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How to install MIDI remote scripts into Ableton Live

by John C

Last updated on March 31 2022

If you're here it should mean that you've successfully created your first MIDI Remote Script using our free MIDI remote script creator App and now want to install it into Ableton Live. Incase you haven't made a script yet, read our beginners tutorial on how to make your first MIDI remote script with Remotify.

Installing a script is a simple 3 step process:

Downloading the script
Extracting the script
Moving your script into the correct folder

1. Downloading the script

After pressing the 'download script' button in the Remotify app, your script will be automatically downloaded to the 'downloads' folder on your computer. You will also see a green confirmation message in the App to confirm that your MIDI remote script was successfully generated and downloaded.

In your downloades folder you will see a folder with the name of your custom script.

At the moment it will have the extension '.zip'.

Zip folders are used to compess data into a smaller size for sending across the internet

2. Extracting the script

in order for Ableton Live to use the script, you must first extract the contents of the zip folder. There are different tools to do this depending on your Operating System.

Windows

If you're on windows, you'll need to first install an application which can extract the contens of a zip folder. I would recommend the hugely popular and free winzip app.

Mac

If you're on a Mac, no need to download anything, as you can use the 'Archive' utility to do it. Double click or right click the zip folder and select 'Extract All' then follow the on screen instructions. Once completed you will see a new folder appear, this is your MIDI remote script folder which contains all of the required files for Ableton Live to run it.

3. Moving your script into the correct folder

It's important to ensure that you put the extracted MIDI remote script folder inside the correct location so that Ableton Live can access it. This location will differ depending on yout operating system.

Where is Ableton Live's 'Midi Remote Scripts' folder located on Windows & Mac operating systems?

On Mac The Remote Script folder is located inside the Ableton Live application bundle. To access it, locate the Live application in Finder, right click on it and select "Show Package Contents" in the appearing context menu. Then navigate to: /Contents/App-Resources/MIDI Remote Scripts/
On Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8+ \ProgramData\Ableton\Live x.x\Resources\MIDI Remote Scripts\
On Windows XP \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ableton\Live x.x\Resources\MIDI Remote Scripts
Once you've moved your MIDI remote script folder to the relevant place for your operating system, start up Ableton and navigate to the link/midi tab in the preferences menu. Under 'control surface' click the menu and find your MIDI Remote Script in the list.
Select your midi controller as both the input and output for the script (make sure the controller is connected to your computer first!). You'll immediately see a message appear at the bottom of the screen in Live which includes the name of your script and the words "made with remotify".
In the midi ports section also turn on 'Track' and 'Remote' for both the input & output of your script. These are usually required in order to get LED feedback to your MIDI controller if it has that ability.
Close the Preferences menu. Move the inputs on your midi controller and you will see the corresponding parameters move inside Ableton.

If your controls don't work, there may be a problem with the remote script. Have a read through our guide on how to fix a broken midi remote script

"Controllers are great! But sometimes you wish to customize a few knobs. Before Remotify, you had to be a programmer to create an Ableton script. Today, us mere mortals can go online to Remotify and use their dead simple, drag and drop script creator.

It literally takes a few seconds to have custom control of Ableton! In the time it took you to read this, you could have created your own custom Ableton Script for that controller sitting in front of you!"

Antonio Sage,
Certified Ableton Instructor & Creative Director at AudiOutlaw

"If you’re new to scripting in Ableton, this tool is a must.

It will not only save you a massive headache, but also allows you to learn how it works as you go since Remotify also gives you an uncompiled “.py” version of the files so you can have a look at the code.

This app will make basic mapping tasks a breeze."

Matias,
DJ Techtools

"Thanks again. It is working great! I'm running 2x DS1s to extend control over 16 channels and your Remotify app has enabled me to tailor the functionality and workflow in a way that I couldn't achieve otherwise. Thank you!"

Jap_

"Thank you so much for your support! It's nice to see how active you are and willing to help out customers on an individual basis. Can't wait to see how this project will evolve with all those exciting possibilities coming up. It has already evolved a lot since a few weeks ago when I discovered Remotify."

Oneiroi