Ableton Live Project Analyzer

Version 1.0.0 - Fully functional version

A powerful Python tool for analyzing Ableton Live projects and extracting used VST plugins. Optimized for performance with multi-threading and batch processing.

📖 Origin

This tool was created during a PC migration to help identify all VST plugins used across multiple Ableton Live projects. It was developed to simplify the process of setting up a new computer by automatically generating a comprehensive list of required plugins and their usage statistics.

Features

💡 Note: This tool was created during a PC migration to help identify all VST plugins used across multiple Ableton Live projects. The "VST Requirements" feature helps you identify which plugins you need.

🚀 Performance-Optimized

✅ Multi-Threading: Processes hundreds of projects in parallel (up to 16 threads, configurable)
✅ Batch Processing: Optimized batch processing for better performance
✅ Fast Extraction: Optimized XML parsing methods with header detection
✅ Thread-Safe: Safe concurrent processing with proper locking mechanisms
✅ Progress Tracking: Real-time progress updates during analysis
✅ Memory Efficient: Optimized memory usage for large project collections

📊 Excel Export with 5 Sheets

Project Overview - All analyzed projects with complete paths, track count, scene count, VST count, and main directory grouping
VST Overview - Complete list of all used VST plugins with manufacturer, plugin name, filename, version, and project assignment
Track Details ⭐ - Detailed track-VST mapping with track types (Audio, MIDI, Return, Master), track names, and VST assignments
VST Requirements ⭐ - Complete list of all required VST plugins sorted by usage frequency, perfect for PC migration
Statistics ⭐ - Overall statistics (total projects, different VSTs, total tracks), averages, VST frequency analysis, and manufacturer statistics

📁 Flexible Export Options

✅ Excel (.xlsx) - Detailed analysis with 5 comprehensive sheets
- Color-coded headers for easy navigation
- Auto-sized columns for optimal readability
- Professional formatting with statistics
✅ JSON - Complete project data for further processing
- Includes timestamp and metadata
- All project details, tracks, and VST information
- Machine-readable format for automation
✅ TXT - Recursive VST lists organized by directories
- Individual VST list files per project
- Organized by main directories
- Includes track details with VST assignments
- Summary files: Inventory Summary and VST Requirements

🎯 Additional Features

🔍 Automatic search for Ableton projects (.als files)
📊 Analysis of project structure (Tracks, Scenes)
🎛️ Extraction of all used VST plugins with metadata (manufacturer, name, filename, version)
📋 Detailed listing with manufacturer and plugin names
🎯 User-friendly console output with progress tracking
🔄 Recursive search for .als files
📁 Main directory grouping for better organization
🛡️ Robust error handling - continues processing even if individual projects fail
🔄 Support for multiple Ableton formats (ZIP, GZIP, XML) with automatic detection

🚀 Quick Start (Easiest Way)

Step 1: Install Dependencies (One Time Only)

Windows/Linux:

pip install pandas openpyxl

macOS:

pip3 install pandas openpyxl

⚠️ macOS Users: If you encounter Xcode license errors, run sudo xcodebuild -license accept first.

Step 2: Run the Tool

Windows:

python ableton_project_analyzer.py "Z:\Path\to\Your\Projects" --excel "output.xlsx"

macOS/Linux:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Your/Projects" --excel "output.xlsx"

That's it! The Excel file will be created with all your project and VST information.

Windows Users - Even Easier:

Drag and drop a folder onto run_analyzer.bat (after installing dependencies)

Installation

Windows/Linux

# 1. Clone repository or download release
git clone <repository>
cd ableton-project-analyzer-release

# 2. Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# 3. Ready to use!
python ableton_project_analyzer.py --help

macOS

# 1. Clone repository or download release
git clone <repository>
cd ableton-project-analyzer-release

# 2. Install dependencies
pip3 install -r requirements.txt

# 3. Ready to use!
python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py --help

💡 macOS Note: macOS comes with Python 3 pre-installed. Use python3 and pip3 commands instead of python and pip.

Alternative: If you have Homebrew Python installed, you can use:
/opt/homebrew/bin/python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py --help

System Requirements

Python: 3.6 or higher
Dependencies: pandas, openpyxl
Operating System: Windows, macOS, Linux

Usage

Easiest Method (Windows)

Drag and drop a folder containing .als files onto run_analyzer.bat

The tool will:

Automatically check for Python and dependencies
Analyze all projects in the folder
Create an Excel file with all results

Basic Usage (Command Line)

Windows:

python ableton_project_analyzer.py "Z:\Path\to\Projects"

macOS/Linux:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Projects"

With Excel Export

Windows:

python ableton_project_analyzer.py "Z:\Path\to\Projects" --excel "C:\Temp\analysis.xlsx"

macOS/Linux:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Projects" --excel "~/Desktop/analysis.xlsx"

