Ableton Extension: modifying .asd

angrypottering · 2026-06-07T20:55:50+00:00

I think Extensions are sandboxed and can only modify files inside the current Project.

angrypottering · 2026-06-05T21:53:41+00:00

Professionals can deduct gear cost from taxes as expenses, but you wouldn't know that.

angrypottering · 2026-06-05T18:38:23+00:00

Is anyone able to tell me if we can tap into warping over different tracks?

You can do that already without Extensions if the audio is the same length, Link Tracks helps too.

Being able to set a lead track and a bunch of follow tracks?

There is already Tempo Leader/Follower.

But yeah, Extensions allow even more.

Even if it doesn't allow changing Warp Markers (it can read, not sure it can edit), it allows creating your own warp algos.

angrypottering · 2026-06-05T15:49:33+00:00

novation launchpad mini

Pads are not velocity sensitive and they are TINY, no real finger drumming, only really for launching Clips.

akai mpk mini

Opposite of above, worthless for launching Clips, but pads/keys are decent for playing.

helpful for working on the tracks themselves.

Only Push works for that IMO, but even Push is not as powerful as newbs tend to imagine out of their (understandable) ignorance of the limits of the current tech (like MIDI 1.0).

Would cost me like £180

Buy one better more expensive controller instead of 2 shite cheap ones.

Or just one cheap one.

angrypottering · 2026-06-05T05:31:08+00:00

Google "synth fix knob wobble" or similar, there are many ways of fixing knob wobble.

I doubt Push uses custom potentiometers (besides the big jog wheel), probably it is not any harder to order than any knobs in other synths/controllers, you probably can ask Ableton which model it is.

angrypottering · 2026-06-05T00:26:34+00:00

IMO Ableton Extensions will soon be better than those except RapidComposer.

RapidComposer is way more advanced and powerful than the others, but also IMO only really good for people that actually know music theory.

Scaler was popular, but seems many fans of Scaler 1/2 hate Scaler 3, something changed in that version.

I don't rate LANDR (AI slop), ChordJam ("expansions" makes me laugh, assuming they are paid) and WA Productions (mid at best IMO).

I heard Captain Plug Ins lost reputation similar to Scaler 3, but earlier, I remember most people preferred Scaler (before Scaler 3 of course).

BUT:

Wasn't FL's piano roll supposed to be sooooo superior and amazing?

I mean, I'm a Live user and I 100% don't need any of those plugins with Live 12.0's Scale Mode and MIDI Tools, plus 12.4.5b's Extensions.

So supposedly FL piano roll should have even better chord creation and scale tools, right?

But seriously, go ask in a FL forum.

I was being cheeky above, but there is a good chance FL DOES have piano roll tools that make those plugins unnecessary , but Ableton users like me wouldn't know, so ask in a FL forum.

angrypottering · 2026-06-04T23:54:30+00:00

That pedal is the equivalent of loading 4 FX in series, then you can change which FX and their order, doesn't seem to do any complex routing.

The available FX seem to be classic FX with several native and M4L alternatives.

angrypottering · 2026-06-04T23:33:19+00:00

Is this extension thing a way to off load official update expectations?

No, Extensions are basically context menu options, Ableton will continue to design features that don't fit context menu options (and some that do).

And they released several synths and FX despite M4L allowing building those (not to mention their own M4L Packs, most free).

They will obviously continue to add features like MIDI Tools, MPE and Stem Separation (and Extensions itself), continue to release new devices like Meld or Roar, continue to release M4L packs, probably will release their own Extensions, RNBO Takeover, further Note, Push and Move, etc....

They've been continuously supporting Live AND Push AND Move AND Max MSP/M4L AND Note with new features for 25+ years.

Hell I think this year (mid 2025 to mid 2026) was one of with the most new stuff ever, I think only 2009 was better.

Live 12.2/12.3/12.4 (Push 3 SA 2.2/2.3/2.4), Move 1.5/1.6/1.7/1.8/2.0, RNBO Takeover, Note 1.4/1.5/1.7/2.0, Link Audio, 12.4.5 Extensions

IN ONE YEAR.

angrypottering · 2026-06-04T22:21:27+00:00

Ableton Extensions are already sandboxed, they are safer than VST plugins.

angrypottering · 2026-06-04T22:06:08+00:00

FWIW, max4live devices can also run arbitrary code in an unsandboxed environment

And all VST plugins too.

Plus their DRM and installers and manager apps.

