You have multiple choices,
One is do a pile of buttons, and assign incremental MIDI CC value to all buttons, of course what is controlled will jump to that values.
The second way is map a slider in Ableton as a encoder, what basically is a midi mode accept incremental values.
Finally you need consider change your IR touch by a capacitive touch, what solve all problems.
Asus Vt229h is a very good affordable solution.