Set up Skym in four steps.
It takes about 10 minutes, and you only do it once. After that, Skym connects to Ableton whenever you open it.
Check compatibility
Let’s make sure Skym works with your setup.
Get the free Starter Pack
Presets to get you started plus the Skym control surface script, which lets Skym take hold of Ableton’s macros. We’ll email it to you.
Install Skym
On your iPhone or iPad.
Connect to Ableton
Watch the walkthrough, or follow the written steps below it.
Written instructions
4A Install the remote script
The custom remote script is what lets Skym map automatically to the first 4 macros of any Ableton device.
- Open Ableton Live. In the Browser on the left, scroll down to User Library (under Places).
- Create a folder in your User Library called "Remote Scripts". Make sure it is spelled correctly.
- From the SkymStarterPack.zip we emailed you, open the "Ableton Remote Script" folder and drag the "Skym" folder into your "Remote Scripts" folder.

4B Install the Starter Pack
Double click "SkymStarterPack.alp" to install the presets.
Pick a destination for the pack. It can’t go in your User Library or a Project folder. I like to put it in a folder called "Skym Packs" inside my Ableton folder.


4C Enable your device in Audio MIDI Setup
Open Skym on your iPhone or iPad and connect it to your Mac with a USB cable. Select "Trust this Device" if asked. Then open the Audio MIDI Setup app on your Mac and enable the device.
Your Mac might say an update is needed to connect. In my experience you can ignore this and Skym will still work.

4D Choose Skym in Ableton’s MIDI settings
- Quit and reopen Ableton so it loads the new script.
- Go to Live → Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI.
- Under Control Surface, select Skym, and set its input and output to your iPhone or iPad.
- For Skym’s input port, check Track. For the output port, check Track and Sync.

4E Make some sound
Arm the first track in the project and tap Skym. You should hear the Majestic Harp preset.
Right click the "SkymMajesticHarp" device and choose Lock to Control Surface (Skym), so touching Skym only changes the device you meant to control.

Now try effects. Select the "Gated Time Demo" track…

…then right click the "Skym Gated Delay" device and lock it to Control Surface 1 (Skym).

Press the sine wave button in Skym so it stops sending notes while you control effects.

Press play in Ableton. Skym now controls the Gated Delay: watch the gate knob flip up and down with your touch.
Unlock your look
Perform in wild color. In Skym, open Settings and choose "Look" to browse unlockable graphics.

Stuck?
Tell us which step you’re on (like “4C”) and we’ll help you get connected.