View source for User:Halftheisland/Ableton Live

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Audio and Music
|extensions={{ext|adg}}, {{ext|adv}}, {{ext|agr}}, {{ext|alc}}, {{ext|alp}}, {{ext|als}}, {{ext|amxd}}, {{ext|asd}}, {{ext|ask}}
|released=2001
}}

== Description ==

Ableton Live is an audio production workstation for Windows and OS X. As the name suggests, the emphasis of the software is on live musical performance.

Live uses a range of proprietary formats to store audio files and playback information.

== Formats ==

=== Ableton Device Group ===

Ableton Device Group ('''.adg''') files hold preset data for [https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/instrument-drum-and-effect-racks/ Racks] (chains of instruments, audio / MIDI effects, etc.).

=== Ableton Device Preset ===

Ableton Device Preset ('''.adp''') files hold preset data for individual devices (instruments, effects, etc.).

=== Ableton Groove File ===

Ableton Groove Files ('''.agr''') are used to modify the timing and "feel" of audio and [[MIDI]] clips. According to the [https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/using-grooves/ Using Grooves] section of the manual, these can be essentially converted to and from [[MIDI]] clips.

=== Ableton Live Clip ===

Ableton Live Clip ('''.alc''') files contain references to audio samples (in [[WAV]] or [[AIFF]] format) used for a specific clip, along with FX and channel settings where appropriate (according to [https://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=190920&view=next this] forum thread)

=== Ableton Live Pack ===

=== Ableton Live Set ===

Ableton Live Set ('''.als''') files contain the layout of a set (tracks, devices, audio clips, etc.) created using the Ableton Live audio production software. The format appears to vary significantly between major releases and sometimes even between minor releases ([https://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=130813 Live 8.1 introduces a new file format!]).

As of release 8.2.1, '''.als''' files appear to consist of a [[Gzip|Gzipped]] [[XML]] file.

=== Ableton Meta Sound ===

* http://web.archive.org/web/20090520152200/http://www.thecovertoperators.org/Articles/meta-files-uncovering-the-ams-format-part-1
* http://web.archive.org/web/20100428092137/http://www.thecovertoperators.org/Articles/meta-files-uncovering-the-ams-format-part-2
* http://web.archive.org/web/20100428233212/http://www.thecovertoperators.org/Articles/meta-files-uncovering-the-ams-format-part-3
* http://www.ageofthewheel.com/2010/11/ams-file-utility-for-ableton-live.html
* http://www.digiboy.fr/2007/04/28/ableton-meta-files/

=== Ableton Max for Live Device ===

* http://docs.cycling74.com/max7/
* https://github.com/LividInstruments/Max/tree/master/examples

=== Ableton Warp Analysis ===

* https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/asd-archive-format.49351/

=== Ableton Skin File ===

== Information ==

* [https://cycling74.com/docs/max5/refpages/m4l-ref/m4l_live_object_model.html LOM - The Live Object Model]
* [http://crooked-hideout.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/ableton-live-set-is-gzipped-xml-ruby.html An Ableton Live Set is gzipped XML + a Ruby gem]
* [http://www.undergroundproducersalliance.com/reference/ableton-matryoshka/ Ableton Matryoshka]
* http://www.warpacademy.com/tutorial-series/file-formats/
* [http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=63429 Ableton appears to use some proprietary version of AIFF]