Ableton · MCP

Mix Chainprint chains inside Live

chainprint-mcp is a Model Context Protocol server. Point Claude Desktop or Cursor at a share link and it loads stock Ableton devices — EQ Eight, Compressor, Saturator, Limiter, Delay, Reverb — dialed from your Chainprint analysis.

1. Install the Remote Script

Requires uv (provides uvx) and Ableton Live 11/12.

uvx chainprint-mcp install

Then restart Live and open Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI:

  • Set a Control Surface row to ChainprintMCP
  • Leave Input and Output as None

The script listens on 127.0.0.1:9877. If another Ableton MCP is already using that port, quit it first or set CHAINPRINT_ABLETON_PORT on both sides.

2. Add the MCP server to your AI client

Claude Desktop

Edit your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chainprint": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["chainprint-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Add the same block under MCP servers in Cursor settings, then reload MCP.

3. Mix from a share link

  1. Analyze a reference in the studio and click Share link (URL looks like chainprint.app/c/…).
  2. Prefer a drag-and-drop rack? Use Export Ableton rack in the studio instead.
  3. Open Live with your dry vocal (or bed) on a track.
  4. In Claude/Cursor, paste the link and ask to apply it — or use the mix_to_reference prompt.

Typical tool flow:

connect_status → load_chain → get_session_tracks → apply_chain → gain_stage

Troubleshooting

ChainprintMCP missing from Control Surface list

The folder must be named exactly ChainprintMCP inside User Library/Remote Scripts. Live only rescans at startup — fully quit and reopen.

connect_status fails

  • Confirm the Control Surface is set to ChainprintMCP.
  • Check nothing else owns port 9877 (lsof -i :9877).
  • Re-run uvx chainprint-mcp install after upgrading the package.

Devices load but parameters look wrong

Live renames parameters across versions. Use list_device_parameters on the device, then set_device_parameter with the exact name. EQ Eight band names vary — the agent can fuzzy-match.

Honesty

Chainprint is a measured reconstruction, not a dump of the original plugin stack. The MCP applies a strong stock starting point; finish by ear. De-ess uses Multiband Dynamics as an approximation — there is no stock Ableton de-esser.

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