Options.txt file

  • Live Versions: All
  • Operating System: All

The "Options.txt" file allows the possibility to enable certain experimental features in Live. These options are mainly used for developing and internal testing but may be useful for you as well.

Note: Options.txt functions are unsupported features. They may change or be removed in future updates without warning. 

How to create an Options.txt file

  1. Create a new plain text file using a text editor (Notepad, TextEdit etc)
  2. Name it "Options.txt".
  3. Place it in the hidden Live Preferences folder at this location (x.x.x corresponds to the version of Live you are currently using, eg 10.0.1):

Windows

\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Ableton\Live x.x.x\Preferences\

MacOS

/Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live x.x.x/

Note: Here's how to access hidden folders on Windows and Mac OSX.

Here is the Options.txt file among the other contents of the Preferences folder:

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Adding Options to the Options.txt file

  1. Add one option per line with the correct syntax; each option begins with a hyphen and some options may also require an additional underscore.
  2. If you use the wrong syntax you will get an error message when opening Live.
  3. You need to restart Live to activate the option(s).
  4. The file format of the Options.txt must be plain text.
  5. Here's an example Options.txt file:

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Example Options

ReWireMasterOff

Disables Live's ReWire Host functionality.

Line to add to Options.txt file: -ReWireMasterOff

ReWireChannels

Number of ReWire channels appearing in the ReWire Host when Live runs as ReWire Device.

Default = 16
Min = 0
Max = 64

You must choose an even number of channels.

Line to add to Options.txt file: -ReWireChannels=32

PluginAutoPopulateThreshold

Auto-populates the plug-in parameter list if a plug-in has a number of less or equal than X parameters

Default = 32
Min = 1
Max = 128

"-1" will always populate the list with max. 128 parameters, regardless how many parameters the plug-in has (= similar to Live 7 behaviour)

Line to add to Options.txt file: -_PluginAutoPopulateThreshold=32

DontCombineAPCs

Deactivate the APC combination mode: don't align and sync the session rings of multiple APCs so they can be moved independently.

Line to add to Options.txt file: -DontCombineAPCs

AbsoluteMouseMode

Alternative mouse mode without resetting mouse position - useful for tablets, touch screens, remote desk etc.

Line to add to Options.txt file: -AbsoluteMouseMode 

When enabling Absolute Mouse Mode, some actions that require relative mouse movements may experience problems, eg, fine-tuning a parameter while holding CTRL / CMD. Therefore we would recommend to only enable this option if other steps do not resolve this problem. 

Note: Live 10 has introduced Pen Tablet Mode to Live's Preferences. Pen Tablet Mode allows use of graphic tablets to meaningfully control Live’s UI. It replaces the "AbsoluteMouseMode" option. Users who have Live 9 running with this option in place will see an error message about this option not being detected when starting Live 10 for the first time.

EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins (Windows only)

This option solves a problem with certain VST Plug-ins (such as NI's Reaktor), where keyboard data does not reach the plug-in.

Line to add to Options.txt file: -_EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins

ThinningAggressiveness

When recording automation data, Live smoothes the recorded data with a pre-defined value. The default value is = 0.45

Higher value = more breakpoints eliminated.

Line to add to Options.txt file: -ThinningAggressiveness=0.1

Note: This is deprecated in Live 10.  Users who have Live 9 running with this option in place will see an error message about this option not being detected when starting Live 10 for the first time.

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