errors, Port conflict messages
Cause: Another application using configured ports
Solution:
- Check which process is using the port: netstat -tulpn | grep :65432
- Kill conflicting process or change port in osc_daemon.py
- Use alternative ports (e.g., 65433, 11002, 11003)
- Restart both server and Ableton Live
Python Dependencies Missing
Symptoms: Import errors, Module not found errors
Cause: Required packages not installed properly
Solution:
- Run uv sync to install all dependencies
- Verify Python 3.8+ is installed: python --version
- Check virtual environment is activated
- Install missing packages manually: pip install python-osc fastmcp
OSC Messages Not Routing
Symptoms: Commands not affecting Live, No response from controls
Cause: Incorrect OSC routing or message format
Solution:
- Verify OSC address patterns match Live expectations
- Check OSC message format and data types
- Test basic OSC connectivity with simple messages
- Review osc_daemon.py configuration for routing rules
Server Not Found
Symptoms: Command not found errors, Server tools unavailable
Cause: Server not installed or not in PATH
Solution:
- Verify server installation
- Check PATH environment variable
- Install server globally or in project
Configuration Not Loaded
Symptoms: CLAUDE.md changes not recognized, Old server config used
Cause: CLAUDE.md file not in correct location or format
Solution:
- Ensure CLAUDE.md is in project root
- Verify markdown syntax is correct
- Restart Claude Code session
Ableton Live not appearing in Claude Code
Symptoms: Server not listed, Tools not available
Cause: Configuration or installation issue
Solution:
- Verify configuration syntax
- Check Ableton Live installation
- Restart Claude Code
- Check logs for error messages
Next Steps
Now that Ableton Live is integrated with Claude Code:
- Explore all Ableton Live capabilities through Claude Code
- Check out other MCP servers that work with Claude Code
- Join the MCP community for tips and support
- Consider contributing to Ableton Live development
Need Help?
- Search for Ableton Live documentation
- Check the Claude Code MCP guide
- Join the MCP community discussions