Ableton Live

fuzboxz · 2023-05-23T13:29:01.226Z

This isn’t too bad for the initial release. The Max4Live capabilities make it really-really powerful and much more open than it’s competitors.

@JES I thought it was just me. I also found the Push 1 much better than the Push 2.

eblomquist · 2023-05-23T13:34:30.991Z

One thing I would love is a softer touch required for triggering the pads. With both Push 1 and 2 I felt like I had to really bash the pads, which was not good for my hands…

karateisland · 2023-05-23T13:37:41.621Z

I think the support is there, but not full. With plans to expand it in the future.

Edit: CDM has some pretty detailed coverage of technical details like m4l support.

CDM Create Digital Music – 23 May 23

Inside the new Ableton Push: all the technical details so far, from I/O to...

The new Push represents a technical leap forward for Ableton, both in terms of its upgradeable, Intel-based standalone architecture and its new pad sensor tech. I got a chance to speak to the folks at Ableton about some of those details, and how the...

Est. reading time: 10 minutes

mateo · 2023-05-23T14:02:40.487Z

It sounds like the pads have been completely rethought, curious to play around with these ones. This is a really nice update, it definitely exceeds what I expected: I was planning on buying a new laptop for performing but I may just get one of these instead!

Ithacus · 2023-05-23T14:33:59.899Z

There are further comments on the h/w sustainability from the CDM article (also confirms commitment to supporting Push 2 going forward).

This is really refreshing… and I hope is a sign of the larger music tech companies moving over (back?) to high quality design and components, where a large upfront cost is offset against a long (and supported) product life.

Midi controllers in particular seem to be the worst offenders for landfill fodder in music tech IMO… so I like Ableton’s different approach (not unique I know but rare for a company of their size).

'We do spend a lot of time factoring in sustainability into our design, in the product, lifespan and packaging. Since 2013 or so we have been doing LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) of every component of Push, tried a lot of materials, some of which didn’t work out for one reason or another (stability, injectability), many of which did, particularly in the packaging. This also a factor in how we choose the factory we work with.

‘The most important factor for sustainability in hardware as I understand it is making sure it has a long lifespan, and doesn’t quickly go to landfill. So I think having upgradeable components is probably the best thing we did on Push 3. We intend to support it for a long time, and we hope this could help the product grow in the future if/when Live 16 or whatever requires more processing power. This also applies to Push 2, we want to make sure Push 2 is continually updated as well.’

familiar.unknown · 2023-05-23T09:11:50.102Z

Ableton Push 3 is now a thing. And standalone, too.

Can be bought as a controller only and later physically upgraded with battery and new processor for standalone mode. Interesting move.

Edit: Oh, and puts out CV/Gate.

smonthms · 2023-05-23T09:29:29.782Z

WOW. This is a bit of a game changer. Does it port your VSTs over?

fuzboxz · 2023-05-23T09:31:14.519Z

For me it’s just too big. Had the same problem with all the earlier Push’s as well, it just takes up too much desk space. On the other hand there will probably be a lot of hacks because of the NUC x86/64 platform, so I’ll probably get one down the line.

edit: Interesting that they went with Intel® NUC 11 Compute Element CM11EBi38W which will be discontinued next year. Probably Intel® NUC 12 Compute Element ELM12HBi3 would have been more efficient with the little.BIG architecture. I wonder if simply replacing it is possible.

snkhydrox · 2023-05-23T09:39:42.582Z

Had a Push 2 and sold it because of this. It’s so big and heavy

ruaridhTVO · 2023-05-23T09:48:58.127Z

Only internal fx/instruments and a selection of M4L just now - if they open it up to all M4L it’ll be a pretty big move

2197 · 2023-05-23T10:20:21.090Z

may i suggest all push 3 talk continues in the ableton thread, since it’s already a released product.

parkerhordon · 2023-05-23T15:32:14.038Z

@familiar.unknown Haven’t watched the video yet, but I find it Interesting that all of these massively popular controllers are becoming standalone, I don’t know if I agree with it though. The whole point of the ableton push or the maschine mk3 was to be a studio control surface for their respective software, I can appreciate their attempt at reaching more audiences, but I don’t think the DAW centerpiece controllers are the best products to invest standalone development into. The MPC mk2 is about as big as portable standalone products should be.

joshhh · 2023-05-23T16:24:29.544Z

I think size preferences are pretty subjective. Push obv isn’t small, but it has a smaller footprint than most keyboard synths, is similar to a traditional MPC (like a 2000XL) or DJ mixer, though thinner, and it’s smaller than most laptop + controller + interface combos.

alanza · 2023-05-23T16:29:50.283Z

for what it’s worth, this seems like a great discussion to port, not because it’s about a released product per se (although that’s part of it) but also because the discussion is not “20 characters of purchased!!1!!”

Anyway, carry on

KristofferLislegaard · 2023-05-23T16:31:16.624Z

ruaridhTVO:

a selection of M4L just now - if they open it up to all M4L it’ll be a pretty big move

It looks like it is pretty much all of M4L except externals + you need to make sure to use f.ex. the live.bank object so it will map correctly.

The majority of devices which do not rely upon Jitter, Java, Mira, or third party externals should basically work on Push 3 at launch.

– the hi object for human input devices like game controller

– the serial object for communicating with devices over the serial bus

So to be clear if you are a M4L PROGRAMMER it is fully compatible. If you are just using other people’s devices then someone would need to help you out with updating the patches of course.

Voiron27 · 2023-05-23T16:31:30.626Z

The 8/8 ADAT expansion is a pleasant surprise:

could also employ ADAT for additional CV control of modular, as with this Datanoise breakout.

IOSISdrone · 2023-05-23T16:36:36.596Z

parkerhordon:

I don’t think the DAW centerpiece controllers are the best products to invest standalone development into.

I couldn’t disagree more. Having a tool like this that can seamlessly go from being a full-service controller for my DAW of choice to a standalone instrument that can basically act as the hub to my hardware performance rig is an absolute dream.

parkerhordon · 2023-05-23T16:40:07.719Z

Yeah It’s not that I don’t like the Push’s form factor, I love how slim and dense it is, but its a very square flat surface that doesn’t exactly scream put me in your bag and jam in the park like I think most people expect from standalone machines. The shape of the MPC Live, OP-1 or even octatrack makes more sense as its size is focused in one direction (Horizontally), It makes it easier to use and move IMO.

joshhh · 2023-05-23T16:43:55.575Z

I think we’re getting into the differences between “backpack + jam in the park” vs “hard case + use on stage”

G4B3 · 2023-05-23T16:46:28.211Z

parkerhordon:

like I think most people expect from standalone machines

How often do most people actually jam in a park? My hunch is a lot more people want something that works in their studio, their couch and on stage. Not that working outside isn’t a nice idea but I feel like the glare from the sun alone would kill it for me.