Scroll Ableton parameters and clips/tracks/playhead with your mouse wheel

Share your favorite Ableton Live tips, tricks, and techniques.
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Veisz
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:06 pm

Scroll Ableton parameters and clips/tracks/playhead with your mouse wheel

Post by Veisz » Sat May 03, 2025 10:31 pm

Hello, I made an Auto Hotkey script that has two primary functions - parameter and clip/track/playhead scrolling

With a parameter like a knob or fader selected, hold the shift key and use your mouse wheel to scroll the parameter instead of dragging it.

In the clip grid using the above function will scroll the clip selection vertically and holding shift + control will scroll it horizontally.

This script emulates the arrow keys so you can use it anywhere in Ableton. You just need to have the parameter or clip selected/in focus.

Paste this into a text editor and save it as a .ahk file and open it with Auto Hotkey version 2, which is free. Unfortunately it's Windows only, but the functions can likely be emulated with a similar Mac software like Keyboard Maestro.
https://www.autohotkey.com/

You can make this script auto launch on startup by placing it in your startup directory.
On windows press Windows+R and type shell:startup

Another method is using the task scheduler to have it launch automatically when Ableton is opened. I prefer the former since it's quite lightweight and only targets Ableton anyways. Note the application name in the script, you'll need to tweak it if you're using a different version of Live.

Code: Select all

A_MaxHotkeysPerInterval := 200

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0

#HotIf WinActive("ahk_exe Ableton Live 12 Suite.exe")

+WheelUp:: Send("{Up}")
+WheelDown:: Send("{Down}")

^+WheelUp:: Send("{Right}")  ; Control+Shift+WheelUp sends Right arrow
^+WheelDown:: Send("{Left}") ; Control+Shift+WheelDown sends Left arrow

#HotIf ; Ends context-sensitive hotkeys

Rivanni
Posts: 798
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:30 pm

Re: Scroll Ableton parameters and clips/tracks/playhead with your mouse wheel

Post by Rivanni » Sun May 04, 2025 11:07 am

Veisz wrote:
Sat May 03, 2025 10:31 pm
Hello, I made an Auto Hotkey script [...]
Substitute the #Hotif WinActive line with this new line to ensure the script is compatible with every edition and version of Live.

Code: Select all

#HotIf WinActive("ahk_class Ableton Live Window Class")

Some mice send a rapid flood of events, which results in a warning dialog. To disable the warning dialog entirely, use

Code: Select all

A_HotkeyInterval := 0
However, it might be better to set a reasonable value for the mouse you are using, so you still get a warning when things get out of hand.
Details can be found here.

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