FAQ
PURCHASES, FILES & DOWNLOADS
How do I access the latest versions of my purchased products?
It’s easy: just click Account at lower left of our website on desktop from any page at any time, or open your account page. When prompted, enter the email you used for your purchases with us and then click Sign In. You’ll soon receive a magic link in your inbox to a page with all the latest download versions of the products associated with your email. If you don’t see the email within a couple of minutes, be sure to check your junk or spam folders.
The Lemon Squeezy account page won’t load - what should I do?
If clicking Account at lower left of our website on desktop generates a 404 page or other error, please try clearing your browser’s cookies and cache. If that doesn’t work, try accessing the account page via a private browsing tab, or with a different browser.
Where do the Sonification Tools 3 plugins install?
On macOS, the installer places the VST3 in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3, the Audio Unit in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components, and the CLAP in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP. On Windows, the VST3 goes to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 and the CLAP to C:\Program Files\Common Files\CLAP. On Linux, the VST3 goes to /usr/lib/vst3 and the CLAP to /usr/lib/clap. You may need to rescan plugins or restart your DAW before a new install appears.
How do I install my Extensions?
Ableton Live Extensions install via the Extensions tab of Live’s Settings rather than with an installer: open Live's Settings, select the Extensions tab, and install them there. After relaunching Live, they appear in the right-click menu of any MIDI track header or Arrangement time selection. Updates and removal are handled from the same tab.
How do I install the presets included with the plugins?
Data Path, Data Synth, and Data FX each come with a folder of example presets, installed by hand. Open the plugin's preset browser, click Show Folder, and copy the included presets into the folder that opens. Reopen the browser, or the plugin, and they appear alongside your own. This only needs doing once per plugin on each computer.
How do I know if a plugin update is available?
The version number in the top right corner of Data Path, Data Synth, and Data FX turns red and bold when a newer version is available; click it to open your account page, where your download links live. In Data Map, the version number in the lower left turns red, and clicking it takes you to the update. Nothing downloads or installs on its own.
How do I uninstall the plugins?
On Windows, go to Settings, Apps, Installed apps, select the plugin, and choose Uninstall. On macOS, delete the VST3, Audio Unit, and CLAP files from the Plug-Ins folders listed above. On Linux, run sudo apt remove datapath, sudo apt remove datasynth or sudo apt remove datafx for the .deb version, or delete the installed files for the tarball. Extensions are removed from the Extensions tab in Live's Settings.
Why can’t I access your products on Gumroad anymore?
After their decision to drop PayPal, Gumroad was no longer a sustainable option for our business model. But don’t worry, your history is intact and all your Gumroad products can be accessed from your account page, or the Account option at bottom left of our website. This will take you to our new e-commerce provider, Lemon Squeezy, who will provide a link to access your purchase history via secure email link anytime you want. If you have any issues accessing your products, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Where is my Squarespace account page?
In summer 2024 we migrated to a new e-commerce platform. If you purchased products after that time, simply click our new Account link at bottom left. If you had purchased any of our paid products in the past, you should have received emails with instructions to migrate your purchase history to the new platform on or around July 21, 2024. If you did not see this in your inbox, please check your spam and junk folders. If you still cannot find the email(s) with your account migration instructions, please complete this form.
Why are my purchases charged to Lemon Squeezy or LEMSQZY?
Lemon Squeezy is our payment processor and merchant of record, meaning they handle all our payment transactions. As a result, your bills may show your purchases from us as Lemon Squeezy, LEMSQZY, or LEMSQZY*128547.
I’ve paid for my product but not received a download link - what should I do?
If your purchase is successful, you should be taken immediately to a Lemon Squeezy product download page directly in your browser; if that’s not the case, your payment may not have gone through. First, check your junk and spam folders; if the purchase confirmation isn’t there, click this link and look for the product in your downloads via the magic link that arrives in your inbox after submitting your email. Failing that, please email Lemon Squeezy support with your purchase confirmation number from your payment method.
I don’t want to pay in USD, can I select a different currency?
Unfortunately, Lemon Squeezy only allows one currency for display purposes - but don’t worry: you should be charged directly in the native currency of your payment method with no extra conversion fees.
