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Make the change. Hear what happened. Keep what works.
LivePilot connects an AI client to Ableton Live 12. Sketch ideas, edit the set,
compare versions, and learn from the choices you keep.
474 tools · 57 domains · macOS + Windows
NOTE
LivePilot works with any MCP client, including Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex,
Cursor, VS Code, and Windsurf. Changes inside the Live set use Ableton's undo stack.
Downloads, saved memory, library scans, and installer changes happen outside the set
and cannot be undone from Ableton.
WARNING
LivePilot is moving quickly. Pin a version for repeatable studio or live-performance setups,
and check the changelog before updating.
Start Here
The setup wizard installs the Ableton Remote Script, creates the Python environment,
copies the Max for Live Analyzer, and checks the connection:
Using Claude Desktop? Download the latest livepilot-<version>.mcpb from
Releases and double-click it.
See Install for client-specific setup and manual options.
What's New in v1.30.0
LivePilot now spends far less context describing itself and gives clearer answers about
what it actually knows.
- A focused first contact. Normal sessions advertise 28 useful entry points instead of
sending all 474 schemas up front. The rest remain searchable and directly callable.
- Options that mean something. Decorative Composer, Atlas, and routing parameters are gone;
sample roles and material filters now change the result; unsupported abstract events fail
with concrete guidance instead of disappearing silently.
- Evidence with a label. Mix and evaluation reports separate measured audio, setup-derived
heuristics, and artistic judgment. “Less bright” and other reduction goals now score in the
right direction.
- Depth when it earns its keep. Quick creative requests take a quick path. Three-way
exploration, broad memory reads, and full critic passes are reserved for real ambiguity.
- More resilient sessions. Startup no longer waits on optional services, ambiguous network
failures do not replay destructive edits, and project memory follows the Live set rather than
ordinary edits inside it.
Previous release v1.29.0 introduced learned perceptual taste, honest confidence gates,
optional CLAP distance, and named Arrangement locators.
Full details in the CHANGELOG.
What LivePilot Does
LivePilot works at two levels: exact control when you know what you want, and informed
help when you do not.
| Job | What LivePilot brings |
|---|
| Work directly in Live | Control transport, tracks, clips, notes, devices, routing, mixing, automation, and Arrangement View through explicit tools. |
| Find the right sound | Search Ableton's library, your own plugins and racks, local samples, and Splice before loading anything. |
| Listen before judging | Read live spectral data or analyze rendered audio, then compare the result with the state before the edit. |
| Explore safely | Preview alternatives, keep the winner, and route changes inside the set through Ableton's undo stack. |
| Learn your taste | Remember which moves, devices, and versions you keep across sessions without treating taste as a universal score. |
| Stay aware of the song | Track identity, open creative threads, section roles, and protected elements so local fixes do not flatten the whole piece. |
Under the hood: a 5,264-device atlas, 683 mapped drum kits, 29 sample-processing
techniques, 44 semantic moves, real-time and offline listening, and 12 planning and
evaluation systems. The sections below show how each part works.
Two Ways to Talk to LivePilot
Start with the language that fits the moment. Both routes reach the same tool surface.
Route A — Artist / aesthetic shorthand
"Sound like J Dilla." "Make this feel more like Burial." "BoC-style pads."
Use a producer or genre as shorthand for rhythm, density, space, texture, and device
choices. LivePilot translates the reference into techniques rather than pretending to clone
someone's identity.
Route B — Direct musical intent
"Push the snare 4 ms early, keep the kick on-grid, add ±2 ms timing variation to the hats,
and cut 3 dB around 380 Hz on the snare."
When the detail matters, name it: notes, milliseconds, dB, frequency, modulation depth,
envelope shape, send level, automation curve, scale degree, or voice leading.
Mixing the routes
Most sessions use both. Start broad, listen, then get specific where the track needs it.
