Push user i got a two question for you...

[Geek Model]

If go back in the days when you bought Ableton Push it would you do it again? Is it really help you to create music?

Thnx

[Citizen]

Yes, but you have to do a fair amount of custom set-up and hacks to get the most out of it.

And unless you are already quite familiar and comfortable with Live itself, you wont find it especially helpful.

[jestermgee]

I certainly would.

It does add a lot of fun and helps with creativity and using Live but it has still failed to completely replace many of my other devices that I like to use. Just adds extra value to the setup.

I have had no issues with Push, just some limitations like most.

What I am concerned about is a Push V2 in the future that will offer the things I really wanted and a tough decision if I should upgrade and spend even more money. For now, I just use it.

[ImNotDedYet]

I've only had mine for a couple of weeks, but I would still say that yes, I'd do it again. It's helped a great deal as far as creativity goes. And it's small enough I can putz around with it on my couch instead of trying to sit here with a 49-key MIDI controller warming my lap.

I love the scale mode and the automation abilities, keeping me away from my laptop mouse. For some reason, knocking out chord progressions on this compared to my keyboard controller is just easier.

Adding the script to browse Komplete has been a godsend as well.

But, if you're looking to potentially get it, you might want to look hard at a Maschine, especially if you don't have Komplete. You get a bundle of software, a lot of similar capabilities and they're on sale right now.

[Geek Model]

But, if you're looking to potentially get it, you might want to look hard at a Maschine, especially if you don't have Komplete. You get a bundle of software, a lot of similar capabilities and they're on sale right now.

I just sold mine because i don't use it in studio production.. just at live sets. And i do not like Maschine software. So my main reason for Push - I think it would helps me in studio production. I think..

[Tåkesinn]

I can tell you with certainty that I do not regret buying this little wondermachine

I make beats. Hip-hop, trip-hop, glitch, neo-soul, and so on. If you're not the kind of person who has studied notes and scales: then by all means. It's a friggin' delight to use. I'm learning more about scales everyday and it's giving me an edge in production I didn't have before.

Ofc the last statement is pretty much true for any production based MIDI controller. A more hands on experience when producing music will always be more effective and more fun.

I still twist knobs with the mouse and switch views with the keyboard, and yes: I do edit MIDI scenes and audio clips, the latter almost exclusively with mouse and keyboard (though I am considering buying PXT Live (http://www.nativekontrol.com/PXT-Live.html) which expands upon Ableton Push by using the "User" (or MIDI) mode as an entirely different and fully fledged sidekick to the main functionality of ableton push.

So yeah, there are a lot of things you can do with a Push, even out of the box. If we're just talking a more hands on music production scenario, where you can easily erase or adjust notes, easily crop loops, easily mute, stop, solo, add tracks, effects, and so forth, then get a Push. If you're just looking for a controller and you don't feel the Push fits your needs within production then perhaps you need to do a little more research in to what you want and what you need first :3

But I highly suggest it. For me it's been a MASSIVE time saver and a great toy. There's nothing like really playing with music, rather than just painting MIDI by hand.

[nightscope]

I am considering buying PXT Live.

You won't regret it. I also recommend checking out PXT-Live Plus which I slept on but am really enjoying. Also PXT-General if you want to use Push with another DAW.

ns

[Tagor]

Better use the "New" Push 16 PXT 599,-



- Crossfader to Touchstrip as Arp
- Joystick (OSC/VCF & Pitchbend)
- 16 Faders for Stepsequencing & ChannelVolume or free assignable
+ Control 2 Instances of Live in Split-Mode !!! only works with "Live AbleTEN"
* all parts can be modular exchanged - so if you need more crossfaders in the middle just exchange them
with 2 of the channel-volume strips - you can also implement upto 8 joysticks or
4 additional touchstrip-ribboncontroller.

Soon Release: The Chaos Pad & Orb Module exclusice for Push 16 PXT

[TomViolenz]

Shut up and take my money!!! Nerdgasm.....

No seriously great photoshop work.

They should bundle this with Standard+Sampler and sell it fo a 1000€. Maschine Studio proves that there is a market in that price bracket.

(But make the body plastic, otherwise no one can lift that mofo... )

[TomViolenz]

Ok, I have been nerd dreaming about your design and here are a few things I came up with by trying to be as close to possible reality as possible:

So I don't think going modular anything is a good idea, because if you don't know what elements a controller is gonna have it will be difficult to make a general script that uses them.