I saw the download page in my browser but can't find my download email, what should I do?
Be sure to check your spam or junk folders as it may have been sorted there. In the unfortunate event you entered (or auto-completed) the wrong email address, you should either simply check out again for free devices, or, if it was a paid purchase, you can complete the download request form here. Otherwise, just visit your account page to retrieve your past purchases.
Where should I install my devices?
We strongly suggest placing them in Live’s User Library so Live’s Browser can index them for easy search results; better yet, place them in an appropriate User Library subfolder such as Presets > MIDI Effects > Max MIDI Effect. Alternatively, you can place them in any secure folder on your hard drive, though we recommend adding that folder to Live’s Browser Places for ease of access. Either way, wherever the devices reside, they can also be added to Live’s Category system, which we also recommend.
The device version isn't in the file name: how can I tell if I have the latest version?
We leave our device names intact so Live can still find and swap them in your existing projects. To verify whether you have the latest version, look at the “date modified” field of the .amxd file in Finder (macOS) or Explorer (Windows).
Where can I find the bundled Utility Boost included with paid devices?
If you downloaded the latest version of a paid device (other than Desolation Echo), you can find Utility Boost included directly in the MFA Utility Boost folder at the top directory of the unzipped archive; in older .zip versions, you can find it in the Utilities subfolder of the device project folder.
What is your refund policy?
If a purchased product turns out not to be compatible with your system or simply doesn’t function as expected or intended, no worries: so long as we receive confirmation that you have deleted all downloaded files and any links to re-download them within two weeks of the purchase date, we will process a refund to your original payment method. To initiate a refund request, please complete this form.
LICENSE, ACTIVATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS
How do I activate my license?
Each plugin opens an activation panel the first time you load it, and you can reach it any time from License in the plugin's footer. Paste your license key and activate. Data Map activates with the same license key, from within the Extension: click the dialog title to see whether the machine is activated.
Do I need to stay online to use the plugins?
No. Activation needs an internet connection once; after that, the plugin keeps working offline, with a grace period before it needs to check in again. The first fetch from an online data source also needs a connection, but fetched data is saved inside your project, so a saved session reopens fully offline.
How do I move my license to another computer?
Open the License panel on the computer you no longer use and click Deactivate. That frees the activation for another machine.
Does one license cover every plugin format?
Yes. One license covers VST3, Audio Unit, and CLAP, so there is nothing to repurchase if you change hosts or formats.
The plugin says demo mode. What should I do?
The plugin has not been activated on this machine yet. Click License in the plugin's footer and activate with your key.
What happens if I cancel a plug-in subscription?Canceling stops the next renewal, so you won't be charged again. Your membership, and the plugins and Extensions that rely on it, stay active until the end of the year you've already paid for. Payments are not refunded pro rata for the remaining time. If included, your Max for Live devices keep working after the membership ends.
PLUG-INS
Which formats and platforms do the plugins support?
Data Path is a MIDI effect in VST3, Audio Unit, and CLAP. Data Synth is an instrument in VST3, Audio Unit, and CLAP. Data FX is an audio effect in VST3, Audio Unit, and CLAP. All three run on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Audio Unit is macOS only.
Which hosts support CLAP?
Bitwig Studio, REAPER, and recent versions of Studio One support CLAP. Ableton Live does not, so use the VST3 or Audio Unit there. If CLAP does not appear in a host that supports it, rescan your plugins or restart your DAW.
Why doesn't the Audio Unit show up in Bitwig?
Bitwig does not support the Audio Unit format. The VST3 and CLAP versions both appear there instead.
How do I use Data Path in Ableton Live?
