Ableton’s just announced a dedicated control surface for Live called “Push”. After engineering trusted software for years, they now aim to solve an old problem with a new hardware solution: how to make a song from scratch. DJ TechTools attended a private preview of the new offerings last week in Berlin, where Push was described as “a hardware instrument for playing and composing with Live”. Keep reading for a full look at the hardware, including the full video walkthrough from Ableton.
In the new electronic world of chips and bits, where many modern musicians create their art predominantly in a computer, what is their instrument? Here is what Ableton themselves tells us about Push:
Push provides direct, hands-on control of melody and harmony, beats, sounds and structure, powered by Ableton Live running on your computer. High-quality, dynamic pads, buttons, encoders and display combined with an innovative workflow allow you to play and compose musical ideas without the need to look at or touch your computer, and more importantly, without interrupting the musical flow.
Ableton Push
Available: Q1 2013
Price: $599 / €499
Includes: Ableton Live 9 Intro
Compatible with: All versions of live including Intro, Standard, Suite
Power Source: USB
Weight: 6.6 lbs
Features
- Two assignable foot-switch inputs
- 64 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads
- RGB backlighting
- Designed by Akai Professional
- 11 touch-sensitive encoders
- Four line LCD alphanumeric display
- 12 cm touch strip for pitch bend/scrolling
THE NEW HIGH-END LAUNCHPAD?
The Novation Launchpad – which has become an iconic YouTube fixture due to its very low price ($149ish) and mass adoption – has become one of the unlikely success stories of the Ableton Live revolution. On the surface, Push looks like a sexier Launchpad with more dedicated Live functionality, but if you diver deeper there is more that might justify the price hike.
Color Buttons
The Push boasts RBG colors while the Launchpad is limited to just three colors (orange, red and green)
Better Feel
Built and designed just like the MPC pads, the Push has pads that can be playable as an instrument. While they work, the Launchpad buttons are notoriously “squishy” and reveal their low cost construction.
Deeper Data
The Push’s pads have aftertouch control, allowing you to push into a parameter and modify values without knobs or faders. The Launchpad lacks any equivalent control style over such parameters.
Better Integration
Since everything has been designed in-house, Ableton’s team has achieved remarkable integration with Live that goes far beyond the hardware presently on the market. This includes advanced control.
More Control
Along with the standard clip launching tools, Push offers a dynamic touch strip for modulation and pitch bends. The unit also sports eight touch-sensitive pots that display their information on the screen directly below them.
Every artist, young and old, needs an intro point and the Launchpad has launched (pun intended) many new performing artists into the world of Ableton and controllers. It’s quite possible that Push may be the next logical choice for those looking at a well-needed upgrade.
Here are the Key Features via Ableton’s Press Release
- Play and sequence beats: Push’s 64 velocity- and pressure-sensitive multi-color pads can be used to play, step sequence, and navigate within rhythm patterns – all at the same time. The 11 touch-sensitive endless encoders can control device parameters, adjust velocity, nudge timing and more.
- Play melodies and chords in a new way: Push’ “folds” a keyboard’s worth of notes into its 64 pads, with different pad colors showing the key center and other notes in the key. This allows you to play in every key using the same finger patterns, move between keys at the touch of a button, and explore new harmonies and phrases.
- Improvise with song structure: Push expands the scope of creation with its unique workflow. Using just a few buttons to trigger clips, overdub notes, move between song materials and variations lets Ableton Live itself become an intuitively playable instrument.
- Move smoothly from creation to arrangement: Push offers both the inspiring instrument to start creating music, and the full-featured software to finish off a track. Everything created with Push is laid out in Ableton Live on your computer – ready for fine-tuning, arrangement and export.
- Includes Ableton Live 9: Push comes with either Ableton Live 9 Intro, Standard or Suite Edition. All the included instruments, effects and sounds, as well as your own libraries, are ready to be played, tweaked, and personalized.