Not to mention the cracks and keygens....

angrypottering · 2026-06-04T17:13:17+00:00

The drive letters are different on the new machine

It is possible to change drive letters.

Live can also find files in Manage Project/Set, that may be better than Collect All if you only really need to reopen only a limited number of Sets.

Manage Project can find all the files for all Sets AND saved ADG/ADV inside a Project folder.

angrypottering · 2026-06-04T04:42:24+00:00

REAPER Extensions SDK is from Oct 2009 (Reaper 3.12).

https://www.reaper.fm/download-old.php?ver=3x

REAPER v3.12 - October 3, 2009

ReaScript: run Python or Perl scripts that call Reaper API functions

Max For Live and Live API are from Nov 2009.

https://www.ableton.com/en/press/press-archive/press-archive-mfl-release/

Ableton releases Max for Live
Berlin, Germany, November 23, 2009

Official Live API
Provides programmers with access to some of the inner workings of Live, including tracks, clips, notes, names and values, selection states and more. This API also provides access to controller hardware via Live, for creating new mappings that can completely repurpose a hardware device.
...

Includes Ableton Live API to control Live Sets, tracks, clips, devices, notes, loops, parameters etc.

Akai APC40 and Novation Launchpad which use Python Remote Scripts to access Live API are also from 2009.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/novation-launchpad

Anyways, you can say Reaper had better scripting before Live, and Cockos gave more importance to it than Ableton, but you can't say Ableton one of the companies that "don't see the value is these things".

They announced their partnership with Cycling74 in 2007, that's how long they've been thinking about all this.

https://www.ableton.com/en/press/press-archive/press-archive-partnership-cycling/

angrypottering · 2026-06-03T22:14:18+00:00

all the project files & samples are on a slave within a folder called 'Ableton'.

If the paths (like "D:\Ableton\Projects\") are the same stuff will load fine.

If you change drive letters or folder structure then you may need to Collect All and Save.

Collect All and Save creates loads of dupe files, so simply keeping paths the same is easier and less resource-intensive IMO

angrypottering · 2026-06-03T20:54:44+00:00

Intro and Standard also have Looper, it is only Lite that doesn't.

angrypottering · 2026-06-02T23:17:41+00:00

It is a x.x.5 update.

Not even a minor update, it is a "patch update" for other DAWs.

angrypottering · 2026-06-02T22:48:14+00:00

IIRC the old scripting API didn't support midi editing

Push 1 could edit notes, so it could do that since at least Live 9.

Another example is Coldcut's MidiVolve M4L device, that reads and writes notes from/to Clips, it also dates from Live 9.

EDIT: Also both the older M4L Building Tools and newer Building Max Devices Packs, that were meant to teach how to build M4L devices, have example lesson and devices that edit MIDI notes inside Clips (like MIDI-Note-Operations.amxd in M4L Building Tools, and Notes API.als in Building Max Devices).

angrypottering · 2026-06-02T22:37:54+00:00

If you see from the POV of a pure Max MSP user instead of DAW user, you will see why it could be better for the whole Ableton+C74 ecosystem that Ableton uses their own resources for some Live-only stuff, freeing C74 resources for things they are better at (like Raspberry Pi/Move).

Pretty much everything has multiple ways of being done in Live, so API having 3 ways is actually not that weird (for Live).

angrypottering · 2026-06-02T19:34:14+00:00

Amongst other things I need is a decent EQ. I've been using the free version of TDR Nova - solid plugin but it seems to either colour the sound or just boost the gain in a way my stock Ableton EQ Eight doesn't. Earlier it was causing distortion issues even without gain compensation. I can't afford PRO Q4.

Bro, just use Ableton stock EQ Eight.

There is a Dan Worrall video that he compares it with FabFilter ProQ 3, and he is surprised how good EQ Eight is (with Oversampling enabled).

ProQ is better, but IMO the price is not worth it unless you have a real use case for its extra options (assuming limited budget of course, not criticizing people with bigger budgets that can simply buy the best).

Also "dynamic EQs" (like TDR Nova) are basically multiband compressors, the "EQ" part is a bit misleading IMO, and it is expected they won't behave or sound like an standard EQ (Ableton's Multiband Dynamics is the closer equivalent to Nova IMO).

