| name | Ableton Tone Recipes |
| description | This skill should be used when the user asks to "dial in a [sound]", "recreate a Rhodes/dub-bass/supersaw tone", "set device parameters", "build a patch without presets", "make this synth sound like X", or wants a tone designed parametrically in Ableton Live. Inserts a native device and SETS its parameters via the API (since browser presets cannot be loaded). |
| version | 0.1.0 |
Ableton Tone Recipes
Design sounds parametrically. The SDK cannot load browser presets, but it can read and write
device parameter values (DeviceParameter.getValue() / setValue()). So a tone is recreated by
inserting the right native device and dialing its knobs — a repeatable "recipe".
When to use
Triggers: "dial in a [tone]", "recreate [sound]", "set the filter cutoff / reverb mix", "patch
without presets". This is the under-used superpower behind good-sounding output.
Process
- Use
ableton-live-runner for build/run/kill + scaffold (it includes setParam).
- Insert the closest native device (default preset), then enumerate its parameters to learn
exact names/ranges — names vary per device, so don't hardcode blind:
const dev = track.devices.find(d => d.name.includes("Auto Filter"));
for (const p of dev.parameters) console.log(p.name, p.min, p.max, await p.getValue());
- Apply a recipe — set parameters with
setParam(track, deviceName, paramName, value) (clamps
to range). Build the tone from device + macro knobs, not presets.
- Layer FX for character (see
ableton-fx-chain) and re-check by reading values back.
Starter recipes (verify exact param names at runtime — they differ by edition)
| Tone | Device(s) | Key moves |
|---|
| Warm Rhodes | Electric (+Chorus-Ensemble,Reverb) | soften mallet/decay, light chorus, ~15% reverb |
| Dub sub bass | Operator/Drift + Auto Filter + Saturator | low-pass ~120–300 Hz, drive for harmonics, slow release |
| Lofi keys | Electric/Operator + Auto Filter + Redux/Vinyl Distortion | LP ~2–4 kHz, gentle bit/down-sample, wow/flutter |
| Supersaw lead | Wavetable/Analog | detune/unison up, slow attack, hi-pass, wide |
| Pad | Analog/Drift + Auto Filter + Reverb | slow attack/release, LP to taste, long reverb |
Reusable recipe shape
type Recipe = { instruments: string[]; fx: string[][]; params: [string, string, number][] };
const DUB_BASS: Recipe = {
instruments: ["Operator", "Drift"],
fx: [["Auto Filter"], ["Compressor"], ["Saturator"]],
params: [["Auto Filter", "Frequency", 180], ["Saturator", "Drive", 6]],
};
async function applyRecipe(track, r) { for (const [d, p, v] of r.params) await setParam(track, d, p, v); }
Limits
- Parameter names/ranges differ across Live editions/versions — discover them at runtime before
setting. Skip unknown params gracefully.
- Most recipe instruments (
Electric, Analog, Wavetable, Operator) are Suite-only — always
end a recipe's instruments fallback list with Drift so non-Suite editions still make sound.
- No automation: a recipe is a static parameter snapshot, not a sweep over time.
See ableton-fx-chain, ableton-quick-mix.