- Designed by Ableton, built by Akai: Push features 64 pressure and velocity-sensitive RGB (multi-colored) pads with an adaptive layout, plus a touch strip with 24 LEDs for pitch bending or navigating through a drum rack. 11 touch-sensitive endless encoders and a four line LCD display adapt dynamically to control and show instrument and effect parameters.
OUR TAKE AWAY
Hardware manufacturing was a good move for Ableton. With so many people pirating their software and other companies raking in the dollars from gear sales, it makes sense to build a 1:1 controller for Live. The challenge lies in building something that stands out, while keeping it at a price people are willing to jump on board for. Ableton made a smart move by partnering with Akai, who have extensive expertise in the controller manufacturing area.
While we only saw a hand-built prototype, the quality does appear on the surface to be comparable to the MPC line of products. However, only time and extensive (road) testing will reveal its true pedigree. My one disappointment was in the lack of innovation in the software department. Instead of building a new software/hardware paradigm from the ground up that re-defines music writing today, Ableton has instead settled for building what might end up being the best Live controller on the market.
More Info:
- Ableton Live 9 featurelist | DJTT
- High resolution photos of the Push controller | DJTT Facebook
- Ableton Push product page | Ableton
Ean Golden is the founder of Dj TechTools and a worldwide Dj specializing in controllers and new performance technology.
Follow Ean on: Twitter Facebook SoundCloud YouTube
[…] Fonte: DJ Techtools […]
[…] Fonte: DJ Techtools […]
You’re telling me! I just bought a MiniNova, Maschine, an extra Maschine controller, headphones, and accessories. lmao
Push is: Compact, integrated, and about the same price as my other stuff.
I’m returning everything and buying this
http://www.trickytrap.com/ludo-star-hack-apk-mod-version-unlimited-coin-always-win-mod/
You’re telling me! I just bought a MiniNova, Maschine, an extra Maschine controller, headphones, and accessories. lmao
Push is: Compact, integrated, and about the same price as my other stuff.
I’m returning everything and buying this lol
http://www.trickytrap.com/tricky-traps-video-game-tricky-plugin/
[…] Ableton Push: New Hardware Controller … – Ableton Push. Available: Q1 2013 Price: $599 / €499 Includes: Ableton Live 9 Intro Compatible with: All versions of live including Intro, Standard, Suite […]
I don’t know about anyone else, but if you spend $600 on a piece of hardware, you should get a full version f the native software for free, not just a fucking intro version or demo version….. Just saying……
can we change that knobs for some chroma caps? ^^
They should make more bundles. Add $100 and include Live Full, Add $200-250 and include Live Suite
I’m actually nursing a semi.
It is pretty cool. Ipad and software like touchable might still be better though. The price is pretty hefty too even compared to an ipad
Does it have a beat roll function like the Maschine does? I cannot find any info says it does
Too bad its USB powered. That sucks. Otherwise… WOW!!
Awesome controller, but $600 is insane. It should be like $400 if you ask me. I can get a hell of a lot of softwear/gear for the much…. If it included Live it would make more sense
I like my Trigguitar better…although it does sound pretty expansive and they make the touch sensitivity look amazing! would like to try to see for real
shit i want this
Maschine MK plus Ableton Push I think yes!
most important thing here at DJTT: is it standard MIDI (for mapping with Traktor)?
I first saw this last night when I was up late with a cold. I happened to be watching some live “electronic improvisation” videos ranging in age from 20 years old (DJ Muggs on SP1200) to 40 years old (Terry Riley – Shri Camel improvisations) to at the same time.
I noticed that, in terms of what’s actually being created in the demo videos, this doesn’t sound a whole lot different from something that might have been created with, say, a MIDI workstation in the early 90’s. I get that now I can have a freeze-dried version of every “ethnic instrument” imaginable and digital models of every SSL and UREI compressor ever made and carry it in a backpack, but I’m not convinced anything is really changing. I just think there’s more stuff to noodle with.
