Ableton Live Insider Tips – Options.txt Part 1 (Video Tutorial) – Secret Feature

Ableton Live is a complex software with lots of hidden features. In my new series “Ableton Live Insider Tips” I will show you features that a lot of users, no matter how advanced, don’t know about. I’m kicking the series off with a handful of tutorials about the Options.txt file that allows you to add even more functionality to Live. This first part introduces you to the command ShowDeviceSlots.

English Version:

Deutsche Version:

Download the Options.txt file with the commands from all the video tutorials (Right-click and choose Save Link as) Don’t forget to only keep either -NoAutoArming or -EnableArmOnSelection as they conflict with each other.

Questions or suggestions? Then simply leave me a comment below.

Continue to Ableton Live Insider Tips – Options.txt Part 2.

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36 Responses

  1. Das ist ein absolut cooler Tip! Man fragt sich wirklich, warum die Funktion derart versteckt wurde. Sie weckt natürlich schon wieder Begehrlichkeiten 😉 Leider noch dieser kleine Bug, der hoffentlich noch bis zur Release entfernt wird.
    Im Video übrigens super erklärt wie es geht!

  2. My sonic bloom profile doesn’t let me have a photo…. 🙁

    haha just joking… SOME ONE GET ME OUT OF THE U.S.!
    …they have brainwashed me.

  3. Thanks for the heads up!
    I kept trying to do this while under “save…” on text edit.
    I saved to desktop and found library, works great!
    This is such a huge workflow helper for me!
    Never have to flip flop back and forth between channels again!

    Cheers_Gami

  4. how do i access the folder to place the option.txt file on an Imac Os version 10.8.3 running Ableton Live 9 suite?

  5. Hi Madeleine

    If I do the populate option.txt can I get rid of Automap, and will the novation stuff still work?

    Hope you’re well

  6. hey ich finde unter preferences keinen ableton ordner, kann es sein, dass der versteckt ist??

    1. Soweit ich weiß, kann nur die gesamte Library auf OS X versteckt sein (10.7., 10.8.). Allerdings solltest Du, wenn Du in Library > Preferences schon bist, auch alle Unterordner sehen können.

      Kann es sein, dass Du unter unter Macintosh HD nachschaust? Es sollte aber die Library unter Deinem Benutzernamen sein.

  7. hi madeleine,
    first of all thanks so much for sharing your tips, i wish i was in berlin and could make it to your courses.
    I have done all your steps, at first i could t find the library when i ask to save but i finally managed to make an alias and save it. Now , when i open Live 9.1 there is a window for each command.
    the option file [ option text ] contains an unknown option -ShowDeviceSlots which will be ignored.
    then after this message Live opens up but without that icon you mention and not options to see the slot,etc.. is it ´cos i am using live 9.1???
    thanks very much

  8. Admiring the commitment you put into your website and in depth information you provide.
    It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Great read!

    I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  9. Thank you so much for your tutorials! I’m a musician from Argentina and it was really hard to find information like this.
    Do you have any idea how i can map a note or cc from my keyboard controller to move between tracks? i’ve search for days and can’t find a way around this!
    Thank you, Mariam

  10. Thank you for sharing your videos about option.txt. so useful and I’m so grateful!!!!

    I saw all 7 videos and have to say i was sadden there weren’t anymore. Do you know where can I find more?

    On video 3 about the -NoVstStartupScan can you explain in more detail what is the pros and cons of this option.

    Thank you again Madeleine. tschüss

    René

    1. Live scans all plug-ins at every launch. If you have a lot of VSTs installed, this can mean that Live will take quite a while to start. So if you didn’t install any new plug-ins, there’s no need to scan. Once you install new ones, you can always go to the Preferences > File/Folder and hit Rescan for the plug-ins.

    1. It’s all explained in the video. I’m not sure about the latest versions of Windows though as I’ve never worked on them. You need to find the Preferences folder for the latest version of Live and save it there.

  11. This is pretty amazing. My problem is Im working in High Sierra and the folders look different in the order. Im looking but cant find where I need to put it. Thanks for all you do with your skills and gift.

  12. I had forgot to add also Im working in Ableton 10 Standard. I dont know if that makes any difference. thanks again

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