Jakob Kilian
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Clipdeck

  • project
  • areas: tech
  • tags: ableton, live, python

The Clipdeck is a clip launcher that allows me to completely abandon the use of a computer screen in my live techno set.

I developed it as part of a two-year project for my new live set. It runs on Stream Deck XL hardware and is purely software-based. The softeware is still under development. I am undecided if I can release it Open Source or as payware for some little money.

Watch the 2-minute video or scroll down for a quick overview:

Functional Principle of The Clipdeck

1. See Clips, Colours and Names

The Clipdeck displays all clips in the bounding box, their colours and names in real time.

2. Display playback status and progress

It shows the playback status (stopped, fired, playing) and the progress of each clip.

3. Scroll through clips

With the scroll button you can move the bounding box (“session ring”) up and down through your session view.

4. Launch (multiple) clips

By hitting the physical button you can start one or more clips. Thanks to the haptic feedback from your fingers, this is much easier to plan than with a tablet. And thanks to colour and name, clips are easier to select than with a launchpad.

5. Stop (multiple) clips

Stop clips by firing empty slots. Just like the clip launch this happens according to your clip launch quantisation settings in Ableton.

Details of the Clipdeck

Background Information and Code

The Clipdeck is a software-only project that runs on an Ableton Control Surface and an external python script that is connected via local OSC/UDP. It would be way easier to control the Stream Decks directly from Ableton Python, but this seems to be impossible as the streamdeck module needs hiadpi which in turn needs ctypes python – something that is not supported in Ableton python.

You can test the current prototype here for free: https://github.com/jakobkilian/ClipDeck

I am happy about feedback, get in touch!

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hi there!

I’m Jakob. I am a creative technologist, designer, maker and (re-)searcher, and this website shares my work and thoughts.

Privacy policy: I don’t track, I don’t collect or retain data.

tech

I often work on interceptions of design and engineering, bringing up some hardware or software (or both) projects, code bases and notes.

design

During my »Integrated Design« studies at KISD in Cologne, Germany, I worked in various design disciplines, fostering a holistic approach to design. While I explored traditional fields such as communication, industrial, service and interface design, my focus sharpened on these broader terms:

  • interaction: (inter-)action possibilities between humans and machines /computers.
  • experience: the aesthetic and sensory reception of audio/visual installations.
  • data: making raw data accessible and processable.
  • product: physical “things”.

research

This section showcases projects from my recent academic work. This includes projects from my own studies and the results of my work as a scientific employee at KISD from 2022 to 2025.

blog

Blogs are outdated. That’s why I started writing one.
All too often, I find myself down a rabbit hole, researching topics that haven’t received enough coverage on the internet yet, or simply stumbling upon ideas that are too valuable to keep to myself.
I’m passionate about sharing, which is why I started this blog. I hope you enjoy it!

music

Praqma is a producer and DJ of electronic music, blending diverse house and techno elements, a temporary utopia to escape the world’s imperfection.

Some of my early work is available on streaming and purchase platforms. Since 2023, I have focused solely on developing new hardware and software for techno live performances. See the »Modulator« and »Clipdeck« projects below, for example. In October 2025, I uploaded the first one-hour live set from this project.