Another question occurred to me, and maybe it’s an old-fashioned question that nobody cares about anymore, but does it have soul? Does it bring soul out in people like a saxophone or a tambura or an old-school MPC? Does it really cause people to make better music?
I mean, who gives a shit if you can do anything you want on the fly if it doesn’t make anybody feel anything, and it mostly serves to impress clever young men on internet forums until the next, bigger, thing comes out next quarter? Are people actually having better musical ideas because of this stuff, or just regurgitated ideas with a larger amount of meaningless effects tweaking over the top of it?
rs
ps – I get that some super-famous producer will add this to their rig and somebody will see them using it onstage at the Super Bowl, and that’s supposed to justify its existence.
It doesn’t have a soul, neither do half the people making music either. It’s not going to solve the problem of suck ass music being created. It is however going to be a really great extension of the program that is Ableton Live. As far I know, there is no other controller that is, or will be this accessible and have the level of dedicated control of Ableton in such a sleek and professional package as this, period… Seriously though you’re asking the wrong questions. Ableton isn’t a fucking music school/institution. They make software and now partnered hardware. Would you rather the announcement of Ableton Live 9 come with a music theory book and a fucking flute? I’d be pretty pissed if so… Either way, I’m going to buy one, and I’m going to have a blast making mediocre music with it!!!
i WAS going to buy a Maschine MK2…. not anymore
Touche
this is absolutely HOT! this will sit next to my Maschine soon 🙂
APC40… I’d like to introduce you to Ebay.
Why not keep the APC40, and integrate this into the setup to expand your music making possibilites?
I’ve always wanted to jam with software like I was jamming with a horn or a guitar — not just triggering loops all synced to a quantised tempo and tweaking cutoff parameters, but really being able to improvise without being held back by the interface between software and hardware. I feel like this is a huge step closer in a way that the scores of other controllers that came out this decade were not.
….bastards….
a small thing, but it’s built by Akai Professional, not Akai. Akai make TV’s etc.
This looks awesome!
Big question is “When?”
First quarter 2013, as in sometime between January and April.
QuNeo can do much more for $199. Why would anyone pay $600 for this?
much more? really? you sure? i respect your opinion but i dont agree with it
Ahh come on, i only just finished building my studio desk, now im going to need to re-arrange it all again for this!
ooooo’ Madeon look new toys!!!
Shut up and take my money!
i already own ableton, so long as i dont have to pay for a upgrade if i buy push i am going to be all over this. ill be more hesitant though if if they expect to to pay for upgrade even after buying their new hardware. if thats the case ill stick to my busted ass apc40.
anyone else think its interesting how this product clearly directly competes with akais new mpc renaissance? im wondering if that means theres going to be some collusion where the renaissance gets some integration others wont, or if akai is just grossly mismanaged.
if akai is going to play both sides of the fence it just makes sense they get something in return that benefits their own proprietary software, if they dont, well then theyre fucking over thier renaissance base and fucking themselves as maschine already has a large fan base – unless it gets some sort of integration that maschine isnt getting, youre offering nothing to current maschine owners to convert. as is – ableton 8.0, apc 4, and maschine is perfect for my needs – if they dont do this right i am going to be hard pressed to justify spending more money
I was wondering about this same thing myself but then concluded that one could actually make some kind of sense out of it. It seems like Akai is banking on the idea that they can garner income by having Hip Hop guys who will flock to the MPC namesake and other genre artists who will buy into Push for Ableton Live. If they are wrong in that these two disparate demographics have enough difference that there will be no conflict of interest, then there very well could be some overlap. Not to say that non-Hip Hop people don’t use MPC or Hip Hop people don’t use Live. I’m speaking generally.
The reality though, it seems, is that this is officially an Ableton product and that Akai was simply outsourced for mechanical and manufacturing duties. Kind of like an Apple and Samsung ordeal.
