THE PLAYLISTER by Beon Labs: a $3.99 setlist manager for Ableton Live

If your Ableton Live set is a mess of locators, jumping between songs and sections during a live performance can feel like a high-wire act. You need a tool that keeps track of your setlist, lets you navigate sections quickly, and stops playback automatically when you’re done—without forcing you to dig through the Arrangement View every time.

THE PLAYLISTER from Beon Labs is a $3.99 transport controller and setlist manager built specifically for navigating locators in Ableton Live’s Arrangement View. It’s designed to make live performance agility easier, handling the movement and playback of your tracks so you can focus on the music. Here’s what stands out, who it fits, and what to confirm on THE PLAYLISTER before you pay.

Quick answer

If that sounds like your setup, view THE PLAYLISTER on Gumroad to see the current details.

What you’re actually buying

THE PLAYLISTER from Beon Labs is a focused utility for producers who perform live with Ableton Live. At $3.99, it’s an impulse-buy price point, but it solves a very specific problem: navigating and managing your setlist during a performance. It’s not a general-purpose plugin; it’s a transport controller designed to keep your live set organized and responsive.

The core of what you get is a Max for Live device that sits within your Ableton Live session. It allows you to view and navigate through all songs configured as locators, move between different sections like verses and choruses, and rearrange your setlist on the fly. You can also save and load your setlist order, which is crucial for consistent performance setups.

What makes this tool particularly useful for live performance is the AutoStop locators feature. This automatically stops playback when you reach the end of a track, eliminating the need to manually stop each song. Additionally, the device supports full MIDI mapping, allowing you to trigger songs and sections from your hardware controller. The latest version, 1.3, also includes a resizable GUI, ensuring it fits on screens with resolutions as low as 1280x720, which is a practical detail for performers using smaller laptop screens.

It’s important to note that this tool requires Ableton Live 10 or higher and Max for Live. If you don’t have Max for Live, this won’t work for you. The low price point reflects a “no-frills” approach: you get a functional tool that does its job well, with support focused on bug reporting rather than extensive custom development. For a simple, effective way to manage your live set in Ableton, THE PLAYLISTER offers a clear value proposition.

Why it’s on our radar

This is a niche utility that solves a very specific pain point for Ableton performers: the friction of manually navigating locators during a live set. At $3.99, it’s priced as a “try it out” tool, but it delivers a complete workflow solution—combining setlist management, section navigation, and automatic playback stopping in a single Max for Live device. It’s on our radar because it addresses the “agility” problem in live performance without requiring a complex patching session or expensive hardware controller.

What actually matters

Before you buy, confirm your setup matches the strict requirements. This tool is not a standard plugin; it is a Max for Live device, which means you absolutely need the Max for Live license to make it work. If you are on a free tier or a standard Ableton Live plan without Max, this won’t function.

• Ableton Version: You must be on Ableton Live 10 or higher. Older versions are not supported.
• Screen Resolution: The interface is designed to be resizable, but the minimum requirement is 1280 x 720. If your laptop screen is smaller, or if you scale your display settings up significantly, you may run into display issues. The seller notes that you might need to adjust your computer’s display scaling to ensure THE PLAYLISTER displays correctly.
• MIDI Mapping: Check if your hardware controller works with the full MIDI mapping features. While the 1.3 update fixed button mapping issues, the seller notes that some “brute force” methods were used to overcome Max compatibility quirks. If you rely on precise button triggers for your set, test the MIDI mapping capabilities carefully.
• Support Model: The low price comes with a “limited support” caveat. The seller explicitly states they don’t plan to provide extensive future support, only bug reports. If you need custom development or deep integration help, this is not the tool for you.

Mid-check

If you’re running Ableton Live 10+ with Max for Live and need a quick way to manage your live setlist, See current options to grab it before the next gig.

FAQ

Does THE PLAYLISTER work with Ableton Live 9 or lower? No. The tool requires Ableton Live 10 or higher to function.

Do I need to buy Max for Live separately? Yes. THE PLAYLISTER is a Max for Live device, so you must have an active Max for Live license to use it.

Can I use it on a laptop with a screen smaller than 1280x720? Technically, the minimum resolution is 1280 x 720. If your screen is smaller, or if you have high scaling set, you may need to adjust your display settings to ensure the interface renders correctly.

Is there a refund policy if it doesn’t work with my setup? Gumroad generally handles refunds, but since this is a digital utility with specific system requirements (Max for Live, Live 10+), ensure your setup matches the requirements before purchasing to avoid compatibility issues.

Bottom line

If you perform live with Ableton Live and find yourself fumbling through the Arrangement View to start and stop tracks, THE PLAYLISTER is a no-brainer at $3.99. It’s a lightweight, specific tool that does one job well: managing your setlist and locators with speed and precision. Just make sure you have Max for Live and the correct screen resolution, and you’ll have a reliable setlist manager for your next performance.

This is an independent review. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.