#ableton hardware

The folks at Ableton are beginning to see the light (much like the folks at Native Instruments) and understand just how valuable their software is.  When the first versions of Ableton were released, users didn’t exactly use the software as the Ableton guys thought they would.  They were doing all sort of weird things with it, and finding unique ways to incorporate it into their live shows.  The entire aspect of live production, remixing, and using it as a tool to help the DJ, was more of an unintended consequence than a selling point. The growth of the controller market and their usefulness to live DJs, made Ableton a worthy tool that stretched beyond the realm of the studio producers.  Now Ableton has stepped in the controller game with their own production controller, called Ableton Push Hardware.  A first glance at the hardware leads you to believe it was made by Novation, as it shares a similar button setup as the Novation Launchpad.  However, take a closer inspection and you’ll realize that these pads are actually velocity sensitive – and with the higher price tag you are probably getting a better quality piece of hardware. Does Ableton have what it takes to compete with Novation and Akai?  Only time, and perhaps some great demos by known professional, will tell. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2012/10/ableton-announces-live-9-software-and-push-hardware

Ableton Push was briefly spoken about a few months ago when Ableton announced that they would be revising their flagship software, Ableton Live.  It had seemed that Ableton was following the trend of bucking the trend; by creating products outside their comfort zone.  Microsoft’s entry into the hardware world was done through their Surface Tablet, while Native Instruments stepped outside their usual controller and software realm to produce a stand-alone two channel mixer.  Ableton followed this charge into the unknown by producing their first legitimate controller, designed to be used with Live. [embed width="656"]http://youtu.be/1xxWdvotAlo[/embed] On first glance, it looks like an overzealous Novation Launchpad (or two of them put side by side), with colored, larger, pads and a small array of options surround them.  With a higher price tag than similar products we’d expect it to come better built, with sturdier pads – and it seems that it does.  It also comes with a rather large readout front and center, however, it’s only a basic dot matrix readout, so don’t expect anything flashy in their sector.  The real prize here is that it’s designed by the same makers of the Software it’s expected to be used on.  This can only mean your workflow will actually make sense. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/12/12/ableton-push-beatmaking-sneak-preview/

Well, Ableton 9 has just been released and it also comes with the intro of the Ableton Push controller as well.  Making sure that the two of them were release on the same date give buyers a good incentive to check the controller out, and maybe even switch over the Ableton if that wasn’t already their DAW of choice.  It should be noted that Ableton’s move into the controller and hardware market was not one that was taken along, they enlisted the help of veteran Aki to help design their controller.  This was probably a better deal for Akai then Ableton, given Akai’s recent lackluster success producing the latest version of their MPC.  Many felt that it was worse than the original. Anyways, Ableton’s push is nothing too out of the ordinary.  Its pad layout is something that we’ve all seen before with the successful Novation Launchpad – but a small readout was added to the unit which brings it close to the Maschine, and closer to an expensive price tag as well.  This controller is not cheap, but given the proposed compatibility to Ableton 9, it might actually be a worthwhile buy, especially if you are looking to update your DAW. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2013/03/abletons-new-push-hardware-launched-alongside-live-9/  

We are well aware that songs can be created on the computer with literally nothing else but a mouse and a keyboard.  Although Ableton gives you the option of using live production techniques inside of their software, it can also be used much like a composer creates a symphony using nothing but manuscript and a pencil.  Both approaches have their benefits, and with Ableton a mix of both is usually the best approach to creating music that is both digital, yet humanistic.  Hardware for this purpose usually consists of some sort of MIDI controller to help aid the producer in inputting information. But that is not the only means of inputting information into your DAW.  In the case of the MIDI controller, your computer itself acts as the hub to which all hardware can be attached – but what if you had another type of hub to handle this task?  A digital audio interface with multitudes of connections is quickly becoming an alternative for those who are looking to beef up their systems.  It has the benefit of not being attached to your computer, and therefore only taking up its own power and system resources.  The benefits here might outweigh the costs.  http://createdigitalmusic.com/2013/04/3-approaches-to-accessorizing-the-studio-spl-softube-ua-at-musikmesse/