There are two ways, and both use the same Data Path VST3. The direct way works in any edition of Live: load the Data Path VST3 on a MIDI track of its own (it is an instrument whose output is always silent, because it only makes MIDI), then on a second MIDI track holding the sound you want to play, set MIDI From to Data Path’s track, choose Data Path in the chooser below it, and set monitoring to In. Live merges all MIDI channels into one on this route, so Scala tuning, which gives each note its own channel, will play untuned. The second way is optional and needs Live Suite or Max for Live: drop the included MFA Data Path VST.amxd device on a MIDI track. It opens the installed Data Path VST3 for you and adds Scale Awareness, so Data Path follows your Live set’s scale, key, and groove amount, and you can switch that off to hold Data Path’s own settings. The device hosts the VST3 you already installed, so install the VST3 first, and save a Data Path preset before closing the set, since the device’s own state may not restore perfectly on reload.
The MFA Data Path VST.amxd device won't open Data Path. Why not?
The device hosts the installed Data Path VST3 rather than carrying its own copy, so the VST3 needs to be installed on the same computer first. Install it, then reload the device.
What are the MFA Data Synth VST.amxd and MFA Data FX VST.amxd devices for?
Data Synth and Data FX load directly in Ableton Live as VST3 or Audio Unit plugins. These optional Max for Live devices sit alongside them on the same track and keep their Key and Scale in step with your Live set, which a plugin cannot read on its own. They require Live Suite or Max for Live.
My settings didn't come back after reopening a Live set with one of the .amxd devices. What happened?
The wrapper devices do not always restore every setting after a Live set is saved and reopened. Save your settings as a plugin preset before closing the set, and every setting comes back exactly as you left it.
I get no sound from Data Path. What should I check?
Make sure Data Path sits before an instrument on a MIDI track, and that your DAW's transport is running. In Arpeggiator mode, hold MIDI notes for it to play; in Trigger mode, play notes to advance the data one point at a time.
The plugin window is blank. How do I fix it?
On Windows, re-run the plugin's installer with an internet connection, then reopen the plugin. On Linux, the plugins need WebKitGTK 4.0 or 4.1; the .deb installs it automatically, and the tarball's install.sh offers to. If the window is still blank, please complete our technical support form.
What are the Linux requirements?
A 64-bit x86 system with glibc 2.35 or later, which covers Ubuntu 22.04 and later, Debian 12 and later, Fedora 36 and later, and current rolling releases. Install the .deb with apt rather than dpkg, or extract the .tar.xz and run sudo ./install.sh. The plugins run under X11, which works automatically through XWayland on a Wayland desktop.
Can I share presets between the plugins?
Yes. Data Path, Data Synth, and Data FX share the .mfdata preset format. Loading a preset saved in a different plugin restores its data selection while leaving your own sound settings as they were. To share a preset, send the file; to install one, put it in the presets folder shown by Show Folder.
I changed a default setting and it didn't take effect. Why?
Your DAW restores every parameter with the project it saved, so an existing session keeps its saved values. Open a fresh instance in a new project to see a changed default.
Why does Data FX add latency?
Most of Data FX runs at zero latency. Convolution adds a small, constant amount, and Spectral Filter and Spectral Morph add latency equal to their FFT size. Data FX reports its total latency to your host, which compensates automatically, and shows it live in the footer. A smaller FFT size keeps monitoring latency lower when playing through the plugin.
Spectral Morph goes silent when I choose Sidechain. Is something wrong?
No. Sidechain borrows its phase from a second audio input, so with nothing routed to Data FX's sidechain input there is nothing to resynthesize. Route another track into the plugin's sidechain input in your DAW.
Spectral Morph doesn't sound frozen when Freeze is on. Why?
With Input set to Track, the held spectrum takes its phase from the incoming audio, so whatever is still playing re-animates it. Set Input to Locked for a still, sustained result.
Are the plugins accessible with a screen reader?
Yes, on macOS and Windows. Every parameter is named and speaks its value through your host's parameter list, and the plugins' own windows can be operated by keyboard alone, with every control announcing its name and value. Turn on hints with the ? button to hear each control's explanation as well.
ABLETON LIVE EXTENSIONS
What is the difference between Data Map and Data Path?
Both turn data into MIDI. Data Path is a plugin that generates MIDI live, as a loop, in any host that loads MIDI effect plugins. Data Map is an Ableton Live Extension that writes the result into a finished clip, and can also transform existing MIDI clips and generate or transform audio. Data Map runs only inside Ableton Live.
