A generative polyrhythmic MIDI sequencer device for Ableton Live 12 (Max for Live, MIDI effect). Combines a Markov walk over scale degrees with per-step probability gating, scale-aware chord generation, latch mode, MIDI passthrough, and follow-mode for Live 12's global Scale.
- Markov walk over scale degrees with adjustable probability of stepping (±1) vs random jump
- 35 scales matching Live 12's transport-bar scale picker (Major, Minor, Dorian, …, Pelog Tembung, Messiaen 7)
- Per-step probability (Density)
- Tempo-synced to Live's transport (1/4 → 1/32 with triplets)
- Chord mode — emits a triad whose 3rd and 5th follow the chosen scale (major triad on Major, minor on Minor, diminished on Locrian, etc.)
- Latch / legato mode — sustain notes until the next one replaces them
- MIDI passthrough — chain MIDI from upstream devices (arpeggiators, keyboards) through to the next device
- Follow Live's global Scale — auto-syncs Root and Scale with Live 12's transport bar; works through toggle off→change→on cycles via a cached observer pattern
- Markov re-seed (Evolve) and counter reset (Reset) buttons
- All 20 parameters automatable, mappable, and annotated for Live's hover-info panel
- Drag
AURORA.amxdfrom the repo into a MIDI track in Ableton Live 12 (or copy to your User Library). - Add an instrument (Wavetable, Operator, Drum Rack, Simpler, VST, …) after AURORA in the track's device chain.
- Arm the track or hit Play. Power is ON by default; Follow Live is ON by default. AURORA generates notes immediately.
| Name | Type | Range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | toggle | 0/1 | Master ON/OFF |
| Density | dial | 0–100 % | Probability of triggering a note per step |
| Steps | numbox | 1–32 | Sequence length |
| Rate | menu | 1/4 … 1/32 | Step rate, tempo-synced |
| Root | menu | C … B | Root note of the scale |
| Scale | menu | 35 modes | Musical scale (matches Live 12) |
| Octave | numbox | -2 … +4 | Base octave offset |
| Range | dial | 1–4 | Markov walk range in scale degrees |
| Walk | dial | 0–100 % | Probability of stepping ±1 vs jumping |
| Chaos | dial | 0–100 % | Probability of fully random vs walk |
| Velocity | dial | 1–127 | Base MIDI velocity |
| VelRand | dial | 0–100 % | Velocity humanization |
| Length | dial | 0.05–2.0 | Note duration as fraction of step |
| Swing | dial | 0–75 % | Swing amount on odd steps |
| Reset | button | bang | Reset step counter to 0 |
| Evolve | button | bang | Re-seed Markov walk |
| Latch | toggle | 0/1 | Sustain notes (legato) |
| Passthrough | toggle | 0/1 | Forward upstream MIDI |
| Chord | toggle | 0/1 | Emit triad in current scale |
| Follow Live | toggle | 0/1 | Follow Live 12 global Scale |
Hover over any control in Live to see the description in the bottom info panel.
Generative engine: tempo-synced metro → step counter → density gate → Markov-walk decision tree (chaos roll → walk roll → degree) → scale-degree-to-semitone lookup via [coll] populated with all 35 Live 12 scales → MIDI note compose (root + octave + semitone) → makenote → midiformat → midiout. Chord mode fires two extra nth lookups (degree+2, degree+4) into the same coll, so the existing main flow naturally produces a triad whose intervals follow the chosen scale.
Follow Live uses [live.path live_set] + [live.observer root_note] + [live.observer scale_name], with cached values in [int] and [zl.reg]. A [sel 1] on the Follow toggle catches the off→on transition and emits the cached value through the gate so re-enabling Follow always picks up Live's current Scale and Root immediately.
aurora_build.py is the patch generator — it composes the .maxpat JSON programmatically and wraps it in a self-contained binary .amxd container (nested big-endian ampf → mx@c → mDev → ptch chunks). No external template file is needed.
- Ableton Live 12 required for full Follow Live (global Scale) support — Live 11 doesn't expose
scale_nameon the song object; Follow Live will silently no-op for the scale (Root still follows). - Max for Live 8.5+.
- Built and tested on macOS. Windows untested but should work.
aurora_build.py (Python 3.11+) generates both the .maxpat (Max patch) and the .amxd (Live device) files. The script writes the patcher dictionary as JSON, then wraps it in a self-generated .amxd binary container. Output files are written next to the script. Edit the script and re-run to regenerate.
python3.11 aurora_build.pyThe .amxd binary container format is nested big-endian chunks:
'ampf' [4-byte BE size] >
'mx@c' [4-byte BE size] >
'mDev' [4-byte BE size] >
'ptch' [4-byte BE size] [N bytes of UTF-8 maxpat JSON]
The script generates this structure directly — no external template or reference .amxd is needed.
Adrian Kwiatkowski — electronic music producer.
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MIT — see LICENSE. You can edit, modify, redistribute, and use AURORA in commercial productions; please retain the copyright notice in derivative works.