Options.txt file for Live

With the "Options.txt" file we offer a way to change some of Live's options for special circumstances. These options are mainly used for developing and internal testing. However, some of you may find them useful as well.

If you have questions, please contact support@ableton.com

How to use Options.txt

First you have to create a text file called "Options.txt" in the same folder where Live's Preferences.cfg file is located. Here's where to find the preferences folder (Live 6.0.9 or higher):

Mac OS X: /User/Library/Preferences/Ableton
Windows (Live 4 and later versions): C:/Documents and Settings/yourusername/Application Data/Ableton/Live/Preferences
Windows Vista/Win7: c:/users/username/appdata/roaming/ableton/live/preferences/

Note that on some Windows systems the application data folder is hidden by default. Here is what you have to do to make it visible:

Windows XP/2000

Launch Explorer.
Select Tools/Folder Options/View.
Check "Show hidden files and folders."

You can activate several options in the Options.txt file but use only one per line. The syntax is very simple; each option begins with a hyphen and some options also require an additional underscore (see examples below). If you use the wrong syntax you will get an error message when opening Live. You need to restart Live to activate the option. The file format of the Options.txt must be plain text.

"ReWireMasterOff"

Disables Live's ReWire master functionality.

Example: -ReWireMasterOff

"ReWireChannels"

Number of ReWire channels appearing in the ReWire master when Live runs as ReWire slave.

Default = 16
Min = 0
Max = 64

You must choose an even number of channels.

Example: -ReWireChannels=32

"PluginAutoPopulateThreshold"

Auto-populates the plugin parameter list if a plugin 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 plugin has (= similar to Live 7 behaviour)

Supported since: 8.1.1

Example: -_PluginAutoPopulateThreshold=32

"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.

Example: -ThinningAggressiveness=0.1

"DontCombineAPCs"

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

Supported since: 8.1.4

Example: -DontCombineAPCs

"AbsoluteMouseMode"

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

Supported since: 8.1

Example: -AbsoluteMouseMode

"EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins"

This option solves a problem with certain VST Plugins (such as NI's Reaktor), where keyboard data does not reach the plugin.

Supported since: 7.0.2b3

Note: PC ONLY!

Example: -_EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins