Ableton Forum

We are desperately requesting an option (and hotkey) to show the plugin window OF THE SELECTED TRACK in Ableton.

Ctrl+alt+p is completely insufficient, as it only toggles view of the last used VST/s. This doesn't help when clicking on a different track in order to change it's plugin parameters (95% of my day).

Every single time you want to change one little parameter of a VST on a different track, you have to:
1. click the track
2. find tiny plugin wrench icon with your eyes
3. move the mouse over to the tiny plugin wrench for that track
4. click the plugin wrench icon to open VST
5. change parameter in VST
6. find tiny plugin Close icon with your eyes
7. manually close the plugin

HOW IT SHOULD WORK:
1. click to select the track
2. the track plugin opens automatically or via hotkey
3. change parameter in VST
4. deselect the track and plugin closes automatically or via hotkey

Has anybody at Ableton realised that changing plugin parameters for many users is CORE FUNCTIONALITY? It should have been streamlined 10 years ago - I'm astonished to see that people have been asking for about the same time.

There is an option in Ableton to auto-open plugin windows - but ONLY WHEN A PLUGIN IS ADDED... So close, yet so far.

Using the mouse to navigate to the teeny plugin wrench icon 200 times per day is absolutely INFURIATING.

+1 i am also shocked this has not been addressed. its 2024. it would also be nice to be able to dock 3rd party plugins in the device area. why do ableton plugins get this special treatment ? i suppose i can create an elaborate m4l device vst3 wrapper to get 70 % functionality but i shouldn't have to do this.

I absolutely agree, was just updating my current template with custom shortcuts and was baffled to find that this is not possible. Going from hearing the change in your head to implementing it should be made as smooth as possible by the DAW, it's hard enough to arrive at the state you envision without having to locate a tiny wrench on a giant screen everytime you want to adjust. It's driving me nuts.

You can key/midi map any plugin's wrench icon.

WRT "show the plugin window OF THE SELECTED TRACK", as you know there can be many plugins in a track's chain, so the question is: which one should be automatically linked to your hotkey?

[jur] wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 21, 2024 9:46 pm

WRT "show the plugin window OF THE SELECTED TRACK", as you know there can be many plugins in a track's chain, so the question is: which one should be automatically linked to your hotkey?

I think Live could be smart about this. If there is one VST instrument on the track, open its plugin window. Otherwise open the first VST effect. Things get a bit more complicated in racks with parallel chains but I consider those corner cases.

FWIW, In Logic Pro, you can open the first plugin window in a channel strip using the following shortcut:

• Shift + Q: This command opens and closes the instrument plugin window of the focused track.

Additionally, you can assign specific key commands to open other plugins in the channel strip. For example, you can set shortcuts for the first audio insert plugin using:

• Shift + 1: Opens the first audio insert plugin.
  Shift + 2: Opens the second audio insert plugin.

And so on for subsequent inserts.

Hey Ableton Team, this is a dealbreaker for me.
I planned to move my workflow from Cubase Pro to Ableton Suite, but I don't want to grab my mouse each time to open the plugin window. My right arm already hurts because of constant clicking.

EvgeniyP wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 27, 2025 12:21 pm

Hey Ableton Team, this is a dealbreaker for me.
I planned to move my workflow from Cubase Pro to Ableton Suite, but I don't want to grab my mouse each time to open the plugin window. My right arm already hurts because of constant clicking.

Switching to a trackball can really help with arm strain and productivity, in case this isn't a figure of speech. Doesn't mean that's an excuse for the devs to not address the problem

EvgeniyP wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 27, 2025 12:21 pm

Hey Ableton Team, this is a dealbreaker for me.
I planned to move my workflow from Cubase Pro to Ableton Suite, but I don't want to grab my mouse each time to open the plugin window. My right arm already hurts because of constant clicking.

My definite solution (At least it works in ableton 12.3) looks like this:
1) have a secondary monitor or widescreen or similar with reserved screenplace for plugins
2) open the plugin normally with the wrench
3) size and place the plugin
4) change to another track and do this for the next track etc.

bingo!
Now you only have to click the wrench one time per session. Clicking the track name box will always open the plugin(s) in the place you assigned to it (them).