Personally, I will be sticking with Live and Maschine for my particular needs as the MPC Software doesn’t seem to have what I’m looking for and I can’t see buying a Studio now with the release of Push. I have no interest in the Renaissance due to it’s audio interface, software features, and price relative to other options. So, Akai is at least right in that they can still get some of my money even if I don’t have interest in their new MPC series. However this is only in theory, since they were outsourced only for manufacturing, I don’t think they actually gain any income from sales.
This is by far the sickest and neatest piece of gear i’ve ever seen.
I’m in love!
I watched some videos of the Push at the Ableton site. Is it just me or does this device seem complicated to use?
It’s you.
And of course you know that because you played extensively already with the device…
For what it’s worth – if you intend to ‘play’ the pads like an instrument in a live situation, then this might be great…
But in a sequencing and DAW workflow/navigation context, by comparison, NI Maschine was a real pain to use for me, so I sold it. In my opinion, you just can’t beat a mouse for this sort of thing… The sequencing abilities are already there in your DAW.. You don’t need colourful lights and a step sequencer – with Machine I found myself reaching for the mouse too often because I could see what I needed to do on the screen – why are we going back to ‘menu diving’ when most of us have (by comparison of the menu diving days) VERY nice, colour screens to look at and work with? I’m sure this will have some negative comments particularly because I’ve used Maschine as comparison, but if you’re going to buy one based on workflow/navigation, wait until you want to… say, change the compression threshold on a track – do you reach for the mouse, point the arrow straight at the track and drag the threshold slider in the track bay at the bottom of the screen, or do you go through various menus on your hardware device (regardless if the knobs are context sensitive, you’ve got to get to the track in the first place) until you see the value you want and then use a knob to change the value? If you’ve used a mouse for all this time, I think you’ll find the latter is cumbersome and ‘the roundabout way’…
Agreed.
It is a sweet controller, would have settled for just an updated launchpad with the multi colored pads. It looks like they are going after NI and Maschine territory. But it also looks busy. Will have to try one.
MAybe DJ Tech Tools should build a Midi Fighter Ableton 3D controller.
That’d be a LOT of arcade buttons though…. could be cool if they were transparent and had multicolor LED’s underneath! 🙂
Just when I thought I was satisfied with my gear setup…
You’re telling me! I just bought a MiniNova, Maschine, an extra Maschine controller, headphones, and accessories. lmao
Push is: Compact, integrated, and about the same price as my other stuff.
I’m returning everything and buying this lol
This will be the ultimate replacement for my beat up launchpad!
I’ll be buying this for sure!!
HERE IS MY MONEY TAKE IT
I was thinking about getting a Maschine but after the Push announcement I rather get Push thanks to the innovative ideas put into this controller.
xmas list….
This or an ipad
This looks to be the Maschine killer I’ve been waiting for. The biggest problem for me with the Launchpad was the lack of any select/delete function for clips, meaning composing in realtime using only the Launchpad was never quite possible. And I DEFINITELY would rather work with an interface designed by the Abes than one made by the notoriously user-unfriendly NI. Also extremely curious to see how keyboard->grid mapping is implemented… I’ve been thinking for a while that an 8/8 grid would make a better visual metaphor for scales than a keyboard.
Argh they didn’t quite deal with scales how I’d hoped. By letting the 8th note be the same as the 1st note on the next octave they could have had all the standard western scales line up symmetrically, instead they get offset at each octave. Hopefully the scales will be user editable and not hard coded.
Peep the LPC script by Native Kontrol… http://www.nativekontrol.com/LPC-Live.html
Alot of the Push functionality is already available with this mapping!
Some of it, yeah, but until Novation makes a velocity sensitive, aftertouch launchpad, the Push blows it out of the water. It’s just reeeeealy expensive.
Wow. Good on that guy for putting in the time to develop such a complex script but that is way too busy for my use. Sub levels within sub levels… yikes.