Data Map doesn't appear when I right-click a track. What should I do?
Open Live's Settings and check the Extensions tab to confirm Data Map is installed and enabled. If it is, check the same tab for an update, and relaunch Live after installing or updating.
Data Map won't open at all. Why?
Data Map has no demo mode and needs an active license to run. Activate it with your Manifest Audio license key from within the Extension.
Why can't I generate audio in Session View?
Rendering audio needs a position and a length on the timeline, so Data Map's audio features work in the Arrangement only. Right-click an audio clip or a time selection in the Arrangement. Transforming MIDI clips works in both views.
Will Data Map change or delete my original MIDI clip?
No. When transforming MIDI, Data Map never adds a note, never moves one in time, and never touches the source clip. The result is always written to a new clip, and notes the data removes are muted rather than deleted.
SCALE & KEY
Are your devices compatible with Live 12's Scale Awareness?
Yes - as of 14 November 2023, all the latest versions of our devices automatically and continually inherit the global scale and key from any Live 12 set while in default Global mode; just toggle to Local pinning to ignore Live 12 scale and key settings, and in Live 11, they all still work with Global Hub.
Do the Sonification Tools 3 plugins follow Live 12's scale and key?
Inside Ableton Live, yes, through the included Max for Live devices: MFA Data Path VST.amxd, MFA Data Synth VST.amxd, and MFA Data FX VST.amxd each have a Scale Aware toggle, on by default, that follows the Live set's scale and key. Turn it off to keep the plugin's own Key and Scale. Data Map has its own Scale Aware toggle that quantizes to Live's current scale and root note. In other hosts, set Key and Scale in the plugin itself.
Can I use Global Hub in Live 12?
You certainly can, and it can send (and randomize) scale and key to your Live 12 set, although it’s no longer necessary to keep our other devices in key as they all now automatically work with Live 12’s Scale and Key Awareness.
My device’s scale and key are not saved with my Live set or presets: what’s wrong?
For device scale and key to be stored locally with a set without an instance of Global Hub, or with a preset, the scale and key Global mode must be toggled to pin the scale and key to Local device settings first. Toggling from Local back to Global mode will automatically force the device to inherit Global Hub settings.
I don’t want my device to conform to Global Hub’s scale and key: is this possible?
Any device that can be impacted by Global Hub has a Global toggle; click this to pin the scale and key to Local device settings. Toggling from Local back to Global mode will automatically force the device to inherit Global Hub settings.
RANDOMIZATION & AUTOMATION
Why don't certain parameters randomize when I click the dice?
If a parameter’s lock is engaged, it will not be randomized; toggle locks off individually, or click the key symbol button, if the device has one, to unlock all parameters simultaneously. Locked parameters remain available for manual control.
How do I prevent certain parameters from randomizing when I click the dice?
For parameters that you do not wish to randomize, enable their lock toggle. Locked parameters remain available for manual control and automation.
Why won't certain parameters save with my set?
Parameters that have been made eligible for auto-randomization are no longer visible to Live’s history and therefore not saved with the set. In Pattern Engine, click the disk icon in the device to revert all parameters to a state that can be saved with your Live Set. Alternatively, you can record the MIDI or audio output generated from any Manifest Audio device by routing it via Live’s I/O matrix and recording the output to your desired destination track.
Some parameters are unavailable for automation: why?
When a parameter is auto-randomized (or a step note pitch is set to Chance mode), it cannot be seen by Live’s automation system. To allow automation for a particular step, engage the lock for any auto-randomizing parameter, or simply disable auto-randomization, if possible.
When I click the Global Hub dice in Device mode, why doesn't anything happen?
The Device randomization only governs eligible, unlocked parameters of instances of Pattern Engine, Octopulse, and Subtraction Engine in your current set - please make sure these are updated to the latest version, and remember that step pitches set to Manual mode in Pattern Engine are essentially locked, and must be switched to Chance mode to receive randomization internally or from Global Hub.
Why does Global Hub switch back to Hub randomization after clicking dice in Device mode?
This is to prevent abuse that could result in Live crashing if too many parameters are randomized too quickly.
