Better mouse wheel scroll in Ableton Live and Cubase

[johansan]

A previous thread on Reddit showed how AutoHotKey could be used to improve vertical scrolling performance in Windows 10 for Ableton Live. The problem with that script is that it increases scrolling speed in all Windows apps, and you probably don't want that. Scrolling speed using the mousewheel in Windows is fine in most apps, it's just extremely slow in Ableton Live.

Here is a modified version of that script, that only increases the scroll speed in Ableton Live 11, and no other applications. The script also improves side-scrolling performance (using SHIFT + mousewheel) which is also extremely slow by default.

I also included a fix for Cubase 11 which has a bug in where "shift + mouse wheel up" scrolls to the right, and "shift + mousewheel down" scrolls to the left, which is the opposite to any other application.

Instructions:

First, download AutoHotKey at https://www.autohotkey.com/

Then create a script called AbletonCubaseScroll.ahk (or whatever you want) and paste the following code in it. Start it by double clicking, or copy it and paste a shortcut into your Windows 10 startup folder (better).

Note! If you upgrade Ableton Live 11 to 12, or use a beta version, make sure to change the EXE file name.

Code: Select all

#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.

; Modifier keys
; ! Alt
; ^ Ctrl
; + Shift
; The $ modifier prevents autohotkey from activating this hotkey from automated input.
; It will only activate when physically rolling the scroll wheel up.

#if WinActive("ahk_exe Ableton Live 11 Suite.exe")

; Improve side-scrolling performance in Ableton Live

+WheelDown::
Send +{WheelDown 10}
Return

+WheelUp::
Send +{WheelUp 10}
Return

; Improve up/down side-scrolling performance in Ableton Live

$WheelDown::
Send {WheelDown 5}
Return

$WheelUp::
Send {WheelUp 5}
Return

#if WinActive("ahk_exe Cubase11.exe")

; Swap SHIFT + Mousewheel up with SHIFT + Mousewheel down

+WheelDown::
Send +{WheelUp}
Return

+WheelUp::
Send +{WheelDown}
Return

[dirkdigles]

This is great!

There is one side-effect, however. This script also modifies scrolling via touchpad (i.e. on a laptop). So if you're using a mouse and a touchpad, or switch between the two, your touchpad scrolling will be messed up in Ableton while the script is running.

Not sure if there's a a way to enable for mouse but not touchpad.

[SantaClaus]

Any chance to get it working for Studio One? That's the feature I'm waiting for the most.
I'm sometimes wondering if devs use their own program, it's such a pain to scroll horizontally when zooming in.

[Rivanni]

Better use ahk_class so you don't need to change the version number.

Code: Select all

#If WinActive("ahk_class Ableton Live Window Class")