Ableton Live Hidden Features Revealed w/ Rory PQ

Learn how to unlock Ableton Live’s many hidden features in this guide and see a few of our favorite secret functions in action. Includes FREE Download.

Ableton Live has a strong reputation for being one of the industry’s leading Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) for creating or recording musical ideas, transforming them into finished songs, and even performing live on the stage. Amidst Live’s most powerful and useful functionality is some amazing hidden features. In this guide, we show you how to unlock Live’s hidden features and highlight a few of our favorite secret functions.

The Options.txt Guide

Tucked away deep in Ableton Live’s directory on both MAC and PC is an Options.txt file that you can create or edit to access Live’s hidden features. The Options.txt file offers a way to change some of Live’s options for special circumstances. These options are mainly used for developing and internal testing. However, some of you may find them useful as well.

To get started, create a text file called “Options.txt” and save it to the same folder where Live’s Preferences.cfg file is located. The file format of the Options.txt must be plain text. Below is where to find the Preferences folder on MAC and PC (Live 6.0.9 or higher):

Mac OS X
/Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live x.x.x/

Windows XP
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Ableton\Live x.x.x\Preferences\

Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Ableton\Live x.x.x\Preferences\

Several functions can be activated in the Options.txt file. Editing this file is very simple; on separate lines, the syntax for each option begins with a hyphen and sometimes will also require an additional underscore. If you use the wrong syntax, you will get an error message when opening Live. If there is a function you wish to deactivate, place “/” before the syntax. You will also need to restart Live to activate the function.

Syntax Example: -_PluginAutoPopulateThreshold=-1

There are dozens of syntaxes that can be discovered across the Internet. For Ableton Live’s supported functions refer to their Options.txt file page here.

Five Favorite Functions

Below are five of our favorite hidden features that are extremely helpful. In addition, we have included a FREE download of the Options.txt file used to unlock the following features.

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Show Device Slots

Enabling this feature allows you to view all the devices on each track from the mixer in the Session View. This feature is an efficient way to quickly activate and deactivate devices without having to open the Device View and searching through your device chain.

To enable, add the following into Options.txt: -ShowDeviceSlots

Map To Siblings

This feature is by far one of the greatest time-savers and should be implemented permanently. Similar to “Copy Value to Siblings,” this addition gives you the option to Macro Map a parameter across all of the same device instances in Drum Rack to the same Macro. This feature is accessed through the right-click context menu and eliminates the time needed to map each parameter individually.

To enable, add the following into Options.txt: -EnableMapToSiblings=1

Options: 0=Off, 1=On

Arm On Selection

This feature will automatically Arm any track when selected. This addition may be useful for those working with external instruments in live performances or even in the studio. However, it can be a pain to deal with sometimes.

To enable, add the following into Options.txt: -EnableArmOnSelection

Thinning Aggressiveness

This feature is another great time-saver when recording automation data. Depending on a pre-defined value, Live will smooth out all the breakpoints automatically after recording automation if you want more consistent automation lines. Alternatively, if you wish to remove breakpoints, you can hold down Shift while dragging to eliminate breakpoints as you wipe over them.

The default value is = 0.45

Higher value = More breakpoints eliminated

To enable, add the following into Options.txt: ThinningAggressiveness=0.80

Thinning Aggressiveness Off

Thinning Aggressiveness On

Plugin Auto Populate Threshold

This feature automatically populates the parameter list for any plugin you load. Located on the Device Title Bar is an “Unfolded Device Parameters” that reveals a panel where you can add useful parameters that can be adjusted without accessing the plugin. You can manually add available parameters by clicking the “Configure Mode” button, accessing the plugins GUI and selecting the parameter you wish to add. To save time, this feature allows you to auto populate the panel with a set value of available parameters.

Default = 32
Min = 1
Max = 128

“-1″ will always populate the list with max. 128 parameters, regardless how many parameters the plugin has.

To enable, add the following into Options.txt: -_PluginAutoPopulateThreshold=32

 

 

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Ableton Live Producer Certificate Program

At Dubspot our world-class instructors provide the most complete and cutting-edge Ableton Live learning experience. The Ableton Live Producer Certificate Program is the flagship of our music training. After completing this program, you will leave with a portfolio of original tracks, a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.

Click here to view the embedded video.

About This Program

This program is about learning Ableton Live by going through the entire process of being an artist, by developing your own sound through a series of sketches and experimentation. You will also learn the ins and outs of this powerful software through a series of exercises designed to help you master the steps involved in producing your own music. After a level of getting familiar with the tools that Ableton has to offer, you will then develop your sonic ideas into full-length tracks. You will be exposed to a variety of approaches to arrangement and composition, storytelling techniques, ways of creating tension and drama in your music. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of your choices as an artist that define your sound, and levels 2 – 6 will give you the experience of actually completing tracks to add to your portfolio.

What’s Included

• Ableton Live Level 1: Beats, Sketches, and Ideas
• Ableton Live Level 2: Analyze, Deconstruct, Recompose, and Assemble
• Ableton Live Level 3: Synthesis and Original Sound Creation
• Ableton Live Level 4: Advanced Sound Creation
• Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Effect Processing
• Ableton Live Level 6: Going Global with your Music

Overview

• Dubspot’s complete Ableton course load: six levels/48 class sessions
• 132 hours of hands-on instruction
• Additional lab hours to work on assignments in Dubspot’s onsite facilities
• 24/7 access to Dubspot Online’s Ableton Live course videos
• Access to the course videos for one year after course completion

Additional Information

Visit the Ableton Live course page for detailed information on this program here.

If you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

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