buildable 0.3.0

Combine and edit Ableton Live sets (.als files).

buildable

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buildable allows you to edit and extend Ableton Live sets programmatically. For example, you could have a single set that stores your common return tracks, and use buildable to add them to various template sets.

Currently you can:

• copy tracks/returns from other sets.
• delete and re-order tracks/returns.
• edit key and MIDI mappings for many set elements.
• set some high-level view properties, like the session/arrangement state.

Installation

pip install buildable

Usage

For example, you could create a project containing set components that you want to mix together, and generate templates from them with something like:

from buildable import LiveSet

# Template bases containing MIDI/audio tracks.
jam_session = LiveSet.from_file('jam-session-tracks.als')
composition = LiveSet.from_file('composition-tracks.als')

# Shared main track and return tracks to be copied to the templates.
shared_structure = LiveSet.from_file('shared-structure.als')

for template_set in (jam_session, composition):
    # Copy returns and main track from the shared set.
    template_set.insert_return_tracks(shared_returns.return_tracks)
    template_set.main_track = shared_main.main_track

    # Assign tap tempo to key "p".
    template_set.transport.tap_tempo_key_midi.persistent_key_string = "p"

# Assign crossfader to the mod wheel on MIDI channel 1.
jam_session.main_track.key_midi_crossfade_equal.channel = 0
jam_session.main_track.key_midi.crossfade_equal.note_or_controller = 1

# Switch to arrangment view.
composition.chooser_bar = LiveSet.CHOOSER_BAR_ARRANGEMENT

jam_session.write_to_file("/path/to/user-library/Templates/JamSession.als")
composition.write_to_file("/path/to/user-library/Templates/Composition.als")

Design

Live sets are represented natively as XML documents, and buildable objects mirror a subset of the native document structure as closely as possible, with helpers for more complex operations like copying tracks. XML elements are also exposed directly if you want to go off-piste. This helps with flexibility and maintainability, but comes with some caveats:

• spelling mistakes and naming inconsistencies are carried over from the native format.
• some simple operations require using relatively complex accessors - for example, key/MIDI mappings for sends are accessed using e.g. live_set.primary_tracks[0].device_chain.mixer.sends.track_send_holders[0].send.key_midi.
• buildable won't stop you from setting values that are semantically valid, but invalid at runtime.

The best way to familiarize yourself with the native document structure is to examine existing Live sets (using e.g. gunzip -c my-set.als) and/or look through the buildable source code.