Architecture
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ KNOWLEDGE PERCEPTION MEMORY │
│ ────────────── ────────────── ────────────── │
│ │
│ Device Atlas 9-band FFT recall by mood, │
│ 5264 devices RMS / peak genre, texture │
│ 120 enriched pitch tracking 29 techniques │
│ 683 drum kits key detection replay into session │
│ │
│ Sample Engine Corpus Intelligence Taste Graph │
│ Splice (local SQLite) EmotionalRecipe move preferences │
│ Browser search GenreChain device affinities │
│ Filesystem scan PhysicalModelRecipe novelty tolerance │
│ 6 fitness critics AutomationGesture │
│ │
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │ Device │ │ M4L │ │ Technique │ │
│ │ Atlas │──│ Analyzer │──│ Memory │ │
│ └──────┬───────┘ └──────┬───────┘ └──────┬───────┘ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ ┌──────┴───────┐ ┌──────┴───────┐ ┌──────┴───────┐ │
│ │ Sample │ │ Corpus │ │ Composer │ │
│ │ Engine │ │ Intelligence│ │ Engine │ │
│ └──────┬───────┘ └──────┬───────┘ └──────┬───────┘ │
│ └─────────────────┼──────────────────┘ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ 474 MCP Tools │ │
│ │ 57 domains │ │
│ └────────┬────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ Remote Script ──┤── TCP 9878 │
│ M4L Bridge ─────┤── UDP 9880 / OSC 9881 │
│ Splice (local) ─┤── SQLite (downloaded samples) │
│ │ │
│ ┌────────────────┐ │
│ │ Ableton Live │ │
│ │ 12 │ │
│ └────────────────┘ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
How the pieces connect
Remote Script (remote_script/LivePilot/) — A Python ControlSurface that runs inside Ableton's process. Listens on TCP 9878. All Live Object Model calls execute on Ableton's main thread via schedule_message. Detects Ableton version at startup and enables four capability tiers: Core (12.0+), Enhanced Arrangement (12.1.10+), Full Intelligence (12.3+), Collaborative (12.4+).
MCP Server (mcp_server/) — Python FastMCP server. Validates inputs, routes commands to the Remote Script over TCP, manages the M4L bridge, and runs the atlas, sample engine, composer, planning, and evaluation systems. This is what your AI client connects to.
M4L Bridge (m4l_device/) — Optional Max for Live Audio Effect on the master track. Provides deep LOM access through Max's LiveAPI that the ControlSurface API can't reach. UDP 9880 (M4L to server) carries spectral data and LiveAPI responses. OSC 9881 (server to M4L) sends commands. The 38 spectral/analyzer tools strictly require the bridge; device and sample tools that call the bridge also have graceful fallbacks, so core functionality works without it. Backed by 32 bridge commands for hidden parameters, Simpler internals, warp markers, display values, and Simpler warp / Compressor sidechain writes that live on child objects Python can't reach.
Device Atlas (mcp_server/atlas/) — In-memory indexed JSON database. 5264 devices with browser URIs (bundled baseline), 120 enriched with YAML sonic profiles (mood, genre, texture, recommended chains). 7 indexes: by_id, by_name, by_uri, by_category, by_tag, by_genre, by_pack. Reverse-index device_techniques_index.json powers atlas_techniques_for_device (146 cross-references across 58 devices). Device and preset choices resolve against the atlas before loading, which reduces guessed names and dead ends. v1.22.0+: run scan_full_library after install to index your packs, User Library, and plugins into ~/.livepilot/atlas/device_atlas.json — your personal atlas overrides the baseline and survives npm updates.
Sample Engine (mcp_server/sample_engine/) — Searches three sources simultaneously: BrowserSource (Ableton's library), SpliceSource (local Splice catalog via SQLite), FilesystemSource (user directories). Every result passes through a 6-critic fitness battery (key, tempo, spectral, genre, mood, technical). 29 processing techniques (Surgeon precision vs. Alchemist experimentation). Builds complete sample processing plans with warp, slice, and effect recommendations.
Splice Client (mcp_server/splice_client/) — Searches Splice's catalog through two layers: the local SQLite database (sounds.db, already-downloaded samples) and the live gRPC API (full catalog, including samples you haven't downloaded yet). The gRPC client auto-detects Splice's dynamic port via port.conf, handles self-signed TLS, and enforces a 5-credit safety floor before any download. Per-call timeouts (5–10s) prevent a hung Splice process from stalling the MCP event loop. Graceful fallback to SQL-only if grpcio isn't installed. No API key needed — authentication comes from the running Splice desktop app.
Composer (mcp_server/composer/) — Prompt-to-plan pipeline. Parses natural language ("dark minimal techno 128bpm with industrial textures") into a CompositionIntent (genre, mood, tempo, key). Plans layers using role templates (kick, bass, percussion, texture, lead, pad, fx). Compiles to a step-by-step plan of tool calls that the agent executes. Does not execute autonomously — returns the plan. 4 genre defaults (house, techno, trap, ambient) — genres outside this set fall back to a neutral layer plan.
