⭐ Original Ableton Plugin Loader for Stream Deck: Actively maintained, full support, built for reliable daily use in Ableton.

Finding the right device or plugin in Ableton can take time, and nothing kills creativity faster than searching through long plugin folders.

Music is about flow, staying creative, and acting on inspiration before it disappears. This Stream Deck plugin solves exactly that.

With a single tap on your Stream Deck, you can instantly load all your VST3, VST, AU plugins, Ableton devices, presets, and Max for Live tools straight into the selected Ableton track. No more scrolling, searching, or breaking your focus. Just press and create!

This is a tool I always wished existed, and honestly, it has become a must-have in my own workflow. I built it because I kept wasting time looking for the same instruments and effects. Now, everything I need is literally one button away. Every producer I’ve shown this to has been blown away by the speed and simplicity… myself included!

How does it work?
Very simple: This tool communicates with Ableton via a remote script using a lightweight local UDP connection (localhost only), which handles all device loading behind the scenes. No external network connections are used.

1. After installing the plugin; Restart Ableton, go to Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI, and select HJF Plugins in the Control Surface dropdown

2. Open the Stream Deck app, drag the Ableton Plugin action onto a key, and select a device or plugin from the list

That’s it, everything is set up!

This version includes all built-in Ableton device icons. Optional icon packs for VST, VST3 and AU plugins are available soon in Marketplace for those who want every plugin to automatically display with a clean visual label, super helpful, fast to recognise, and extremely tidy in use.

Once installed, the connection between Stream Deck and Ableton is extremely fast, you can browse or trigger plugins instantly.

Key Highlights

• Load plugins instantly; instruments, audio effects, MIDI effects, Max for Live devices, presets

• Smart filtering; choose by type (VST3, AU, Audio FX, Instruments, etc.)

• Search by name; find exactly what you need in seconds

• Keep your flow; no more hunting in Ableton’s browser

• Icons; all Ableton icons included + 10 most-used synths & effects**

• Perfect for studio and live use

• Easy installation

Whether you’re producing in the studio or performing live, this tool keeps your hands on the music, not on your mouse.

Included extra icons: Analog Lab V, Diva, Omnisphere, Pigments, Serum2, Fab Pro-Q, RC-20, Decapitator, Portal and Valhalla Vintage Verb. Extra icons will be soon available in Marketplace.
*** Compatible & tested with Ableton Live 12.1.10 and above (not with version 12.1). Ableton 11 works, but is not officially tested.

DRM support & v6.9 requirement

DRM compatibility has been added and the plugin now requires Stream Deck v6.9+, resulting in improved performance and faster loading.

Fixed Plugin Type Visibility

Improved Plugin Type Overview and Plugin lists (AUv2, AUv3, VST2, VST3) are now always visible and load correctly, even if only one plugin format is enabled in Ableton Preferences.

Improved preset visibility and stability

Preset lists no longer disappear or freeze when loading. Presets now show and load correctly, improving overall reliability of the Plugin Loader.

Improved Plugin Search Behavior

Search queries are preserved across plugin type switches and correctly filtered per selected plugin format.

Optimised Error Handling & Help section

Error handling has been simplified and made more tolerant, providing clearer and more consistent feedback so users immediately understand what’s happening and what to expect, also written down in the help section. Also added a diagnostic file report.