Getting Started
Welcome to Producer Pal™! This guide will help you get started controlling Ableton Live with words. Producer Pal is an Ableton MCP server, a REST API, and a portable Agent Skill — three ways into the same Max for Live device.
Installation
For detailed installation instructions for your preferred AI platform, see the Installation Guide.
Quick options:
- Built-in Chat UI - Works with Gemini, Ollama, and more
- Claude Desktop - Recommended for Anthropic users
- Command Line Tools - Gemini CLI, Codex CLI, Claude Code, and other MCP-compatible coding agents
- Local Models - Run completely offline with Ollama, Bionic (LM Studio), and other MCP-compatible platforms
- Agent Skill - Drop a folder into Claude Code, Codex CLI, or Gemini CLI — no MCP config
- REST API - Script Live over plain HTTP, no AI required
Already have an MCP-compatible client? Connect with npx producer-pal (setup, CLI reference)
Quick Start
After installation:
- Open Ableton Live with your project
- Load the Producer Pal Max for Live device onto a MIDI track (download latest version)
- Connect to Producer Pal in your AI interface
- Say "connect to ableton"
- Try a simple command:
- "What's in my project?"
- "Create a new MIDI track called Bass"
- "Change the tempo to 108 BPM"
Using the Agent Skill instead? Steps 3 and 4 are handled by its bootstrap. Using the REST API directly? Nothing connects for you — call ppal-connect first when a model is in the loop, since that's what returns the skills and context. A plain script can call the other tools straight away.
User Interface
- Device Interface - The Max for Live device tabs and settings
- Chat UI - The built-in browser-based chat interface
- Context & Memory - Teach AI about your project and your preferences, and see what it remembers about you
Next Steps
- Check out the usage examples for detailed examples and tips
- Explore the feature list to see everything Producer Pal can do
- Cut what each conversation costs with Optimizing Cost & Context
- Watch the demo videos and video tutorials
- See what's coming in the roadmap
Need Help?
- Visit the Support page for help, bug reports, and more