Wow. Can’t sell my APC40 fast enough. Any word about MIDI mapping for use in other software? Would be a fantastic Remix Deck launcher with the pretty lights.
According to the Push F.A.Q on Ableton’s site, while they will not be making a editor for third-party software, it will indeed work as a generic MIDI controller. How much of it’s features will be accessible with other software has yet to be seen though.
It’s worthy to note that the Launchpad/Live 8 already has many of the Push/Live 9 features if you just use NativeKontrol’s LPC mapping.
With LPC you can do step sequencing, MPC-style drum programming, play melodies and chords with scales, chop midi and audio on the fly, (plus a whole lot more) directly from the Launchpad.
-minus the Touchstrip, knobs, RGB after touch and velocity sensitive pads, the ability to record patterns without having to rush to switch from session view to user 1 all the time.
With the newest version of LPC you can navigate most of Live’s functions (arm tracks, tap tempo, quantize, launching scenes) without ever switching to session view. There are different velocity modes to workaround the launchpad’s lack of velocity sensitive pads…or you can just use it with another controller like padkontrol.
I’m not knocking Push at all. It’s freakin’ sexy and could replace at least 3 of my current controllers, but LPC is a highly slept-on bit of code. As I watched the Push intro video I thought to myself, “I can already do most of that with my Launchpad and LPC.” I’m just spreading the word.
Agreed 100%. I’ve found a lot of folks don’t know about LPC – it really turns a Launchpad into a more powerful controller. I’m still getting that controller though – will have to figure out a way to incorporate both (maybe the Launchpad and LPC go out on the road and the Push stays safely in the studio.)
If you look at an enlarged image of Push, you can see it does other things like load Instruments, samples, and FX from the browser, also, undo, duplicate and a wealth of other functions. There really is NO comparison between this and any LPC script. Push is going to blow everything else out the water in terms of mouse-less ableton workflow.
Push is going to be great, but obviously have never been deep inside LPC. With LPC you actually can navigate the browser, load clips and switch between clip/track view, session/arrange view, etc. directly from the Launchpad. The more I think about it, Push looks like it was influenced pretty heavily by LPC. The workflows are very similar. Even some of the same button layouts (metronome/quantize toggles in the top left corner, mode select, timing, etc on the right side). Push is like LPC made into specialized hardware.
Ok, maybe you guys are right. I’m still going to go out on a limb here and say that Push will still have a far greater edge over the LPC templates by far, hence, blowing everything out of the water. Just look at the damn thing!!! Pressure sensitive pads w/aftertouch and rgb leds. Per function buttons on either side. oh wait, 10 Encoders with led feedback with a fat ribbon slider on the left. Any way you want to cut it, it offers way more in instant visual feedback with greater control and expressive playing than anything in the Grid based controller realm.
I read in an Report of Live 9 that Push was much influenced by Monome and 7up Patch…also LPC could be that
Obviously you haven’t experienced LPC fully. With LPC you actually can navigate the browser, load clips and
switch between clip/track view, session/arrange view, etc. directly from
the Launchpad. The more I think about it, Push looks like it was
influenced pretty heavily by LPC. The workflows are very similar. Even
some of the button layout is the same (metronome/quantize toggles in the top
left, mode select, timing values, etc on the right side). Push is basically like
LPC made into specialized hardware. The original article made a poor comparison between Push and Launchpad IMO by not mentioning LPC. I just want fellow Launchpad owners to know they can get Push-like functionality right now using Live 8 and a $30 add-on.
I also agree. I own 2 launchpads and use LPC on one of them with a nanokontrol mounted above each. My Youtube comment on the AbletonInc channel was the very first one on the morning of announcement… Knee jerk reaction: I HAD to have this. But by the end of the day after coming home from work and watching the video again (several times :), I realized that this wouldn’t bring anywhere near $600 worth of functionality to the way I make music. It’s very sexy …I’ll probably end up with one when the price comes down, but already owning the Launchpads, plus having a 16 channel wide “no scrolling” layout, and usually turning velocity sensitivity off on my LPD8 anyway, I can certainly patiently wait out early adopters.