With JSON Export

Windows:

python ableton_project_analyzer.py "Z:\Path\to\Projects" --json results.json

macOS/Linux:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Projects" --json results.json

With VST Lists Export

Windows:

python ableton_project_analyzer.py "Z:\Path\to\Projects" --txt --recursive

macOS/Linux:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Projects" --txt --recursive

With Multi-Threading

Windows:

python ableton_project_analyzer.py "Z:\Path\to\Projects" --excel "output.xlsx" --workers 16

macOS/Linux:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Projects" --excel "output.xlsx" --workers 16

Using Network/SMB Paths (macOS)

The tool works with mounted network drives and SMB shares:

# If SMB share is mounted at /Volumes/data
python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/Volumes/data/Projects" --excel "analysis.xlsx"

# Example with SMB path
python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/Volumes/data/04_Projekte/Musikproduktion/CAMPFIRE/Studio/_Resources/_Ideas Bin/" --recursive --txt

💡 Tip: Mount SMB shares first using Finder (Go → Connect to Server) or command line:
mount -t smbfs //username@server/share /Volumes/mountpoint

All Options

python ableton_project_analyzer.py <path> [OPTIONS]

Options:
  --json <file>        Export results as JSON (includes timestamp and metadata)
  --txt                Export VST lists as TXT (requires --recursive)
  --excel <file>       Export as Excel with 5 comprehensive sheets
  --recursive          Recursive analysis with subdirectories (required for --txt)
  --quiet              Reduced output (less verbose progress updates)
  --workers <n>        Number of parallel threads (default: 16, recommended: 4-16)

Example Output

Searching for Ableton projects in: Z:\Path\to\Projects
Found: 3 project(s)
--------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: MyTrack.als
  ✓ 5 VST(s) found
Analyzing: BeatProject.als
  ✓ 8 VST(s) found
Analyzing: AmbientSong.als
  ✓ 3 VST(s) found
--------------------------------------------------

=== SUMMARY ===
Analyzed projects: 3
Total VSTs: 12

=== PROJECT DETAILS ===

📁 MyTrack
   Path: Z:\Path\to\Projects\MyTrack.als
   Tracks: 8
   Scenes: 4
   VSTs: 5
   Used VSTs:
     • Native Instruments - Massive
     • FabFilter - Pro-Q 3
     • Waves - CLA-2A
     • Serum - Serum
     • Valhalla DSP - ValhallaRoom

=== ALL USED VSTs ===
• FabFilter - Pro-Q 3
• Native Instruments - Massive
• Serum - Serum
• Valhalla DSP - ValhallaRoom
• Waves - CLA-2A

Output Files

Excel Export

Creates a single .xlsx file with 5 sheets containing all analysis data. The file is saved at the location you specify:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Projects" --excel "~/Desktop/analysis.xlsx"

JSON Export

Creates a single JSON file with complete project data:

python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/path/to/Projects" --json "results.json"

TXT Export (Recursive)

When using --txt --recursive, the tool creates a vst_lists/ directory in the current working directory with:

Individual VST list files for each project (organized by main directory)
00_INVENTORY_SUMMARY.txt - Complete inventory summary
00_VST_REQUIREMENTS.txt - VST requirements list

Example structure:

vst_lists/
├── 00_INVENTORY_SUMMARY.txt
├── 00_VST_REQUIREMENTS.txt
├── MainDirectory1/
│   ├── Project1_VSTs.txt
│   └── Project2_VSTs.txt
└── MainDirectory2/
    └── Project3_VSTs.txt

💡 Tip: The output directory is created in the directory where you run the command, not in the project directory.

JSON Export Format

{
  "timestamp": "2026-01-03T12:34:56.789123",
  "project_path": "Z:\\Path\\to\\Projects",
  "total_projects": 3,
  "total_vsts": 12,
  "projects": [
    {
      "name": "MyTrack",
      "path": "Z:\\Path\\to\\Projects\\MyTrack.als",
      "vsts": [
        {
          "name": "Massive",
          "manufacturer": "Native Instruments",
          "filename": "Massive.dll",
          "version": "1.5.0"
        }
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "name": "Track 1",
          "type": "Audio",
          "vsts": [
            {
              "name": "Massive",
              "manufacturer": "Native Instruments",
              "filename": "Massive.dll",
              "version": "1.5.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "scenes": 4
    }
  ],
  "all_vsts": [
    "FabFilter - Pro-Q 3",
    "Native Instruments - Massive"
  ]
}

Technical Details

Project Format Support

Ableton Project Format: The tool analyzes .als files in multiple formats:
- ZIP archives (Live 10+) containing XML files
- GZIP compressed files (Live 9.x)
- Direct XML files (Live 8 and earlier)
Automatic Format Detection: No manual configuration needed - detects format automatically