I also think having it possibly control two instances of Live is out. I don't think there could be a software script that works in a way where both instances of Live have full control over all the elements at the same time and if you make it a split aproach it will make it not flexible and you would be better off with two Pushs.

End of the buzzkill

Now to what I think would be doable (even if a lot of programing on Abletons part would still be needed to make it so).

(A few minor hardware additions would be needed to your design, but not many.)

The 16 display encoders:
Since Live generaly has 8 macros on its racks and 8 parameters per bank this lends itself to three different modes :
2 device, 2 bank and 2 clip control (I think there should be extra small buttons to switch between them)
In 2 device mode the 16 encoders always map to the 8 macros each of two neigbouring devices on a track and in 2 bank mode to two neigbouring banks of one device.
(And in 2 clip mode to two clips on neigbouring tracks in the same scene)
Since two independent blue hands for navigating are probably hard to program, the next best thing is to just be able to lock the first 8 encoders to a device/bank/clip independently from the other 8, so that you can first lock and then continue navigating to lock the others. I think there should be 2 small dedicated lock buttons to do that.

The 16X8 grid: (Many things)

1: Split grid mode: (To control 2 different devices or clips on different tracks with the 16 encoders will be very usefull here)
1a: 2 times 8x8 to step sequence two different clips at the same time. (for this again there should be two small permanent buttons to lock each segment to a clip or resolution mentioned in 1b.)
1b: also a split grid but with two different resolutions to use on the same clip

I would suggest a second row of the resolution buttons (they could make the resolution buttons smaller than they are now though) to make the two resolutions selectable independently (these will perform different functions mentioned later as well)

2: The same as mentioned under 1a and 1b but with the grid split into two 16x4 grids

3: the obvious 16x8 control of one clip (this is finally the perfect grid size for a step sequencer IMO)
3a.) this is a size where arrangement step-sequencing becomes useful. For this though, larger grid sizes to select than 1/4th become necessary. These should be functions of the second row of resolution buttons as well. (via shift for instance)

In arrangement it will be much more important to move the focus of the step-sequencer along the timeline, for this I would suggest to use the flat buttons you have placed directly below the grid. They should display the playhead but also allow for shifting the step sequencer focus by pressing.

4: for keys: 16 keys cover 2 octaves in scale mode of pretty much all scales which is often plenty for specific parts.
So I think each row of 16 should be independently assignable to a track, note range and scale. Imagine having 8 different instrument parts in the correct scale and range to play on the same controller at the SAME time! (Or 4 covering 4 octaves each etc.)

For the two rows of resolution buttons there comes another nifty function now: Two independent NoteRepeats either on the same instruments (different pads of DrumRacks are the most obvious use case here) or on two instruments. What would be important for that would be another independent swing knob and an independent NoteRepeat button.

Love the joystick: I think to do it justice every rack and Live instrument should get the x-y grid that VSTs get with the joystick always automatically mapping to the x-y pad of the device in focus. Since controlling two different devices is now possible (as described above) I would add another joystick replacing the 4 encoders you placed on the right. Also, just as on the left, add another crossfader above the new joystick.

One hardware addition I would also make (since you have been so liberal with LEDs already) each of your faders should have 12-16 level indicator LEDs next to each fader.

Make the lower body plastic (like Maschine) so that it's not too heavy and give it a sturdy cover/lid so that it can still be carried safely to gigs despite the size.

I know this will stay a nerd dream, but I would save up and buy this for up to a 1000 bucks, if it comes bundled with Standard or not.

And dear Ableton, if you build this, I forfeit any right to the IP in this post

[sowhoso]

There's nothing like really playing with music, rather than just painting MIDI by hand.

[natas007]

If go back in the days when you bought Ableton Push it would you do it again? Is it really help you to create music?

Thnx

i have it for 2 weeks daily use now and honestly you don't really need it but its really cool to have it.

i found it to be a workflow slower in my opinion but on the other side i like working with new things.

[Tagor]

@Tom
thx for your review .. it was just something between an joke nad a quickshot.
nice you thought about it... and yes. Joystick would be fun!

thanks for applicate your Ideas

[TomViolenz]

@Tom
thx for your review .. it was just something between an joke nad a quickshot.
nice you thought about it... and yes. Joystick would be fun!

thanks for applicate your Ideas

I probably had as much fun dreaming of the functionality, as you did making that photoshop