Ableton Push

When developing beats and melodies directly on the controller, quick access to clips, notes and sound parameters is essential. The Ableton Push combines an 8×8 pad matrix with control of Ableton Live. You can play and sequence music largely directly on the device, without needing a mouse and keyboard for every step.

The 64 velocity-sensitive RGB pads with aftertouch are used for playing drums and melodies, setting sequence steps and launching clips in Live’s Session View. In Drum mode, you can play and program beats; for instrument tracks, the pads arrange notes according to a selected scale. You can change the key and scale while the illuminated pads help you navigate the note grid.

11 touch-sensitive endless encoders are available for shaping the sound and controlling Live. Depending on the selected mode, they control device parameters, volume, pan or sends, for example. The four-line LCD displays the corresponding values and parameters. You can select sounds and effects using the Push browser; clips, scenes and song sections can also be selected and triggered using the controls.

A 17 cm touch strip with 24 LEDs complements the pads for pitch-bending and navigation, for example through Drum Rack sounds. On the rear are a USB port, a power supply connection and two assignable footswitch inputs. The controller is powered via USB; the included power supply allows the display and LEDs to be run brighter. One footswitch can, for example, control sustain, while the other controls the recording functions.

The package includes a download version of Ableton Live 9; depending on the edition purchased, this is Intro, Standard or Suite. Push requires an existing Ableton Live installation and can be used with Live 9 Intro, Standard and Suite. Live 9 includes, among other things, clip automation in Session View, a redesigned browser and an analogue compressor emulation. Audio-to-MIDI conversion turns audio recordings into MIDI notes; Max for Live is part of the Suite edition.

With a USB cable, universal power supply and interchangeable plugs for North and Central America, Japan, Europe and the UK, the set is designed for integration into a computer-based live or production setup. Push is suitable for clip performance and capturing song ideas directly on the device if you want to control Live without constantly reaching for a mouse and keyboard, and control beats, scales and parameters using a single piece of hardware.