MIDI & OUTPUT
Everything has swing applied: how can I fix this timing?
As of late 2025, all our Max for Live MIDI Effects are swing aware - meaning they ingest your set’s Global Groove amount as their swing; either disable swing on the device or pin it to Local mode to ignore the Global Groove amount.
How can I control my CV modular gear with your devices?
It’s easy using free tools so long as you have a CV-compatible audio interface - follow our CV setup guide.
My devices don't make any notes: why?
Max MIDI Effect devices process MIDI rather than generate it in their default mode. Be sure to send them MIDI from a MIDI Clip or by playing notes in manually. Some devices, such as Chance Engine and Rhythm Engine, also have a Generate mode that produces MIDI on its own.
Why don’t Mod Squad devices make any notes or sound?
All Mod Squad devices only produce a control modulation signal, reacting to either MIDI, audio, or purely random generation. To deploy this modulation signal, the devices must be mapped to active parameters in other devices in your Live set.
Output keeps transposing when I play MIDI notes: how can I stop this?
Disarm record input for the MIDI track containing your device, and/or toggle from Receive to Internal mode if applicable.
Generative MIDI doesn't render when I Freeze a track or Export my Set - why not?
When Live Freezes or Exports, it doesn't trigger any generative MIDI processes, which means none of your generative output will be included. The solution is to record the generative output to MIDI or audio clips beforehand. The benefit of this is you will end up with artifacts you can compose around somewhat more reliably.
How do I record or export what Data Path plays?
Drag the export chip straight onto a track as a MIDI clip, or save a standard MIDI file. The export includes the current Base Rate and Transpose, and always writes the forward pattern, without Chance or Direction applied. Data Synth's Sequencer exports the same way.
Can Data Path send modulation instead of notes?
Yes. Click the gear beside the Sonification heading to show three OSC streams and three MIDI CC rows that follow the data. Switch NOTES off in the title bar and Data Path sends only modulation, while incoming MIDI passes straight through.
MIDI TOOLS
Where should I install my MIDI Tools?
Your Live 12 User Library should include a folder called MIDI Tools, and that’s the best spot to store them. If you don’t see that folder there by default, no worries, you can manually add it yourself. Once our MIDI Tools are in there, give Live a minute or so to detect them, after which they should appear in the corresponding MIDI Tool panel of Live’s MIDI clip note editor. MIDI Tools are not the same as devices: they work directly in the note editor and cannot be dragged onto tracks like devices can.
How do I keep my MIDI Tools from constantly changing the MIDI?
Click in your MIDI clip note editor to fix the current changes in place and begin a new set of generation or transformation. You can also turn the Generate or Transform toggle off and just click the apply button whenever you’re ready to hear changes.
How come some parameters don’t continue randomizing?
To maintain consistency when using multiple MIDI Tools in a simultaneous chain, random seeds ensure certain parameters are only randomized a specific way at a given time; to re-randomize a MIDI Tool, just click Generate or Transform below the tool to produce a new random seed.
SONIFICATION TOOLS
Where does the data come from?
The plugins and Data Map include online sources across weather, environment, finance, economics, health, the web, and more. The three plugins also offer Math, 47 generative algorithms that need no internet connection. Choose a Type, then a Source, then a Series. For anything else, a wide range of sites offer free data sets, from sports to finance to academic research, which you can load through the Spreadsheet source.
What kinds of my own data can I use?
In Data Path, Data Synth, and Data FX: Spreadsheet, Image, Text, Numbers, Draw, Audio, and Video, plus Stream for live Open Sound Control in Data Path and Data Synth. In Data Map: Spreadsheet, Numbers, Image, and Text.
Can I use data from any source in music I plan to sell?
Different data sets carry different licenses, so check that you have permission to use a data set the way you intend before committing. In the Sonification Tools 3 plugins, hover the badge at the left of the data bar, or above the graph in Data Map, to see the credit line each provider asks for. NASA and NOAA data are in the public domain, so credit is a courtesy; most other providers ask for it as a condition of free use.
A fetch failed. What should I do?