Processing

XML Parsing: Uses Python's built-in xml.etree.ElementTree for fast analysis
VST Extraction: Searches for VstPluginInfo elements in the project XML
Track Analysis: Extracts track types (Audio, MIDI, Return, Master) and their VST assignments
Multi-Threading: Thread-safe implementation with proper locking mechanisms
Batch Processing: Optimized batch processing for better performance

Error Handling

Robust Error Handling: Graceful error recovery - continues processing even if individual projects fail
Silent Error Handling: Silent error handling for better performance
Thread-Safe: Thread-safe error handling for concurrent processing

Compatibility

✅ Ableton Live: 8.x and higher (supports all .als formats)
- Live 10+ (ZIP format)
- Live 9.x (GZIP format)
- Live 8 and earlier (XML format)
✅ Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
✅ Python: 3.6 or higher
✅ Network Paths: Supports mounted network drives and SMB shares (macOS/Linux)

Troubleshooting

"No Ableton projects found!"

Check the path
Make sure .als files are present in the directory
Use absolute paths if you encounter problems
macOS: Make sure paths use forward slashes (/) not backslashes (\)

"Error parsing XML file"

The project file might be corrupted
Try opening the project in Ableton Live and saving it again
The tool will automatically skip corrupted files and continue processing

"Warning: does not appear to be a valid Ableton project file"

The file might not be a real Ableton project file
Check the file extension (.als)

macOS-Specific Issues

"You have not agreed to the Xcode license agreements"

Problem: Python requires Xcode Command Line Tools license acceptance.

Solution:

sudo xcodebuild -license accept

You'll be prompted for your password. After accepting, Python commands will work normally.

"ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pandas'"

Problem: Dependencies not installed or using wrong Python version.

Solution:

# Make sure you're using pip3 on macOS
pip3 install pandas openpyxl

# Or install from requirements.txt
pip3 install -r requirements.txt

"python: command not found" (macOS)

Problem: macOS uses python3 instead of python.

Solution:

Always use python3 instead of python on macOS
Use pip3 instead of pip on macOS

Network/SMB Path Issues (macOS)

Problem: Cannot access network drives or SMB shares.

Solution:

Mount the network drive first using Finder:
- Go → Connect to Server (⌘K)
- Enter: smb://server/share
- Mount point will be in /Volumes/

Use the mounted path:

# Check if mounted
ls /Volumes/

# Use the mounted path
python3 ableton_project_analyzer.py "/Volumes/mountname/path/to/projects"

Verify mount status:
```
mount | grep smb
```

Permission Denied Errors

Problem: Cannot read files or write output files.

Solution:

Check file permissions: ls -la /path/to/projects
Make sure you have read access to project files
Make sure you have write access to output directory

Performance Issues

Problem: Analysis takes too long or uses too much memory.

Solution:

Reduce the number of threads: --workers 4 (default is 16)
Use --quiet for less output during analysis
For very large collections (>1000 projects), consider processing in smaller batches
Use JSON export instead of Excel for very large datasets to reduce memory usage

License

MIT License - Free to use for private and commercial purposes.

☕ Support

If you find this tool helpful and would like to support its development, you can buy me a coffee:

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Your support is greatly appreciated! 🙏

Good luck with your projects! 🎵

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 12 Commits
.gitignore		.gitignore
CHANGELOG.md		CHANGELOG.md
LICENSE		LICENSE
QUICK_START.md		QUICK_START.md
README.md		README.md
RELEASE_NOTES.md		RELEASE_NOTES.md
RELEASE_README.md		RELEASE_README.md
ableton_project_analyzer.py		ableton_project_analyzer.py
requirements.txt		requirements.txt
run_analyzer.bat		run_analyzer.bat
test_script.sh		test_script.sh
test_smb_path.py		test_smb_path.py

License

mrhymes26/ableton-project-analyzer

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Ableton Live Project Analyzer

📖 Origin

Features

🚀 Performance-Optimized

📊 Excel Export with 5 Sheets

📁 Flexible Export Options

🎯 Additional Features

🚀 Quick Start (Easiest Way)

Step 1: Install Dependencies (One Time Only)

Step 2: Run the Tool

Windows Users - Even Easier:

Installation

Windows/Linux

macOS

System Requirements

Usage

Easiest Method (Windows)

Basic Usage (Command Line)

With Excel Export

With JSON Export

With VST Lists Export

With Multi-Threading

Using Network/SMB Paths (macOS)

All Options

Example Output

Output Files

Excel Export

JSON Export

TXT Export (Recursive)

JSON Export Format

Technical Details

Project Format Support

Processing

Error Handling

Compatibility

Troubleshooting

"No Ableton projects found!"

"Error parsing XML file"

"Warning: does not appear to be a valid Ableton project file"

macOS-Specific Issues

"You have not agreed to the Xcode license agreements"

"ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pandas'"

"python: command not found" (macOS)

Network/SMB Path Issues (macOS)

Permission Denied Errors

Performance Issues

License

☕ Support

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