Push 3 Standalone owners: Happy?

[vertgrall]

I have the controller version and I'm mostly happy.
Been wondering about the standalone experience. What are your thoughts?

[niv_ram]

I use it in controller mode standalone was too buggy and computer is much funner with vsts

[elbows]

I'm very happy, although my needs are pretty simplistic.

To maintain my satisfaction levels in the longer term, they will need to offer more capabilities when it comes to the user interface etc on Max For Live devices run on the standalone Push.

[bertolt]

Played my first live gig with Push 3 Standalone last Saturday with the Push playing samples and controlling a modular synth. All went well. However, I cannot believe that this expensive piece of gear was released without midi clock in support - you cannot sync it to other external gear. This feels somewhat insulting to users imo.

[drez]

I am super happy with my standalone. I can boot it up anywhere and get solid ideas done. I throw it in my laptop bag and take it with me downtown, sit in my usual spot at my regular coffee shop and get after it. I really like it for just creating ideas, not finishing out everything. I think people expect that, but I do not. I've created a ton of ideas and can easily transfer them to my MacBook to start refining. Its exactly what I want.

[Tarekith]

Taking my mod hat off for a minute, I've been very happy with the standalone version too. Gives me all the functionality of Push 2 but I can easily take it out into my backyard or a local park to sketch out ideas. Well, fairly easily, it is a bit heavy for sure. But yeah, if you're a fan of the previous Push workflows, it's awesome having all that without needing to worry about power or the laptop.

Still a lot of room for improvement, but if you approach it remembering that it's "Push" Standalone and not "Live" Standalone, I doubt you'll be upset with things.

[Audivit]

I've got my Push 3 Standalone as soon as it was announced.

To be honest I didn't need the standalone version, I've got the standalone mainly for testing M4L devices I plan making for it, once Ableton/Cycling74 releases some developers documentation.

At the current state is already a great device but it's potential is what really intrigue me, I think the M4L and RNBO aspect can really make this device into arguably the best in the market.

The software is a bit buggy for a product on this price-range and there are several missing basic features like 'follow actions' for clips, ability to move tracks and the step sequencer is just too basic, the probability parameter works only on percentage and not on a 'skip bars' fashion, also is lacking independent sequence lenght for each voice in a drum rack which would be very useful for polyrhytms.

Aside from this I'm very happy with the build quality and the hardware overall, it's a premium product and it feels like one.

[analog_rome]

The software is a bit buggy for a product on this price-range and there are several missing basic features like 'follow actions' for clips, ability to move tracks and the step sequencer is just too basic, the probability parameter works only on percentage and not on a 'skip bars' fashion...

I second everything here except polyrhythm drum racks, not sure how that would work.

I am thrilled with my standalone so far, with the understanding that firmware and features are still being developed.... What we get in updates is going to determine the lasting value for me.

[dcjams]

Echoing sentiments above, if you're coming from Push 2 and you already like that workflow, and your expectation is Push standalone rather than Ableton Live in a box, I think you'll love it.

I've just spent 30 minutes with it and I didn't stop grinning.

[TheLoudest]

except that a Push2 standalone means nothing
Push 2 is a controller, and only an extension of the software. An "hybrid" solution (like Maschine mk3)
so we can't be satisfied with a Push 3 that's just a Push2 "amputated" of its software part...

In my opinion, Ableton has a lot of work to do on Push3 to make this machine truly standalone.

I don't care about VSTs, but this sequencer must be able to work with external synths (and other MIDI devices)
yet it's impossible to program PC/MSB/LSB messages in the midiclips
it's even impossible to copy/paste notes selected with the jogwheel into the same midiclip (or to another midiclip)

tracks cannot be reorganized directly on Push

no arrangement mode? ok, I'm fine with that
but at least follow actions since Push is focused on session mode...

and there are lots of little "details" like that
not necessarily big features
but little things that tell us there wasn't much work done between Push2 and Push3 to make it standalone
It's not enough to add a processor to a midi controller to make it a sequencer (especially if it's intended to be the heart of a setup...)

[xit7]

Love it for generating ideas and jamming without a screen.

BUT it's BUGGY.

- Suddenly some devices stop displaying their information (e.g. Simpler). Parts of the software instrument are just frozen.
- Also simpler's filter stopped working and just did something
- Wavetable: Adjusting pitch jumps and is not smooth
- Crashes when working with Ableton
- Not being recognised from Ableton until reboot
- Hang at startup

Inconveniences:
- Collections / Favourites not syncing with Ableton. Also not very useful how it organises stuff. No renaming possible etc.
- Installing Packs is slow as hell
- Some packs do not show up in Push at its expected spot (in "Packs"). If you want to use them, you have to transfer them to a different place of your personal user library - which after all leads to a mess

So there is a LOT to do. And I am disappointed about how long bugs get fixed.

Although that may sound all negative (which it is), I love the device.

[TheLoudest]

So there is a LOT to do. And I am disappointed about how long bugs get fixed.

I think this Push 3 (at least for its standalone version) came out way too fast.
Not finished.

And, second problem, releasing a new product just before the summer (and the potential holidays of the development team) was perhaps not the best idea...
unless you're sure you don't have a single bug

[analog_rome]

I took being an early adopter into consideration when I decided to add to cart... I expected the first months to come with early adopter frustrations. I am cautiously confident that frustrations will eventually subside because I believe the developers are very enthusiastic and motivated to make this thing as awesome as it should be.

If too many months go by without bugs debugged or sorely needed features added to workflow, my sunny outlook will not last.

[Audivit]

I expected the first months to come with early adopter frustrations.

Me too...
But but I'm slowly realising it will take much longer with the current pace!

Let me add a few things I didn't like about Push 3.
As much as I love the design and build quality there are some things I'm not 100% into..

The white space between the pads, I understand why they choose that from a marketing standpoint but to me it looks a bit meh..

The lighting on each pad is not as diffused and uniform as on the old Push, instead each pad has this prominent center glow that looks a bit cheap.

The display although the current one is good enough, for the price would have been nice if it got somewhat improved.

The top case finish even though is no more sticky mess I would have preferred a more heavy-duty finish, this one is looking smart but it's very prone to scratches and shiny spots if you're not extra careful handling the device.

[Machinesworking]

As someone whose used Live for 20 years now, the incompleteness of Push 3 Standalone is exactly why I could never make Live my only DAW. No MIDI Clock, Follow Actions, Arrangement, Program Change messages, I wonder if it even has Ableton Link?

I just don't see how releasing a hardware standalone version that can only make loops and basic sketches for songs was a logical take on what Akai and NI did with their software and the MPC line and Maschine+? Then again this is a company that ties count off always to recording, and punch in/out is the same locators as looping.

On the positive maybe tip, I'm going to remember to look up this thread two years from now, and hopefully it's to praise all the work Ableton did to make standalone a DAW that you could use on it's own if you wanted to.