Ableton announces new Push, Link and free update to Live 9.5

Ableton has announced the release of their new Push controller alongside Live 9.5 – a free update for all Live 9 users. It’s also inviting owners of the original Push to take part in a unique trade-in that offers a big saving on the new version. Plus, Ableton is introducing Link, a new technology that lets you play in time with multiple instances of Live and a growing number of iOS apps.

Ableton have obviously been very busy and have a trio of new things for musicians to get excited about.

The new Push

Like the original Push, the new version brings hands-on creation of melody and harmony, beats, and song structure. Now designed and engineered entirely by Ableton, Push has a new level of playability that puts even more elements of song creation at your fingertips.

Push has a large multicolour display that adapts to show you what you need and keep you in the creative flow.

Library navigation, sample waveforms, effects parameters, and mixer levels are instantly visible on the display and are totally tweakable via the touch-sensitive encoders.

Push now has fast and flexible sampling workflows that let you slice samples across the pads and play back single hits and timestretched samples.

This makes it possible to create looping instruments on the fly, chop up drum kits from recordings, or play longer rhythmic samples back in tempo – all without taking your hands off Push.

[youtube id=”0CdMvkBOUgs”]

Add to all that, the fact that Push’s new pads have been carefully redesigned to feel just right for musicians of all kinds. Softer, smoother, and more responsive, they should provide the perfect playing experience for creating beats and melodies.

Push Trade-In

Ableton is launching a unique trade-in initiative in which owners of the original Push can return their used unit and save up to 30% on the new one. Returned Push units will be refurbished and given to music education projects for young people – along with copies of Live – for free.

Ableton is continuing to improve how Live works with the original Push: the free Live 9.5 update brings additional functionality to the original unit, including new features and workflow improvements.

Live 9.5

This free update for Ableton Live 9 is now available for all Live 9 users.

Live’s powerful yet easy-to-use sampling instrument has been completely overhauled with a new interface, warping and slicing capabilities, and new analog-modeled filters. Now Simpler lets you slice samples across the keyboard, play single hits, or warp long samples so that they always stay in time with your song.

Live 9.5 also introduces new filters based on classic vintage hardware that will self-resonate, produce feedback, and distort beautifully.

Built in collaboration with Cytomic, these filters are now included in Simpler, Sampler, Operator, and Auto Filter.

Mixer volume meters now show both peak and RMS levels, indicating both sudden changes in level, as well as perceived loudness.

This makes controlling your track’s dynamics easier. Plus, new waveforms show more visual detail of your audio samples, with smoother zooming and scrolling.

Live 9 Suite owners can enjoy three stunning new Max for Live synthesisers that offer a wide range of sound design possibilities within a streamlined set of controls.

These include Bass, a monosynth designed for bass sounds; Poli, a polyphonic synth that excels at strings, pads, and stabs; and Multi, a synth designed for immediate tweakability from Push.

Link

Link is coming very soon and is a new technology that lets you play in time with multiple instances of Live and a growing number of iOS apps. It syncs devices’ timing over a wireless network, so you can set up almost instantly and jam with others as freely as a live band.

To set up, just switch on Link, connect to the same network and start jamming. Anyone can start and stop their part while others keep playing. And anyone can adjust the tempo and the rest will follow. No MIDI cables, no installation, just free-flowing sync that works.

Link will soon be available to Live users as a free update, and to the wider music-making community as a built-in feature of a growing number of iOS apps.

Pricing and availability

• The new Push is available to buy immediately from Ableton.com or your local music store, priced at EUR 699 / USD 799.
• Owners of the original Push can take advantage of the trade-in offer and order a new Push straight away. To check participating countries, head to the Ableton site.
• Live 9.5 is now available as a free download for Live 9 users.
• Link will soon be available in another free update to Live 9 and a growing number of iOS apps.