The message on screen names the cause. A rate limiting message means the provider is throttling requests: wait a minute and try again. A timeout or a temporarily unavailable service is worth a retry, or a narrower date range. A message naming your input, such as an unknown ticker or dates outside the available range, means the request itself needs changing. A failed fetch never disturbs what was already playing.
The graph is empty but I can still hear sound. Is that normal?
Yes. Selecting a source you have not fetched yet clears the graph but not the audio, so browsing never goes silent. Press Fetch to load the new source, or switch back to the one you had.
Why is there a wait between fetches?
By default, each plugin waits between fetches of the same source to stay within what free public data providers allow. Click the shield in the footer to switch to Risk-Tolerant Mode and remove the wait; some sources keep it in both modes. Data Map waits twenty seconds between requests to the same source.
A country is missing from a dropdown. Why?
A few territories are left out of certain country lists because the underlying data service returns nothing for them. Pick the nearest listed country instead.
Where are the Scala tunings stored?
In Documents, Manifest Audio, Tunings, created the first time you switch to Tuning mode and filled with 32 tunings. Your own .scl files can go in the same folder, and Data FX also reads .ascl files. Data Path, Data Synth, and Data FX all read this folder.
Data Path's microtuning sounds wrong. Why?
Tuning mode sends each note with its own pitch bend over MPE, so both your host and your instrument need MPE support, with the instrument in MPE mode. A host or instrument that collapses the notes onto one channel plays everything untuned.
How can I sonify a full table of data?
In Data Path, Data Synth, Data FX, and Data Map, the Spreadsheet source loads a CSV or other delimited file and lets you choose which column to read. Data Synth and Data FX each hold four independent data slots, so four columns can drive different parts of the same instance; for more, add further instances. In the Legacy Max for Live devices, each instance handles one row or column.
What is the maximum length of data I can enter into a Legacy Sonification device?
For the Legacy Max for Live devices, the maximum data string length for Data MIDI, Dataforge, and Data Mod is 2048 values, due to limitations with Max list processing. Due to MSP buffer size limitations, Data FX Legacy is limited to 512 and Data Synth Legacy to 256.
Why don't images and videos work on Windows, or why do I get a VIDDLL warning?
This applies to the Legacy Max for Live devices: for their image and video modes to work on Windows, you may need to install the free VIDDLL Max library package. It’s easy: follow the VIDDLL install steps.
What image and video files can I sonify?
In the Legacy Max for Live devices, Image modes support BMP, JPG, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF, and Video modes support MOV and MP4. Data Map's Image source takes JPG and PNG.
Why isn’t Data MIDI or Data Mod receiving my OSC messages?
First, you need to make sure your OSC application is sending to your computer’s IP address, which should be visible in your computer’s wi-fi or network settings panel. Then you must ensure Data MIDI or Data Mod are set to receive on the corresponding OSC port. Finally, the exact correct address, including any forward slash symbols, must be entered in the Address text field, without any spaces - then be sure to hit the Enter key after typing it in to ensure the desired OSC address is ingested by the device. View this short 5-step tutorial to learn how to configure OSC with our Sonification Tools.
My data isn't playing back as expected in a Legacy device, what should I do?
Data preparation is the first step to ensure a smooth sonification experience. Make sure only the actual data you wish to use has been pasted in. Be sure not to include, for example, an index column that simply counts up from 1 alongside the desired data, as this will skew the results rather drastically. Please ensure only numeric characters are pasted into the data field. Numbers should be separated by a space and/or line break (enter); commas or semicolons may cause problems and should be avoided, but don’t worry: data copied from a CSV will be entered correctly as space-separated here. You must also ensure float values are denoted correctly with a period (“.”) symbol, not a comma (“,”). Finally, certain data sets may contain nonsensical values that should be purged before sonification usage.
X-FX
I’m constraining eligible X-FX parameters to my project scale and key via Global Hub, but the end result isn’t harmonizing: why not?
The pitch-related parameters are quantizing corresponding millisecond or hertz values to notes in the current scale and key, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the resulting audio will be tuned to that scale and key; this is entirely dependent on the source material being processed so results may vary.
