Controlling Live using Max for Live
Learn how to access and use Ableton Live’s API in Max for Live, including the Live Object Model, supported operations, and the Max objects and JavaScript tools used to query, control, and observe Live.
The Controlling Live lesson in the Building Max Devices Pack offers step-by-step instructions and in-depth information for creating devices to control Live.
The Live Object Model
Controlling and creating devices using Live's API in Max for Live
Learn more about Controlling Live with Max for Live
Live's API in Max for Live
Everything in Live's API that is accessible to Max for Live is illustrated in the Live Object Model(LOM).
The Live Object Model lists a number of Live object classes with their properties and functions, as well as their parent-child relations through which a hierarchy is formed. Please refer to the Live API overview chapter for definitions of the basic Live API terms and a list of the Max objects used to access it.
The Live Object Model
The Live Object Model divides the Live application into several basic functional units (properties) associated with aspects of the Live application - the application itself, Songs, Tracks, Clip slots, Clips, Devices, Device Parameters, the Mixer Device, Scenes, Cue Points, And Control Surfaces. The Live API provides ways to access some properties of the application to control how the Live application displays them to you (Application.View, Song.View, and Track.View).
Your use of the Live API involves one of five kinds of different operations:
- Querying the Live API (getting data) using Max for Live objects
- Setting a property in the Live API using Max for Live objects
- Calling a function in the Live API using Max for Live objects
- Observing a property in the Live API using Max for Live objects
- Controlling a parameter at audio rate
Controlling and creating devices using Live's API in Max for Live
Max for Live provides two different ways to access the Live application directly through the Live API:
- You can use a trio of Max for Live objects - (live.object , live.observer , and live.path) to access, observe, and control the Live application.
- You can use the Max js object to write code using the LiveAPI Javascript object that exposes the Live Object Model.
Learn more about controlling Live with Max for Live
To learn more about Max and Max for Live, visit Cycling 74's Learn Max page for guides to Max's features and capabilities.
- To learn more about Max for Live, we highly recommend this series of Max for Live tutorials.
- The Max for Live forum is also a great place to share ideas and get help from the Max community with your patches.
- Maxforlive.com is a resource for free and paid devices developed by other Max for Live users.