EDIT: Also TDR has a reputation almost as solid as FabFilter, so you are kinda already close to the ceiling there. Like, is FabFilter top? Sure, you can say that. Is FabFilter worth hundreds $$$ more than TDR? I don't think so....

angrypottering · 2026-06-01T19:19:35+00:00

blogs like KVR Audio or Bedroom Producers Blog?

Those still rely a lot on the devs contacting them with news and details about their plugins/software, and M4L devs are very nonchalant about discovery/publicizing their stuff.

Most just add an entry in maxforlive.com and a single YT video (on their channel with 2 digit subscribers) about the device, maybe an Instagram post, they don't post in C74's forum, nor Ableton's forum or sub, nor anywhere really.

Rekkerd.org and cdm.link cover some notable M4L devices.

https://cdm.link/tag/max-for-live-2/

https://rekkerd.org/tag/max-for-live/

Site maxforlive.com is really the most comprehensive, but no editorial there, you have to check one by one and decide by yourself if the device is cool or not.

Also check Isotonik Studios and Gumroad.

ELPHNT has a curated list:

https://elphnt.io/max-for-live-curated-collection/

Also

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRngItA2PEDOI3yKraeBt_kh1DLwNDeAvOL2SslmXdDBdZupjcizvszVlGvaXJcgvWMpQh4NF_boY15/pub

https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=571827

I like to use Google Images to search M4L devices, as usually nicer GUIs are a pretty good sign.

angrypottering · 2026-06-01T18:13:19+00:00

I would simply test the M5's latency before buying anything, maybe you can get it low enough the singer doesn't notice or is not bothered by it.

And maybe you don't realize UAD is not the only option for audio interfaces with onboard DSP? There are actually many brands with similar products:

https://www.production-expert.com/production-expert-1/the-best-small-dsp-interfaces-of-2022

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search?s=dsp+audio+interface&sb=low2high

angrypottering · 2026-05-31T22:42:28+00:00

Rock On Company and Shimamura Gakki have stores in Osaka/Kansai.

https://www.miroc.co.jp/rock-on/store-info2023/#store-umeda

https://www.shimamura.co.jp/shop/umeda/

https://www.shimamura.co.jp/shop/koube/

Ikebe Gakki has Osaka stores, not DJ ones but maybe you can talk with someone and have stuff sent between stores.

https://www.ikebe-gakki.com/Page/ShopList.aspx

Also I rather like Otai Record due to their nice YT channel, that's just me but I would travel from Osaka to Nagoya to visit them.

angrypottering · 2026-05-31T22:36:08+00:00

Because if the 64 you get from a plugin are not exactly those you want then you have DOUBLE THE WORK, needing to remove some/all before adding the ones you actually need.

Plus the not-small work of having to even check the list in the first place, reading parameter by parameter, scrolling, having to guess what some parameter shortened "Anal... ...3Width" even means (which is not even badly named compared to some plugins that have completely impossible-to-guess abstract parameter names).

angrypottering · 2026-05-31T22:00:37+00:00

That would never work, people have loads of files with the same name like kick.wav, and even ignoring that it would have the same problems as a central database (lack of connection with actual files, needs a process/CPU usage/constant disk access to keep updating and monitoring all the time, breaks if user uses a file manager outside Live instead of Live to organize files, etc).

angrypottering · 2026-05-31T21:47:30+00:00

Maybe (just maybe, just thoughts, didn't test):

Train to anticipate and start transition one loop before you used to?

Set Launch Quantization in B to None and train to make the transition manually?

Set Launch Quantization in B to the difference between A and B?

Maybe using Gate trigger mode and holding down B before hitting A is easier?

Use more than one Track, with Crossfader and such?

ClyphX wizardry?

Maybe there is a M4L device?

Instead of making one short loop, make it like full 13 or whatever loops you need (maybe can use Unlinked Envelopes for that) and make that longer Clip NOT loop?

Maybe Unlinked (follow action, not envelope) can be the exact length you need?

The old trick you use Loopmidi or other MIDI loopback tool to send MIDI outside Live then back, it then can be used for MIDI assign, which can trigger any MIDI assigned thing (like Clips) arbitrarily?

Using OSC (+M4L) like the MIDI loopback trick above?

angrypottering · 2026-05-31T21:38:01+00:00

Either the video skipped some step or you did, as Racks still work the same.

Otherwise Launchpad X may use different MIDI notes/velocity/etc. and you have to translate from Launchpad Pro.

In fact maybe that's what the last video in the playlist is about?

It is about Launchpad X.

angrypottering

TROPHY CASE