Ableton Push 3 is here!

[johnchop]

- MPE pads

- Standalone version or controller version with option to upgrade to standalone

- built in audio I/O

 

https://www.ableton.com/en/push/
 

and the always early loopop review:

 

 

Ableton is my primary DAW, although I’ve held off on Push for a while.

 

This could entice me to jump on board.

[konaboy]

was thinking there might be some good deals over on ableton.com for the push2, but none that I could find.

did notice the price for the 3 though, $2000 for the standalone and $1000 for the controller version.  yikes! the 2 was always quite expensive, but not in that league.

[johnchop]

MPE = makes Push expensive 

[konaboy]

Just now, johnchop said:

MPE = makes Push expensive 

haha, it certainly does, and I wonder to myself, do pad-based beatmakers and loopers even care about that?  i certainly don't.

[ElmerJFudd]

Interesting - so it’s an i3 with 8gb of RAM.  They are ready to go for this "DAW-less" trend that has become a thing (I am sure the hardware developers are cheering).   

 

So, who might be nervous about this... perhaps Akai, maybe NI to an extent.  

[ElmerJFudd]

3 minutes ago, konaboy said:

haha, it certainly does, and I wonder to myself, do pad-based beatmakers and loopers even care about that?  i certainly don't.

 

I think some who play it live, like an instrument, like to have their glitchy FX and synth mods and such go off with the pressure on the pad.  

[konaboy]

so it's powered by an intel CPU just like a laptop,  this thing has a fan?

[johnchop]

Ya the MPE makes this sort of a Linnstrument-like thing, if that’s your jam.

[RABid]

And revealed the same day that Apple releases Logic for iPad. Quite a "coincidence". I've got a Push 1 and a Push 2. These things are already pilling up. Since I have a Linnstrument I will hold off on Push 3. I do like their unique take on the stand alone. It is a bit modular which makes me think that upgrades will be available. I wonder if the cooling system can handle an i7 or i9? I don't expect much out of the included i3.

[ElmerJFudd]

Just now, RABid said:

And revealed the same day that Apple releases Logic for iPad. Quite a "coincidence". I've got a Push 1 and a Push 2. These things are already pilling up. Since I have a Linnstrument I will hold off on Push 3. I do like their unique take on the stand alone. It is a bit modular which makes me think that upgrades will be available. I wonder if the cooling system can handle an i7 or i9? I don't expect much out of the included i3.

I suspect the i3 was picked for more than price point. Graphic needs on this device are minimal.  I don’t see the processor getting pushed.  So how much cooling does it need?  The reviews will pop up soon enough and we’ll know if it gets noisy.  Perhaps not. 

[RABid]

Just now, ElmerJFudd said:

I don’t see the processor getting pushed.

I'm talking about the stand alone version that works without a computer.That i3 has to do all of the sound processing. Sample playing is easy, but software instruments and effects will need a lot more. It will not take many software instruments to push it to the limit.

[stoken6]

1 hour ago, ElmerJFudd said:

 

I think some who play it live, like an instrument, like to have their glitchy FX and synth mods and such go off with the pressure on the pad.  

Polyphonic aftertouch is good enough for that surely - no need for MPE?

 

Cheers, Mike

[GovernorSilver]

I have a Push 2.  It's a decent Live controller although it does not completely remove the need to use a mouse and computer keyboard..  The pads don't have much give, so I find them uncomfortable for, say, entering drum parts.  Hopefully the feel of the pads is improved on the Push 3.

 

Nick Batt's coverage

 

 

[MPN21]

I just started looking into purchasing an MPE controller like the LinnStrument or the Rise 2.  I guess we are going to see more MPE controllers.  

 

[GovernorSilver]

I typically lean in favor of the mature product, which in this case would be Linnstrument.

 

Roli is just coming out of bankruptcy and apparently if you need service on the Rise 2 hardware, it would have to be mailed to London.

 

It might be worth taking some time to learn what sort of support Ableton has in mind for Push 3 - like if you have to send it to Germany for repairs or if there is a US based service center.

[Nathanael_I]

I lost a knob on my Push2, and they just sent it to me in the mail.  Super easy and very helpful. 

[RABid]

I pre-ordered Push 3 today, I thought about stand alone but the extra $1000 is a bit much. I really think you would be better off spending that $1000 on a MacBook Air. Stand alone version is in stock. Regular version stock is a 4-6 week wait. They don't charge your credit card until it ships, and if using PayPal you get a notice when it is available and have two days to complete payment. That is not a bad system. I'll probably sell my Push 2, Push 1, and my Linnstrument.