Transferring kits to Ableton Move instead? Use this page.

Importing Kits into Ableton Note

There are two ways to get your kits into Ableton Note. The simple method below only takes a few taps, so start there. The advanced Folders method underneath gives every pack its own folder inside Note.

These instructions are for kits made with Kit Maker, which automatically converts your sample packs and Maschine Expansion kits into Ableton Note kits. See how it works.

Ableton Note

Recommended · simplest

This method uses the Ableton Move & Note format. Each kit is a single .ablpresetbundle file, and Ableton Note installs it the moment you open it. No computer, no moving folders around.

  1. Get your .ablpresetbundle presets onto your device. AirDrop them straight to your iPad or iPhone, or share them through cloud storage (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
  2. Open the iOS Files app on your device and tap a .ablpresetbundle. Opening it automatically adds it to your kits in Ableton Note.
  3. In Ableton Note, open the presets browser and go back until you can choose between Core Library and User Library. Your kits are under User Library › Drums.

These kits all land in one flat list under User Library › Drums. Want each pack in its own folder? Use the advanced Ableton Note (Folders) method below.

Ableton Note (Folders)

Advanced

This method uses the dedicated Ableton Note format, which builds an Ableton Note Kits folder holding two folders: Kit Maker Samples (the audio) and Kit Maker Kits (the presets). Get those two into the right spots and every pack gets its own folder inside Note. The steps have to be followed exactly.

Step 1: Transfer the files to your device

  1. Connect your device to your Mac with a USB cable.
  2. Open your device (iPad or iPhone) in a Finder window and click the Files tab at the top. You’ll see a list of your apps.
  3. Find Ableton Note in that list (update Ableton Note if it doesn’t appear).
  4. From the Finder, drag the whole Ableton Note Kits folder onto the Ableton Note app and let the progress bar finish.

Do NOT copy the folders to iCloud Drive. Transfer them directly to your device as described above. iCloud Drive can silently skip some sample files, which leaves kits that won’t play.

Step 2: Move the two folders into place

On your device, open the Files app, go to On My iPad (or iPhone), open the Ableton Note folder, then open the Ableton Note Kits folder you just transferred. Inside are the two folders to move. To move one, press and hold its icon for a second, then tap Move.

Move the Kit Maker Samples folder here:

On My iPad › Ableton Note › User Library › Imported › Kit Maker Samples

Then move the Kit Maker Kits folder here:

On My iPad › Ableton Note › User Library › Track Presets › Drums › Kit Maker Kits

Already done this before? You’ll already have Kit Maker Samples and Kit Maker Kits folders on your device, so don’t overwrite them. Just move your new packs’ folders inside the matching existing folder.

Once they’re placed, you can move and organize the kit presets inside the Kit Maker Kits folder however you like. Just don’t move the sample files.

Load your kits

In Ableton Note, navigate to User Library › Drums and load a kit.

Make sure you’re in the Drums folder under User Library, not the Drums folder under Core Libraries.

Drum presets not showing up in the browser?

Double-check that the Kit Maker Kits folder is in the exact location shown above.

Sounds not playing when you press a pad?

Double-check that the Kit Maker Samples folder is in the exact location shown above.

The most common mistake is not placing the folders at these exact paths. Still stuck? Use the simpler Ableton Note method at the top of this page.