I want to control the Note or Transposition value of my X-FX with a Rack macro, automation, MIDI controller, or modulator, but when I do, the parameter doesn't change as intended: how do I fix this?
Due to an issue with Max for Live, in order to control pitched Note or Relay Transposition values outside the effect, you must set the device Glide time to 0.00 ms, after which all the above described methods will work as intended.
How do I use Relay mode with my X-FX?
Place an instance of X-Relay on the desired MIDI source track. Set it to Relay mode and select the desired Relay conduit. Then, put your X-FX device into Relay mode and set it to receive on the same conduit. Transposition might not register until it has received a MIDI note from the X-Relay source.
ULTRA BUNDLE
Is this a subscription?
Ultra comes in two forms. Ultra Membership renews automatically each year and includes every new release while it is active; you can cancel anytime, and plugins and Extensions work while your membership is active - until one year from your date of purchase. Ultra 2027 Edition is a one-time purchase: everything released until October 1, 2027 is yours forever, and licenses do not expire.
What happens after the edition year?
With Ultra 2027 Edition, you keep everything released until October 1, 2027, with preferential owner upgrade pricing for the next edition. Ultra 2028 is not included. With Ultra Membership, each new year's releases are included for as long as your membership is active.
MODULATION
Sometimes when attempting to map a parameter I get a "modulation assignment not supported" warning - what should I do?
Due to internal dependencies, certain device parameters will not allow modulation in certain versions of Live; in the rare case you get this message, simply toggle the assignment to Remote control mode and you should be able to otherwise assign it as desired.
GENERAL
Can I trial your products?
Data Path, Data Synth, and Data FX run in demo mode until activated, with certain data sources and features restricted, so you can try them before buying; activating a license key removes every restriction immediately, with no reinstall needed. Max for Live devices, Live Racks, and Data Map cannot be trialed, but if you are unsatisfied with a product for any functional reason, you may request a refund.
Which bundle should I get?
Depends what you’re looking for: compare the bundles.
How do I update Max?
It’s easy: just follow the simple steps in our Max update guide.
Presets aren’t loading: what should I do?
If one of our presets isn’t loading with a file not found error, simply drag the corresponding Max device .amxd file on top of the unloaded preset instance to replace it with the correct path, then click the device save icon at upper right of the title bar to re-save the preset .adv with the newly corrected device reference to ensure it loads properly going forward. If you are on Live 12.1.1, update to Live 12.2 or later, which fixes a bug that prevented some Max for Live presets from loading.
Why are some parameters not labeled?
Working within the limited range constraints afforded by Live’s allotted device view and MIDI Tool panel restrictions, we have begun to opt for color-coding where possible - but you can always check Live’s Info View to understand any of our MIDI Tool parameters, or simply be reminded of their function.
How can I capture the results my device is producing?
You can route the output to any other Audio or MIDI track in Live via the In/Out routing matrix: just record enable and start jamming to produce all kinds of unique artifacts in the format of your choice.
I’m getting glitches and drop-outs in Live: how can I avoid this?
In the Audio tab of Live’s Settings, increase the Buffer Size to at least 256 samples; we recommend 512 for heavy-duty sequencers like Pattern Engine.
My device looks small: how do I make it bigger?
In the Display tab of Live’s Settings, simply increase the Zoom Display percentage slider to 125% or 150%.
Does Manifest Audio have a climate policy?
We are proud to partner with Stripe’s climate program: a portion of all sales goes toward protecting our biosphere via climate initiatives - learn more about Stripe Climate.
How can I learn more about a device?
All our devices are Info View annotated, so open Live’s Info View and hover over any Manifest Audio device parameter for a description. We also strongly recommend reading the manual that came bundled with your device download for further details. Finally, you can view our video tutorials on YouTube for further educational content on our devices.
Do your Max for Live devices work on Push 3 Standalone?
Generally, yes - we test our devices on Push 3 Standalone and they are all generally compatible, but Max and/or Push updates can occasionally alter certain behaviors. If something isn’t working as you expect, please let us know.
What if my question isn’t answered here, in Live’s Info View, or the product manual?
In that case, please complete our technical support form here.