Corpus (mcp_server/corpus/) — Parsed device-knowledge markdown converted to queryable Python structures: EmotionalRecipe, GenreChain, PhysicalModelRecipe, AutomationGesture. Feeds Wonder Mode, Sound Design critics, and the Composer with structured production references at runtime.
Execution Router (mcp_server/runtime/execution_router.py) — Classifies each step in a multi-step plan as remote_command (TCP to Ableton), bridge_command (OSC to M4L), or mcp_tool (internal), then dispatches it through the correct channel.
How LivePilot Makes Decisions
Tools make the edit. These 12 systems help decide what to try, what to protect, what to
compare, and what to remember.
SongBrain — What the Song Is
Builds a real-time model of the session: identity core (what defines this track), sacred elements (what must not be casually damaged), section purposes (what each part is doing emotionally), energy arc (where the song is heading). Detects identity drift when edits pull the track away from what made it work.
Taste Graph — What You Like
Learns your production preferences across sessions. Tracks which move families you keep vs. undo, which devices you gravitate toward, how experimental you want suggestions (novelty band), and which dimensions you avoid. Every accept/reject updates the graph. Two producers using the same tools get different recommendations.
Semantic Moves — Musical Actions, Not Parameters
44 high-level intents across 7 families (mix, arrangement, transition, sound_design, performance, device_creation, sample) — "add contrast," "tighten the low end," "make kick and bass lock," "sample vocal ghost," "destroy then rebuild." Each move compiles into a concrete tool sequence with risk level, target dimensions, and protection thresholds. Analyzer-gated moves (tighten_low_end, make_kick_bass_lock) mark their spectrum pre-reads as optional so the plan continues even when the analyzer isn't available. The plan shows its tradeoffs before anything changes.
Wonder Mode — Stuck-Rescue Workflow
When a session is stuck — repeated undos, overpolished loops, no structural progress — Wonder Mode activates:
- Diagnose — classify the stuckness (loop trap? missing contrast? identity unclear?)
- Generate — find semantic moves that address the diagnosis, enforcing real distinctness
- Preview — apply each variant, capture, undo. Hear before committing
- Commit or Reject — choice recorded into taste and session continuity
Creative Engines
| Engine | What it does |
|---|
| Mix Engine | Critic-driven analysis: masking, headroom, stereo, dynamics. Plans corrective moves with before/after evaluation |
| Sound Design Engine | Analyzes patches for static timbre, missing modulation, weak transients. Suggests parameter moves |
| Transition Engine | Classifies transition types (drop, build, breakdown). Scores quality, plans improvements from archetypes |
| Composition Engine | Section analysis, motif detection, emotional arcs. Plans structural moves |
| Performance Engine | Safety-constrained suggestions for live sets. Knows which moves risk audio dropouts |
| Reference Engine | Distills principles from reference tracks. Maps them to your session as concrete moves |
Hook Hunter
Identifies the most salient musical idea — ranks candidates by recurrence across scenes, motif salience, and section placement (payoff-section boost). Tracks whether hooks are developed, neglected, or undermined, and flags when a transition fails to deliver expected payoff. Rhythm-side ranking is currently heuristic (drum-track detection + clip reuse); true onset-based rhythmic features are on the roadmap.
Session Continuity
Maintains creative threads ("the chorus needs more lift") and turn resolutions across the session. When you return to a project: "Last time, you kept the filter sweep for the bridge. The chorus lift thread is still open."
Evaluation Loop
Every engine follows: measure before → act → measure after → compare. If a change made things worse (more masking, lost headroom, identity drift), the system flags it before you move on.
LivePilot has 474 tools across 57 domains, but it no longer sends that entire
schema to the AI on every connection. The default producer profile exposes a
focused 26-tool production loop plus search_tools and call_tool; every other
tool remains searchable and directly callable by name. This keeps the initial
catalog under 40 KB while preserving the full system.
Use LIVEPILOT_TOOL_PROFILE=composition, mixing, or sampling to pin more
domain tools. Set LIVEPILOT_TOOL_PROFILE=full for legacy clients or catalog
diagnostics. Highlights below — full catalog here.
