willyc

I wonder if anyone has any advice on storing max 4 live devices in a location outside of the Live Library (on the filesystem).

The documentation recommends keeping devices inside the library

https://cycling74.com/docs/max5/vignettes/core/live_creatingdevices.html

"Note: You can save a device to any location you wish, but it will not be displayed in Live's file browser. We recommend that you save Max devices inside the Live library.")

but suggest that kepping them outside is possible

https://cycling74.com/docs/max5/vignettes/core/live_advancedpresets.html

"When you store a preset for a Max device that is not located in the Library, the preset will have a special preset-plus-device icon...")

Avoiding a discussion on 'why' I want to keep them outside the Library, can anyone advice on if it is possible, how it is done and what the limitations are?

A particular concern is that, as I understand from the documentation, devices stored outside the library are not visible in Lives browser; how does one therefore add the such a device to their set?

(https://cycling74.com/docs/max5/vignettes/core/live_creatingdevices.html
"Note: You can save a device to any location you wish, but it will not be displayed in Live's file browser. We recommend that you save Max devices inside the Live library.")

(https://cycling74.com/docs/max5/vignettes/core/live_advancedpresets.html
"When you store a preset for a Max device that is not located in the Library, the preset will have a special preset-plus-device icon...")

keeping-m4l-devices-outside-the-live-library

Why not simply try and see for yourself? No offense here, but IMO it takes more time to write your question then simply giving this a quick try ;-)

The comment that m4l devices outside of the library are invisible isn't correct; maybe that applied to older Live versions but doesn't apply anymore. There is of course a difference; besides the name you'll also seen a file extension appear.

The only caveat I can think of is whenever you're going to save a device preset. Presets exist within the library so Live will "import" the m4l device into the library (iow it copies it) and then puts the preset with a special icon in your library. The icon indicates that the preset "links" to an outside device.

Apart from all that this will easily work out. I too keep some m4l devices outside the library and haven't experienced any problems so far.

Point taken, though at this time I'm not at my max computer

"Live will 'import' the m4l device into the library (iow it copies it)"

Does this mean any further changes to the (external) device will not be honoured by the Live Preset, as the Preset "links" to the copied version of the device? Or is it a 'soft link' as such, and simply points to the external .amxd file (meaning the Preset will always use the most recent revision of the device)?

It will indeed be a copy; so if you change the original device then these changes will not be reflected in your preset because it will point to the copy of the device.

To be even more specific: say you have a M4L audio effect (external location), you save the preset then the preset will appear in the library under the header "max audio effect" and the device itself will be copied in a folder called "imported". Also in the "max audio effect" directory (so: "LibraryPresetsAudio EffectsMax Audio EffectImported").

Keeping M4L devices outside the Live Library