Down with NI! Maschine killer! Nah but forreal way to go Ableton for choosing Akai to build their hardware, smart!
This marks the day that ableton and NI will never be in any form of business together….:( Now need to find a way to make my comp run ableton and timecode together again 🙁 This thing is a little big but i could put almost all my samples on two pages for a live set and memorize and not need to switch between screens….I bet this will spark a traktor+maschine update from NI because if they don’t they will lose a large maschine customer base.
OUCH, just saw it comes with ableton live intro….so street price will be $550 or $500 but then how much will the upgrade be? I don’t see this stopping the torrenting, most torrenting comes down to a value proposition…ppl will buy something that they feel is worth the money, if someone spends $600 on a controller that would usually sell for $300 then they won’t justify spending hundreds on a software upgrade. Whatever, they will still probably have better margins with this if Akai isn’t taking much.
Wow! This look great, and might be just what I’ve been trying to create with my PadKontrol+APC40+ipad combo, I’ve been able to get pretty much the controls I’m looking for, but in a very spread out way, this controller looks to have it all integrated in a single unit which is very appealing.
This plus a Maschine Mikro MK2 – man. And I just found out that my upgrade path to Suite 9 is only $194 on top of everything else? Think I’ll just order two extra credit card plastics and keep them permanently stored at NI and Ableton.
i have a question….. will akai apc40 work with live 9??? i do not perform live with ableton live, i dj with traktor so do i really need a new controller for studio use?
Since ableton 8 works with python scripts for setup the Control Surfaces I dont think that in version 9 they’ve skipped this. (midi controllers will always be midi controllers).
this is beautiful
Strange the built-in soundcard wasn’t mentioned. At 0:31 in the video, you can see two 1/4″ audio ports, so I’m guessing that’s why the price point is higher. An Ableton controller with a built-in soundcard would be genius.
Those are dual foot-switch inputs.
indeed. But the dudes right in saying an ableton controller with a built-in sound card would have been an awesome move.
no it really wouldnt have been an awesome move, considering you only get one sound card in use for ableton for your ins and outs, i really wouldnt want to pay extra for a soundcard im not going to use.
Yes, looks very good. Im excited about this and the software updates. No built in soundcard though, the two 1/4″ plugs are for footswitches
The hardware is fantastic but they give just live lite?! If I want suite I need to spend 600$ plus the controller. When I can spend 150$ for Logic Pro. I think they are overpricing the software. What do you think?
People still buy software?
More so in the DJ/Music industry than anywhere else i believe
PEOPLE BUY WHAT THEY CANT HACK OR CRACK TRUST ABLETON 9 WILL BE CRACKED IN A MATTER OF A MONTH AFTER LUANCH THEY ONLY SOFT WARE I PAID FOR WAS OZONE AND NEXUS 2 … EVERYTHING ELSE I FOUND A CRACK FOR . THEY OVER PRICE THINGSNOW A DAYS THINKING WE NEED IT. ABLETON LOOKING LIKE APPLE LIL UPGRADES HIGH PRICE
I LIKE CAPS LOCK TOO
cool attitude dude…
remind me to know that nothing you produce is worth anything.
with cracked versions you don’t get everything suite offers. live 9 is going to coming out with upgrades every month. if you own the push . You won’t get the push updates. if you are a serious producer and a dj you can’t publish your worked on a cracked version. so my point is why doesn’t everybody who can’t afford Akai’s Ableton push and Abletons live 9 suite start off with live 9 standard and slowly save money and eventually buy suite that comes free with max. I understand that these DAW’s are getting ridicoulasly expensive but you don’t want to experience any problems while you are in the zone creating the next big platinum hit on a cracked version and all of a sudden your cracked version shuts down or gets corrupt and you loose everything. if you are a serious DJ/producer you don’t use cracked anything!!!! if you are a bedroom dj/producer then it doesn’t matter whether you are using a cracked version or a real copy.
Needed this for a long time.
lets hope Live 9 will support aftertouch.
I would say that they already changed the music paradigm a lot when they introduced the grid sequencer, and now (as I understand it) the idea of playing scales and melodies on a grid aswell. If that works well it will be pretty interesting.
aftertouch will always be recorded as a CC on a midiclip. its not recorded in arrangement mode like ‘automation’ of any parameter.
$450 more for a few more buttons and some encoders? hmm…it looks good, nice feature set (that ‘fold’ feature looks very promising for live performance), but the price is high in my opinion. Part of what made the Launchpad so successful was that it was available to the average amateur. Might be good for the pros, but it also might be out of reach for the majority.
you probably don’t understand the difference here.. launchpad is just to launch clips, this is a whole different world.. anyway one might chose by his needs 🙂
This is more comparable to the NI Maschine
This is like a Maschine Launchpad. I can only imagine the number of available drums you could play (if your fingers are small enough).
this product is not for amateurs….its for artists who want to compose music without having 3-4 different pieces of hardware in your setup.
you mean lazy artist.
it would be an amazing improvement for artists like Daft Punk, Plastikman and his Live show, perhaps Dj’s that do live support, less weight, more functions only 1 usb, it’s perfect, no need to carry 1 maschine, 1 midi for fx, another for clip selection and who knows what else, with this controller you simplify everything, try to look at the big picture
Plastikman already has his own Cntrl:r, and it’s much more customizable than this. I bet Ableton closed the source on this hardware
Would be interesting to see if this can be mapped easily to Traktor especially the screens.. or perhaps how they will tie this into bridge??
I think that using that as a Traktor controller would be waste. Far more reasonable to take a launchpad and some mini-controllers with faders and knobs for this purpose.
hmmm, launchpad with korg nanocontrol for remix deck/cue point control… I’ll have to remember that…
The minimalistic look alone makes me want it. This is bad, since I don’t really need it, using the Maschine + Ableton combo.
I use Maschine too, but why do you think you don’t need it?
I use Maschine for live percussion and some melodic elements, but I also use a lot of loops in Live. (For example, I often export some loops from Maschine that I’m satisfied with, to move things forward while working on a track). And while I literally LOVE Maschine (and use any opportunity to tell the world around about it), it’s awful as a Live Session view controller. There’s only 4×4 grid, the included script doesn’t show a border around selected clips, so it’s common to get confused about where you are in a complicated live set, which is awful for live situation. It’s also just uncomfortable to push Shift-Control to switch from Maschine to MIDI mode all the time.
So I though about buying a launchpad for a long time. But being able to control Maschine with one hand, and step sequencing & live clips with the other at the same time? Sounds almost too good to be true.
hmmm. I use Maschine strictly for creating pieces and then use Ableton to arrange those in arrangement view. Even though I love the look of the Push controller, it’s not adding anything to the set up (plus I have a Launchpad for clips, but I don’t work with session view).
This is the best looking controller ever, but I’m trying my best to convince myself not to save up for one 😉
Well, it’s all obviously depends on one’s workflow. I used to use Maschine+Ableton in the way that you described, but changed that for more live/imporo feel. And anyway, a launchpad is a pretty good controller for session view already. By the way, how do you use it, if you work exclusively with arrangement view?
awesome
Seems like the Push to Ableton is similar to what the S4 is to Traktor. Very cool. If I ever “get into” Ableton this looks like a no-brainer.
This looks like its going to be the next big thing… The question is how customizable is it. With fully mappable controllers such as the OhmRGB will Ableton make it to include the option of designing your own layout?
everything is customizable