Core Ableton Control — highlights
| Domain | # | What it covers |
|---|
| Transport | 12 | playback, tempo, time sig, loop, metronome, undo/redo, cue points, diagnostics |
| Tracks | 17 | create MIDI/audio/return, delete, duplicate, arm, mute, solo, color, freeze, flatten |
| Clips | 11 | create, delete, duplicate, fire, stop, loop, launch mode, warp mode, quantize |
| Notes | 8 | add/get/remove/modify MIDI notes, transpose, duplicate, per-note probability |
| Devices | 19 | load by name or URI, insert native (12.3+), get/set parameters, batch edit, racks, chains, drum chain note assignment, presets, plugin deep control |
| Scenes | 12 | create, delete, duplicate, fire, name, color, tempo, scene matrix |
| Browser | 4 | search library, browse tree, load items, filter by category |
| Mixing | 11 | volume, pan, sends, routing, meters, return tracks, master, full mix snapshot |
| Arrangement | 21 | timeline clips, native arrangement clips (12.1.10+), arrangement notes, automation, recording, cue points |
| Automation | 8 | 16 curve types, 15 recipes (filter sweep, sidechain pump, dub throw...), spectral suggestions |
| Theory | 7 | Krumhansl-Schmuckler key detection, Roman numeral analysis, species counterpoint, SATB harmonization |
| Harmony | 4 | neo-Riemannian PRL transforms, Tonnetz navigation, voice leading paths, chromatic mediants |
| Generative | 5 | Euclidean rhythm (Bjorklund), tintinnabuli (Arvo Part), phase shift (Steve Reich), additive process (Philip Glass) |
| Memory | 8 | save, recall, replay, manage production techniques by mood/genre/texture |
| MIDI I/O | 4 | export/import .mid, offline analysis, piano roll extraction |
| Perception | 4 | offline loudness (integrated LUFS, LRA), spectral analysis, reference comparison |
The M4L Analyzer sits on the master track. UDP 9880 carries spectral data to the server. OSC 9881 sends commands back. The ensure_analyzer_on_master pre-flight (v1.20.3) loads the analyzer idempotently when an audio-dependent decision needs it.
TIP
Most tools work without the analyzer — it adds 38 spectral/analyzer tools (frequency, loudness, perception, Simpler, warp) and closes the feedback loop.
SPECTRAL ─────── 9-band frequency decomposition (sub_low → air)
sub_low (20-60 Hz) split off so kick fundamentals don't hide inside sub
true RMS / peak metering
Krumhansl-Schmuckler key detection
DEEP LOM ─────── hidden parameters beyond ControlSurface API
automation state per parameter
recursive device tree (6 levels into nested racks)
human-readable display values as shown in Live's UI
SIMPLER ──────── replace / load samples
get slice points, crop, reverse
warp to N beats, get audio file paths
WARP ─────────── get / add / move / remove markers
tempo manipulation at the sample level
The atlas is an in-memory indexed database of Ableton's entire device library.
5264 devices total
120 enriched with sonic intelligence (mood, genre, texture, chains)
47 with aesthetic-tagged signature_techniques
683 drum kits mapped with note assignments
7 indexes: by_id, by_name, by_uri, by_category, by_tag, by_genre, by_pack
146 technique cross-references across 58 devices (reverse-index)
atlas_search Search devices by name, category, or tag
atlas_device_info Full enriched profile for a single device
atlas_suggest Suggest devices for a musical intent (e.g., "warm pad")
atlas_chain_suggest Build a device chain from a genre, artist, or purpose
atlas_compare Compare two devices side-by-side
atlas_describe_chain Free-text describe-a-chain ("granular pad like Tim Hecker")
atlas_techniques_for_device Reverse-lookup: what techniques reference this device?
atlas_pack_info Inspect a single Ableton pack — devices + enrichment coverage
scan_full_library Scan what's actually installed on this machine
reload_atlas Hot-reload the atlas after adding enrichments
extension_atlas_search [v1.23.0+] Search user-local atlas overlays
extension_atlas_get [v1.23.0+] Fetch a single overlay entry by namespace
extension_atlas_list [v1.23.0+] Enumerate overlay namespaces + entity_type counts
# Pack-Atlas Phase C-F (v1.23.4+) — corpus-driven orchestration
atlas_macro_fingerprint [v1.23.4+] "More like this" — find similar presets across 3,813 sidecars by macro fingerprint
atlas_transplant [v1.23.4+] Adapt a demo / preset / workflow to new BPM, scale, or aesthetic — PRESERVE / SCALE / REMAP / REPLACE decisions
atlas_demo_story [v1.23.4+] Track-by-track narrative + production sequence inference for any of 104 factory demo .als
atlas_extract_chain [v1.23.4+] Surgically rebuild a demo track's device chain as an executable plan (load_browser_item + insert_device + set_device_parameter)
atlas_pack_aware_compose [v1.23.4+] Bootstrap a project with pack-coherent track selection from an aesthetic brief; supports `pack_diversity="eclectic"` mode
atlas_cross_pack_chain [v1.23.4+] Execute any of 15 cross-pack workflow recipes step-by-step with aesthetic overrides (target_scale / target_bpm / transpose_semitones)
v1.23.0 — User-local extensions: Drop YAML files at ~/.livepilot/atlas-overlays/<namespace>/ to extend the atlas with custom hardware libraries, signature chains, or technique recipes — survives npm updates. See docs/EXTENSION_API.md.
