Ableton Live 9 and Ableton Push (Hitsquad)

Ableton Live 9 and Ableton Push

Submitted by Alexander on Mon, 10/29/2012 - 06:16.

Ableton introduces Push, their first hardware instrument; along with the latest update to their popular music production software, Live 9.

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The new Push hardware is designed to seamlessly integrate with the latest version of Live. Live 9 on the other hand improves on the already intuitive interface that made Ableton Live one of the best music production applications.

Both Ableton Live 9 and Push are scheduled to be released on the 1st quarter of 2013. This combination of new hardware and software will surely be an interesting upgrade offer for existing Ableton users. Ableton provided all the important details for both Live 9 and Push, here is the rest of the press release:

Ableton Live 9

Live 9 greatly expands on the creative possibilities of the previous version. Here are some notable new features:

Session automation:
In Session View, automation can now be recorded in real time directly within clips. Automation can move together with clips between Arrangement and Session View.
Faster browser:
Live’s new browser puts all instruments, effects, samples, and plug-ins in one easy-to-navigate view. Drag and drop folders from anywhere on your computer, search as you type and navigate from the keyboard to find everything quickly.
New sounds:
Live comes with a large selection (3,500 in the Suite edition) of production-ready sounds, which were carefully crafted with the help of over 40 artists, sound designers and engineers. All sounds feature Macro controls for fast access to their most meaningful, musical parameters.

Ableton Live 9
Improved sounds:
Live’s studio effects have all been reworked for even better sound and usability. The Glue Compressor is a new effect - an authentic model of a legendary 1980s console bus compressor. EQ Eight has an audition mode for isolating frequencies and an expandable spectrum display. The Gate and Compressor effects feature a Gain Reduction view which shows changes in signal level over time.
Extract music:
Live’s new Harmony, Melody and Drums to MIDI tools extract natural-feeling MIDI directly from the favorite parts of your music collection. You can also sing, tap a rhythm, play any solo instrument, then use Melody or Drums to MIDI to turn your recordings into MIDI clips that you can edit and reuse with any sound.
Improved Editing:
Transpose, reverse and stretch MIDI notes or warp clip automation and add curves to automation envelopes. New tools and an improved workflow allow fast and flexible editing of musical ideas.
Includes Max for Live:
The Suite edition of Live 9 comes with Max for Live and its many unique instruments, effects and tools. Max for Live itself includes 24 new devices such as a convolution reverb, new drum synthesizer instruments, MIDI echo as well as reworked versions of classics such as Step Sequencer and Buffer Shuffler 2.

See Ableton Live 9 in action:

Ableton Push

Push provides direct, hands-on control of melody and harmony, beats, sounds and structure, powered by Ableton Live running on your computer. Here are some of its features:

Velocity and Pressure Sensitive:
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.
Intuitive pad colors:
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.

Ableton Push
Unique song creation workflow:
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.
Seamless transition 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.
Bundled with Ableton Live 9:
Push includes Ableton Live 9 Intro and works with any edition of Ableton Live 9 (Intro, Standard, Suite). 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 Professional:
Push is 370 mm / 14.57 inches wide, 293 mm / 11.54 inches deep and is 46 mm / 1.81 inches in height (including encoders) and weighs 2990g / 6.59 pounds. Backside connections are a USB port, power adaptor input and two assignable footswitch inputs. (Push is USB-powered, the brightness of the display and LEDs can be increased by using the included power supply). An optional steel cover doubles as a sturdy, angled stand for performance.

See Ableton Push in action:

Ableton Push is expected to retail for around $599, while Ableton Live 9 will have a price that ranges from $99 for the intro version up to $749 for the Suite download version. For more information, you can head over to Ableton.