How to identify the type of a device?

[pulpicon]

1. Is there any quick tooltip or other way to identify a given device
2. Is there any quick way to jump to the description of a device (in the online help or Manual)

Probably some very noobish questions: Often I cannot tell what type a device is, for example when I load a Clip from the Singularities Pack (Bass of Velvet.alc).
I see that a Simpler device is involved as Instrument inside an Audio Rack (because I recognize the Simpler, it is labeled "Bass of Velvet" though). In the following FX, there is a "Warming Tray". I already guessed it is the "Saturator" device, but the only way to find out seems to be to press "Q" for hot-swapping mode, then the device type is shown in the browser. I expected to select the device and press F1 to get further Information, but that doesn't work. Even the help window doesn't show or mention the type of the device, but at least it explains that it is a device and who created it

At least I have found workaround solutions for both issues (Hotswapping for device identification and searching in the pdf manual).

[Tone Deft]

I was reading the Post your most obscure Ableton Live knowledge thread and saw this regarding the tweaking the options.txt file. not something most users do but is this what you'd like?

viewtopic.php?p=1774174#p1774174

TBH I haven't tried this yet.

I LOVE this one: edit the options.txt file in Ableton's library folder. Add this:

-ShowDeviceSlots

Now, in Session view, using a new icon in the bottom right you'll be able to display each tracks effects right in mixer view. Very useful!

That's really cool. Are any other options like this described somewhere?

Upon trying, it does not work. I right clicked in browser on User Library, opened folder in explorer, created options.txt because it had not existed, added a line -ShowDeviceSlots, saved, restarted Live, but no additional icon is to be found among the menu ones (mixer, i/o, track delay etc).

Could this option have been dropped since this was posted?

[pulpicon]

I find that "Display device" option for the mixer quite helpful indeed, especially because it allows to quickly jump between EQ devices for mixing. But in the case as described in my first post, it only displays "Instrument Rack", the internally chained Saturator doesn't show up. At least I am sure now that the outer container is really an Instrument Rack device.

[Bobbito147]

So is there a way to identify a device?

[[jur]]

If you're not yet familiar with the devices' look, and if the name you see doesn't tell you anything because it's actually a preset name, then right-click the device's title bar and uncheck the "show preset name" option.