v1.23.4 — Pack-Atlas Phases C/D/E/F: Six new corpus-driven orchestration tools turn the 3,917 parsed pack sidecars + 104 demo .als parses into actionable artifacts — find similar presets, transplant aesthetics across BPM/scale/genre, narrate a demo, extract a track's chain as a runnable plan, bootstrap pack-coherent compositions, run any of 15 cross-pack workflow recipes. All execution is dry-run by default — returns plans, doesn't auto-mutate the session.
Why this exists. The factory atlas covers what Ableton ships. Most studios also have
third-party plugins, Max for Live devices, custom racks, presets, and sample packs. The corpus
builder indexes that local library so recommendations can use tools you actually own.
The corpus builder turns what is installed on your machine into searchable production context:
Phase 1 — DETECT Walk plugin folders + run `auval -a` for AUv3 / Mac Catalyst
coverage. Captures format (VST3/AU/AAX/CLAP/LV2),
vendor, version, bundle ID. ~40-200 plugins typical.
Phase 2 — CANONICALIZE Dedupe by vendor+name, prefer VST3 over AU, strip vendor
suffix variants ("Valhalla DSP, LLC" = "Valhalladsp" =
"Valhalla DSP"). Cluster by vendor for batch research.
Phase 3 — RESEARCH Discover local manual files (PDFs, READMEs) per plugin.
Prepare focused plugin and technique research tasks.
Phase 4 — SYNTHESIZE Build a per-plugin identity.yaml
with sonic_fingerprint / reach_for / avoid / key_techniques /
parameter_glossary / comparable_plugins / genre_affinity /
producer_anchors. Keep one primary format tag (no
dual-indexing across formats).
The result lives at ~/.livepilot/atlas-overlays/user/plugins/<plugin_id>/identity.yaml and is available to atlas_search, atlas_chain_suggest, atlas_macro_fingerprint, and atlas_describe_chain alongside the factory atlas. Every result names its source (factory_atlas or user_overlay:user), so you can see whether a recommendation comes from Ableton stock or your own gear.
corpus_setup_wizard One-shot orchestration — runs the full pipeline
corpus_init Initialize ~/.livepilot/corpus/ + manifest.yaml
corpus_status Inspect manifest, sources, scan history
corpus_list_scanners Enumerate registered scanner types
corpus_add_source Register a new scan source (project / racks / Max / samples)
corpus_remove_source Remove a scan source from manifest
corpus_scan Run scanners on configured sources
corpus_detect_plugins Phase 1 — VST3 / AU / AUv3 / VST2 / AAX / LV2 detection
corpus_canonicalize_plugins Phase 2 — dedupe + VST3-preferred + suffix strip
corpus_cluster_plugins Phase 2.5 — group by vendor for efficient research dispatch
corpus_trim_plugin_identity Slim a yaml to the overlay-required minimum
corpus_discover_manuals Phase 3 — locate local PDFs / READMEs per plugin
corpus_research_targets Phase 3 — prepare research tasks for the agent
corpus_emit_synthesis_briefs Phase 4 — prepare identity briefs per plugin
Why this matters. A static index goes stale when your library changes. Re-scan after adding
a plugin or rack and LivePilot can consider it alongside Ableton's factory devices.
Quick start:
corpus_setup_wizard
corpus_detect_plugins use_auval=true
corpus_canonicalize_plugins
corpus_cluster_plugins
corpus_research_targets
corpus_emit_synthesis_briefs
See docs/USER_CORPUS_GUIDE.md for full walk-through, docs/PLUGIN_KNOWLEDGE_ENGINE.md for engine internals, and livepilot/skills/livepilot-corpus-builder/SKILL.md for the agent skill that drives the pipeline.
Search Ableton, local folders, and Splice together, then rank results against the musical
role instead of returning a pile of filenames.
SOURCES ─────────── BrowserSource (Ableton's built-in library)
SpliceSource (local Splice catalog via SQLite)
FilesystemSource (user-specified directories)
Splice LIVE (gRPC + GraphQL for the full catalog)
CRITICS ─────────── key fitness · tempo fitness · spectral match
genre alignment · mood alignment · technical quality
TECHNIQUES ─────── 29 processing recipes:
Surgeon (precise, transparent) vs.
Alchemist (experimental, transformative)
PLAN-AWARE ─────── Ableton Live plan 100 samples/day (no credit drain)
Sounds+/Creator CREDIT_HARD_FLOOR=5 safety gate
Free samples bypass both gates
Sample analysis & planning
analyze_sample Build complete SampleProfile (material, key, BPM, spectral)
search_samples Multi-source search with critic scoring
evaluate_sample_fit Score a candidate sample against session context
suggest_sample_technique Recommend processing technique for a sample
plan_sample_workflow Full processing pipeline: warp + slice + effects
plan_slice_workflow Slice-specific workflow for breaks / drum loops
get_sample_opportunities Surface sample-friendly spots in the session
Splice LIVE (catalog, collections, presets)
get_splice_credits Plan + remaining credits + daily quota state
splice_catalog_hunt Query the full Splice catalog (gRPC)
splice_download_sample Plan-aware download (credit floor + quota check)
splice_preview_sample Zero-cost audition via PreviewURL
splice_describe_sound Natural-language search via Splice GraphQL
splice_generate_variation Find catalog samples similar to a given UUID
splice_list_collections Enumerate user's Likes / bass / keys folders
splice_search_in_collection / add_to_collection / remove_from_collection / create_collection
splice_list_presets Purchased instrument presets
splice_preset_info · splice_download_preset
splice_pack_info Per-pack metadata
splice_http_diagnose Debug the Splice HTTPS bridge
Splice Integration
LivePilot reads Splice's local SQLite database to search your downloaded samples with full metadata. No API key needed — it reads the database file directly.
What it does:
- Searches your downloaded Splice samples with key, BPM, genre, and tag metadata
- Integrates as a third source alongside Ableton's browser and filesystem scanning
- Works without a Splice subscription — any previously downloaded samples are searchable
How it works: The Sample Engine's SpliceSource reads ~/Library/Application Support/com.splice.Splice/users/default/*/sounds.db — Splice's local SQLite catalog of downloaded samples. Read-only, no network calls.
Requirements: Splice desktop app running (the MCP server talks to it over gRPC at a dynamic port advertised via port.conf, with self-signed TLS). For fully offline search, previously-downloaded samples are always searchable via the local SQLite fallback even if the Splice app isn't running.
Composer — three modes (v1.25.0)
Prompt-to-plan composition workflow. Three modes share the same safety checks: reconnect the
bridge, load the analyzer when needed, set monitoring correctly on new tracks, and return to
Arrangement View after the build. The work stays visible as a sequence of tool calls.
"dark minimal techno 128bpm with industrial textures and ghostly vocals"
│
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Prompt Parser │ → CompositionIntent (genre, mood, tempo, key)
└────────┬────────┘
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Layer Planner │ → role templates (kick, bass, perc, texture, lead, pad, fx)
└────────┬────────┘
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Plan Compiler │ → executable tool sequences
└────────┬────────┘
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Execution Router │ → dispatches: create tracks, search samples, load devices,
│ │ program notes, set volumes, build arrangement
└─────────────────┘
fast mode — compose_fast_apply
Quick loop sketch. Single scene in session view. Intended for roughing out ideas quickly.
- Hunt order: curated
.adg chains from the browser first, atlas devices second, bare instruments only as last resort
- Drum-role pitch repair included (Simpler default root vs. MIDI 36 offset)
- 4 genre defaults: house, techno, trap, ambient (unknown genres fall back to a neutral layer plan)
- Invoke with: "Make me a [genre] loop at [tempo] BPM"
full mode — compose_full_apply
Full track with song form: intro, verse, hook, breakdown, outro. Uses a two-phase LLM-creative brief flow — the LLM authors the form (sections, track list, per-section variants); the framework supplies the vocabulary (device hunt order, MIDI generation rules, arrangement conventions).
- Per-section MIDI variants prevent repeated tiles across the arrangement
- Native arrangement clips via
create_native_arrangement_clip (one clip per section, looped to fill section length)
- Zombie-track cleanup in postflight (removes tracks with no clips and no instrument device)
- Drum-role pitch repair ported from fast mode
- Atlas anchors: role-level device knowledge is supplied through
KnowledgePack.atlas_anchors, which consults the indexed atlas rather than filename matching. The older atlas_candidates_per_role field is a deprecated legacy stub, kept empty for back-compat.
