Ableton Live 12.2 doesn’t just introduce major new features. It also delivers a host of subtle yet meaningful improvements that streamline the creative process. I’ve previously looked at the Auto Filter in use cases, as well as my initial favourite 7 new features in Live 12.2.
Tiny updates may appear minor individually, but collectively they can significantly enhance your workflow. Here are 12 small feature improvements in Live 12.2 that make a big difference.
Watch the Video:
1 Sidechain
For greater visibility, the sidechain toggle has been relocated to the left-hand side of the device and given its own header. This update applies to the following devices: Auto Filter, Compressor, Corpus, Gate, Glue Compressor, Multiband Dynamics and Shifter. Additionally, the Sidechain Filter in the Compressor now appears in its own dedicated panel.
2 Context Menu
A dedicated button has now been added to the right side of the title bar of all devices to provide access to context menu options. Although right-clicking remains quicker for experienced users, the button offers a clearer and more intuitive option, which is particularly useful for beginners.
3 VST3
Live finally allows MIDI program change events to be sent within VST3 plug-ins, adding greater flexibility when controlling presets. This feature was long overdue for live performance setup.
4 Mapping
You can now set minimum and maximum values for parameters that offer a fixed list of options (such as modes or types) when macro or MIDI mapping them, allowing for more precise control.
5 MIDI Tools
A visual indicator in the Status Bar now shows which MIDI Tools have been applied within the Transformation/Generator Selector.
6 MIDI Note Editing
It’s finally possible to select multiple MIDI notes all over a MIDI clip. Simply hold Shift, click and hold on a selected note, then drag the mouse across others you wish to include.
7 Automation and Modulation Keyboard Workflow
A range of new keyboard shortcuts has been introduced to streamline working with breakpoints and envelopes. These include navigation with arrow keys, breakpoint selection with Enter, quick value editing via typing, and toggling automated parameters using Alt/Option plus arrow keys.
8 Scene Follow Actions
Scene Follow Actions can now be set to either ‘Unlinked’ or ‘Longest’. ‘Longest’ waits for the longest clip to finish (or complete a defined number of loops), while ‘Unlinked’ triggers after a specified duration. Additionally, Live displays loop lengths or indicates “Clip End” for unlooped clips, improving clarity.
9 Take Lanes
Track headers now feature a Show/Hide Take Lanes button when multiple takes exist or a take lane is manually inserted. This button only appears when Automation Mode is off and tracks are unfolded. New context menu options also allow for deleting all or only unused take lanes.
10 Group Tracks
Group Tracks with numerous nested tracks now adapt more efficiently in the Arrangement View. Their overviews zoom with the track size, and clips from sub-groups are aggregated into single lanes rather than appearing individually on the parent.
11 Quick Tags
A new Quick Tags panel above the Preview tab lets you add, remove, and view tags for selected browser items. Pressing CTRL + E (Windows) or CMD + E (Mac) jumps directly to the Add… field when the browser is in focus.
12 Library – All Label
When using the filter within the All label, device presets are now grouped by their respective device folders, making navigation more intuitive.
Which small improvement have you either been waiting for or just realised you always wanted now that it exists?
