ALEC (Ableton Live Extra Controls) is a Windows application that adds new keyboard and mouse controls for interacting with Live.
By using two special keys configurable to the user’s liking, together with the ALT / CONTROL / SHIFT keys and the mouse buttons, it allows to perform a series of different actions in Live. Some are new, while others are native to Live, but performed more efficiently.
All features can be individually enabled in the app settings. Customize ALEC so it doesn’t interfere with your current workflow.
Draw / Delete / Move / Resize
Insert MIDI notes and modify envelopes/automation as if Live’s Draw Mode were active. Delete items located under the mouse cursor with a single click. Move and resize items using the mouse wheel along with different keyboard shortcuts. And more actions detailed in the online manual.
Duplicate items at the mouse cursor position
Easily duplicate selected items to any location. Items are inserted at the mouse cursor position and can be MIDI notes, clips, automation, tracks, devices…
Use the mouse wheel to change values
After clicking on any Live parameter to put focus on it, the mouse wheel can be used while pressing a special key to change the parameter value. For eye free adjustments.
Quickly close/hide VST plugins
Close all open VST and VST3 plugin windows with a single keyboard shortcut. Or close only the active plugin window with a single keystroke. Showing/hiding all open plugin windows is also done with a single keystroke.
Intuitive keyboard shortcuts for changing views
Use a single key to switch between Clip/Device views (forget SHIFT+TAB) and show/hide different interface views with simpler keyboard shortcuts than Live’s native ones.
And more features
- CONTROL+SHIFT+Z triggers the Redo action of the undo history.
- F2 key to rename in the style of Windows Explorer and other applications.
- Invert the behavior of the mouse wheel so that it zooms horizontally by default instead of scrolling.
- Use the mouse’s back/forward buttons to resize the grid, transpose all MIDI notes in a clip by octave, and more.
Check the online manual for detailed information about all features.