- Invoke with: "Write a full [genre] track at [tempo] BPM" or "Build a full arrangement"
develop mode — develop_apply
Extends an existing 8-bar loop without disturbing the seed material.
- Introspects the existing session (classifies tracks by name and content)
- Pulls artist and stylistic references from the user prompt
- Writes per-track variants and new supporting layers alongside the seed
- Invoke with: "Develop this loop" or "Extend what's here into a longer idea"
KnowledgePack scaffolding (v1.25.0)
All three modes share a KnowledgePack that provides structured creative context at runtime:
event_lexicon — 42 structural events across 7 categories (drum density, harmonic, texture, vocal, rhythm feel, tension, fx gesture)genre_context — parses the 15-genre genre-vocabularies.md at load timeartist_context — parses the ~25-producer artist-vocabularies.md at load timeatlas_anchors — indexed-atlas device anchors per role (replaced the legacy atlas_candidates_per_role stub)
compose — plan a multi-layer composition from text prompt (entry point, mode-agnostic)compose_fast_apply — execute fast mode directlycompose_full_apply — execute full mode directlydevelop_apply — execute develop mode directlyaugment_with_samples — plan sample-based layers for an existing sessionget_composition_plan — dry-run preview (see the plan without credit checks)
Generate M4L audio effect devices from gen~ templates and install them into Ableton's browser.
forge_device Generate a device from a gen~ template
forge_list_templates Browse available gen~ templates
forge_install Install generated device to browser
These tools read the session, diagnose problems, plan changes, compare results, and carry
useful context into the next decision.
| Domain | # | What it does |
|---|
| Agent OS | 8 | session kernel, action ledger, capability state, routing, turn budget |
| Composition | 9 | section analysis, motif detection, emotional arc, form planning |
| Evaluation | 1 | before/after evaluation with structured scoring |
| Mix Engine | 6 | critic-driven mix analysis, masking, headroom, stereo, dynamics |
| Sound Design | 4 | patch analysis, modulation planning, timbre scoring |
| Transition Engine | 5 | transition classification, scoring, archetype-based planning |
| Reference Engine | 5 | reference profiling, principle distillation, gap analysis |
| Translation Engine | 3 | cross-domain translation, issue detection |
| Performance Engine | 3 | safety-constrained suggestions, safe moves, scene handoff |
| Song Brain | 3 | identity inference, sacred elements, drift monitoring |
| Hook Hunter | 9 | hook detection, salience scoring, neglect detection, phrase impact |
| Stuckness Detector | 3 | momentum analysis, rescue classification, rescue workflows |
| Wonder Mode | 3 | diagnosis-driven variants, taste-aware ranking |
| Session Continuity | 7 | creative threads, turn resolution, session story |
| Creative Constraints | 5 | constraint activation, reference-inspired variants |
| Preview Studio | 5 | variant creation, preview rendering, comparison, commit |
View all 474 tools →
Install
Claude Desktop: one-click install
Download the latest livepilot-<version>.mcpb from the Releases page and double-click it.
Claude Desktop installs everything automatically. Then:
- Open Ableton Live 12
- Preferences → Link, Tempo & MIDI → Control Surface → LivePilot
- Start chatting
TIP
The Desktop Extension auto-installs the Remote Script and M4L Analyzer on first launch.
Terminal: one-command setup
Runs the full setup wizard: checks Python, installs the Remote Script, creates the Python environment, copies the M4L Analyzer, and tests the Ableton connection.
Manual: Step by Step
1. Remote Script
Restart Ableton → Preferences → Link, Tempo & MIDI → Control Surface → LivePilot
2. MCP Client
Claude Code — pick one (installing both registers the MCP server twice and collides on port 9878):
claude mcp add LivePilot -- npx livepilot
claude plugin marketplace add github:dreamrec/LivePilot
claude plugin install livepilot@dreamrec-LivePilot
Codex App:
npx livepilot --install-codex-plugin
Claude Desktop (macOS) — ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"LivePilot": { "command": "npx", "args": ["livepilot"] }
}
}
Claude Desktop (Windows):
npm install -g livepilot
livepilot --install
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"LivePilot": { "command": "livepilot" }
}
}
Cursor — .cursor/mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"LivePilot": { "command": "npx", "args": ["livepilot"] }
}
}
VS Code — .vscode/mcp.json:
{
"servers": {
"LivePilot": { "command": "npx", "args": ["livepilot"] }
}
}
3. M4L Analyzer (optional — adds 38 tools)
Drag LivePilot_Analyzer.amxd onto the master track for real-time spectral analysis.
