Migration
How to move an Ableton project to another computer
Moving a project to a new computer or to a collaborator fails in the same way every time: the Set opens with missing samples because the files were left behind. The fix is to make the project self-contained before it travels.
Collect the project before you copy it
A project that references samples elsewhere on the old machine will not find them on the new one. Pull them in first.
- Open the Set on the original computer.
- Open the File menu and choose Collect All and Save.
- Include files outside the project and, if the other machine lacks them, files from your User Library and packs.
- Confirm so Live copies the media into the project folder.
Copy the whole folder
Transfer the entire project folder, not just the .als. Use an external drive, a network share, or cloud storage. The folder now carries its samples, so it stays intact in transit.
Match plugins and packs on the new machine
Collect All and Save does not copy third-party plugins. If the Set uses plugins or packs that are not on the new computer, install them first, otherwise Live loads the Set with those devices missing.
Open and relink anything still offline
Open the Set on the new machine. If anything still shows offline, use the File Manager to locate and replace the missing files, then run Collect All and Save once more so the new copy is clean.
Carry your board across devices
Crate keeps the metadata layer of your library, phases, description, collections, and checklist progress, in sync across devices. Your .als files, audio, and samples never leave your machine.
Scan the folder on the new computer and the board rebuilds with everything you sorted on the old one, so a migration does not reset your workflow.