Claude Desktop Installation

Anthropic's Claude Desktop app is an easy way to use Producer Pal with a Claude account.

Requirements

Get the extension, then follow the steps below. Claude can install the device for you.

Claude Desktop ExtensionProducer_Pal.mcpb — for Claude DesktopMax for Live Device (optional)Producer_Pal.amxd — to install it yourself

• Ableton Live 12.3+ with Max for Live. Live 12.4 or later is recommended. On Live 12.3 these don't work:

  • writing clip automation (reading and clearing it still work)
  • loading a sample into Simpler
  • the Library tool (searching your library and listing plug-ins)
  • finding a preset by name outside a device's own presets (packs' drum kits, Sounds racks, custom folders)
  • opening a plug-in's editor window

  Use the version of Max bundled with Live, or make sure your standalone Max is up to date.

• Claude Desktop (requires Anthropic account)

Installation Steps

No need to install the Producer Pal device yourself: in the last step, the AI sets up Live for you.

Or install the device yourself

Download Producer_Pal.amxd, the Producer Pal Max for Live device.

Open User Library (under Places) in Live's browser, go to Presets → MIDI Effects → Max MIDI Effect, and drag Producer_Pal.amxd into that folder:

Drag it from the Max MIDI Effect folder onto a MIDI track:

It should display "Producer Pal Running" or something isn't working.

Then finish the installation: click Finish installation… on the device (or Open Chat UI, then Settings → Installation), and click Install there to add the remote script (clip automation, undo, plug-ins).

Restart Live, then choose Producer Pal as a Control Surface in Settings → Tempo & MIDI, with Input and Output left as None.

More in Finish the Installation.

1. Download the Claude Desktop Extension

Download the Producer Pal Claude Desktop Extension (Producer_Pal.mcpb)

2. Install the Extension in Claude Desktop

Go to Claude Desktop → Settings → Extensions and:

If you already have extensions installed, drag and drop Producer_Pal.mcpb into the Extensions screen:

Or, if you have never installed a Claude Desktop extension before, you need to click "Advanced settings" on the Extensions screen, then click "Install extension...", and choose the Producer_Pal.mcpb file.

3. Complete the Installation

Don't forget to click "Install" and complete the Claude Desktop installation:

About the security warning: Anthropic displays this warning for all extensions as a general security measure. Producer Pal is open source and you can review the entire codebase on GitHub before installing. The extension only accesses Ableton Live through the Max for Live device.

4. Verify Installation

You should see Producer Pal tools in Claude's "Connectors" menu (make sure it's enabled when starting a conversation):

5. Start Using Producer Pal

With Live open, start a conversation with "connect to ableton". Allow Producer Pal tools when Claude tries to use them:

The first time, the AI sets up Live for you:

1. It installs the Producer Pal remote script.

2. Restart Live, then choose Producer Pal as a Control Surface in Settings → Tempo & MIDI, with Input and Output left as None.

3. Tell the AI when you're done. It installs the Producer Pal device and adds it to your Live Set (it asks first).

Check It Works

Once connected, the AI confirms it can see your Live Set. Try a first request that doesn't change anything:

What tracks are in my Live Set?

It should list your tracks. If it can't connect or gets something wrong, see Troubleshooting below.

Advanced settings

The extension exposes a few optional settings under Claude Desktop → Settings → Extensions → Producer Pal. Most people never need to touch these — the defaults are recommended.

• Ableton device URL — where to reach the Max for Live device (default http://localhost:3350). Change only if you moved the device's port or are connecting over the network.
• MIDI notation — how Producer Pal reads and writes clip notes. Three valid values: barbeat (recommended for Claude Sonnet, Opus, and Fable), stark (pairs well with Small model mode), or midi-json (pairs well with JSON output). Leave blank, or enter anything else, to follow the device's current setting (barbeat by default).
• Small model mode — simplifies the tools and instructions for smaller models. May improve results with Claude Haiku; not recommended otherwise, since Claude Sonnet, Opus, and Fable handle the full toolset. Turn it on only after the device is in your Live Set: it hides the tool that sets Producer Pal up.
• Direct Live API — enables the advanced ppal-live-api tool for direct access to the Live Object Model. An escape hatch for custom control and debugging when the standard tools aren't enough — not recommended as a default.
• JSON output — returns tool results as JSON instead of the compact default. Not recommended for normal use (it increases token usage), but useful when you want Claude to run code on the results.
• Tools / Disable tools — narrow the toolset Claude Desktop sees. Comma-separated tool names (read-clip or ppal-read-clip) and/or groups: core, session, actions, live-set, track, scene, clip, device, advanced, read-only. Withholding a tool also drops the skills that teach it, so every conversation gets smaller. ppal-connect is always kept.

These settings are the extension's own

They apply to Claude Desktop and nothing else — the chat UI and any other connected MCP client keep their own settings.

That cuts both ways for the three checkboxes: Small model mode, Direct Live API, and JSON output are off here unless you turn them on here. Switching them on in the device's Setup tab won't change what Claude Desktop sees. MIDI notation, Tools, and Disable tools are different — leave one blank and the extension follows the device.

Troubleshooting

If it doesn't work, see the Troubleshooting Guide.