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Ableton Live isn’t the only music making software out there, but it’s the weapon of choice for legions of producers because it’s so damn intuitive. Today, Ableton spilled the details on a new version, Live 9, and just as important, a homegrown hardware controller for the software, called Ableton Push.
There are already some 30 controllers designed specifically to work with Live, but Push is the first piece of hardware wholly designed by Ableton. If the company really nailed the integration between the hardware and software, the tool could be a game changer. And don’t worry about the build quality or engineering, because Ableton turned that part over to Akai, the company that created the original MPC, along with the Ableton-friendly APC40.
Push is designed to be an all-in-one music production solution, which allows you to play and sequence your beats from start to finish. Playing and sequencing centers around 64 RGB-colored, velocity and pressure sensitive pads. You can then use the controller’s other tools to fine-tune the paramaters of your sounds.
So far, this probably sounds familiar to people who’ve used controllers before. But Push has some additional features you won’t find anywhere else. We’re particularly excited about the special simplified workflow that’s designed for improvising with song structure. More than just a controller, Ableton built Push to be an instrument as well. Using some clever design trickery, Ableton managed to “fold” the 88 keys of of a keyboard onto Push’s 64 pads so that you can play chords and melodies. Push weighs just 6.6 pounds so it’s light enough to throw in a backpack.
As for Live 9 it adds some granular editing features that will satisfy even the nerdiest beatsmiths. First up is more sophisticated MIDI tools. For example, Live 9 will now be able to transform audio clips into editable midi tracks. The new package also includes an improved graphic equalizer, as well as 3500 new sounds to build beats out of, because why the hell not? There are a ton of features here—check out Create Digital Music’s overview for more details, if you’re interested.
Ableton Live 9 will start beta testing next week, and it’ll be available in Intro, Standard, and Suite versions. All of the products will be released in early 2013, and we just can’t wait. [Ableton via Create Digital Music]
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I never understood why companies like ableton advertise their software to the sound of the most godawful, generic music possible.
So they can sell it to as many godawful, generic producers as they can?
haha, correct!
I find the marketing departments of electronic musical instrument companies have some way to go before they match those of consumer electronic companies. I mean, look at the new Ableton logo…it’s Futura Medium, unchanged too. It takes a special kind of laziness to market your entire brand on an unedited, pre-installed mac font.
Too many menu buttons, font too small on them and the light behind looks weak. Try using that in a performance with a light show/dark club. Definitely wouldn’t touch this.
Horses for courses – it depends how busy your Ableton performance is going to be. If the hardware is as tightly integrated with the software as Native Instruments’ Maschine or Traktor, this should be a great step forward.
Certainly looks like it can do a lot more than my Novation Launchpad – Velocity sensitive pads are nice too.
Also touch sensitive pots!
So if you just touch it the display changes to show how much the pot/effect is on!!
I need this device
yeah, maybe. but you’d learn it though, plus you don’t need all the fine grained control in a performance situation.
This will be good but I’m really looking forward to Live 9 – automation in session clips, for one!
Thanks for this. Would love to see Giz covering more music tech stuff, there is definitely some very cool stuff out there.
Plus we can have a Live/Logic flame war instead of iOS/android!!!
Ispy, I am of the same opinion as I would love to see more music gadgets covered. Perhaps the best way to do this is actually to contact Kat directly with stories and copy for them to consider.
sure, although i wouldn’t want to personally add to her, i can only imagine infinitely massive, inbox. in reality someone else, indeed perhaps yourself, who is much more up-to-date than I on such matters might be better placed.
Might put me in a difficult position… Logic for traditional recording/editing, Live for electronic noodling and other nonsense.
i ended up just using live for traditional recording, i ashamedly under use all it’s other features!!
like waiting for a film to show on TV, i will probably just wait until I can get one on gumtree. so… maybe in three years i reckon.