The --setup wizard and Desktop Extension install both the device and its sibling bridge script automatically. From v1.20.3, your AI client can also call ensure_analyzer_on_master — an idempotent pre-flight that loads the device if missing and no-ops otherwise. Creative workflows call it only when the decision or verification needs audio evidence.
Important: The Analyzer must be the LAST device on the master track — after all effects (EQ, Compressor, Utility) so it reads the final output signal. The pre-flight tool reports is_last_on_master: bool and warns if the invariant is broken.
4. Splice (optional — adds sample catalog)
If you have Splice installed with downloaded samples, the Sample Engine can search them with full metadata (key, BPM, genre, tags) via the local SQLite database.
No API key, no configuration — the Sample Engine reads Splice's sounds.db file directly.
Without Splice, the Sample Engine still searches Ableton's browser and your filesystem.
Verify
Plugin
Codex App
npx livepilot --install-codex-plugin
Claude Code
claude plugin marketplace add github:dreamrec/LivePilot
claude plugin install livepilot@dreamrec-LivePilot
| Command | What |
|---|
/session | Full session overview with diagnostics |
/beat | Guided beat creation |
/arrange | Guided arrangement and song structure |
/mix | Mixing assistant |
/sounddesign | Sound design workflow |
/perform | Live performance mode with safety constraints |
/evaluate | Before/after evaluation of recent changes |
/memory | Technique library management |
Producer Agent — handles longer jobs in visible stages: reads the session,
checks what you kept, searches the library, proposes a plan, applies edits, and
listens back. You stay in charge of what remains in the set.
Core Skill — keeps the work disciplined: search before loading, measure before
and after, preserve undo, and verify every change.
CLI
npx livepilot
npx livepilot --setup
npx livepilot --install
npx livepilot --uninstall
npx livepilot --install-codex-plugin
npx livepilot --uninstall-codex-plugin
npx livepilot --status
npx livepilot --doctor
npx livepilot --version
Compatibility
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|
| Ableton Live | 12 (any edition). Suite required for Max for Live bridge and stock instruments |
| Python | 3.12+ (scipy>=1.18 requires Python 3.12) |
| Node.js | 18+ |
| OS | macOS / Windows |
| Splice | Desktop app with downloaded samples (optional — enables SQLite metadata search) |
Version tiers:
- Core (12.0+): All session tools, mixing, devices, MIDI, theory, generative, memory
- Enhanced Arrangement (12.1.10+): Native arrangement clips, arrangement automation
- Full Intelligence (12.3+):
insert_device_native, complete device insertion pipeline
- Collaborative (12.4+):
replace_sample_native and newer sample-editing routes that bypass the M4L fallback when Live exposes a native LOM path
Development
git clone https://github.com/dreamrec/LivePilot.git
cd LivePilot
python3 -m venv .venv && .venv/bin/pip install -r requirements.txt
.venv/bin/pip install pytest pytest-asyncio
.venv/bin/pytest tests/ -v
See CONTRIBUTING.md for architecture details, code guidelines, and how to add tools.
Documentation
| Document | What's inside |
|---|
| Manual | Complete reference: architecture, all 474 tools, workflows |
| Planning & evaluation | How the 12 decision systems connect — conductor, moves, preview, evaluation |
| Device Atlas | 5264 devices indexed — search, suggest, chain building |
| Samples & Slicing | 3-source search, fitness critics, slice workflows |
| Automation | 16 curve types, 15 recipes, spectral suggestions |
| Composition | Composer, section analysis, arrangement planning |
| Getting Started | Zero to sound in five minutes |
| Workflows | Beats, session setup, sound design, arrangement, mixing |
| MIDI Guide | Drum patterns, scales, chords, humanization |
| Sound Design | Instruments, effects, parameter recipes |
| Mixing | Gain staging, EQ, compression, sends, stereo width |
| M4L Bridge | Technical reference for the Max for Live analyzer |
| Troubleshooting | Connection issues, common errors, diagnostics |
Support
LivePilot is source-available under the Business Source License 1.1.
If it earns a place in your sessions, you can support its continued development:
Sponsor on GitHub
Sponsorship funds deeper Ableton coverage, cross-platform testing, and maintained technique
libraries. Sponsors also get early builds and direct support.
BSL-1.1 — Pilot Studio
Sister projects: TDPilot (TouchDesigner) · ComfyPilot (ComfyUI)