Abelton's brand new Push 2 adds a multicolour display that can now show sample waveformsAbleton have this morning announced the release of a new Push hardware controller, an update to Live, and a new system called Link that lets you play in time with multiple instances of Live and a growing number
of iOS apps.
The Push 2 hardware shares many similarities with its predecessor, affording users hands-on control over melody, harmony, beats and song structure using an 8x8 grid of RGB backlit pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads. What's new though, is its large multicolour display that adapts to show you what you need, be it library
navigation, sample waveforms, effects parameters, or mixer levels. Push 2 also introduces some fast new sampling workflows that let you slice samples across the pads, play back single hits and time stretched samples. The pads themselves have also been redesigned to be softer, smoother and more responsive, according to Ableton.
Live 9.5 is a free update for all Live 9 users and adds a redesigned Simpler (the DAW's easy-to-use sample) with a new interface, warping and slicing capabilities, and new analogue-modelled filters. These filters, built in collaboration with Cytomic, will self resonate, produce feedback and distort, and now feature in Simpler, Sampler, Operator and Auto Filter. Metering has been improved too, with mixer volume levels now showing
peak and RMS levels. Live 9 Suite owners also get three new Max for Live synths — Bass, Poli, and Multi — the last of which is specifically designed to play well with Push.
Finally, Link is a new feature that syncs devices' timing over a wireless network, so you can set up almost instantly with others as freely as a live band. Link is coming soon as a free update, but Live 9.5 and Push 2 are both
available now. Push 2 costs €699 / $799 but current Push owners can upgrade at a 30% discount if they trade in their existing hardware. These units will then be refurbished and given to music education for
young people — along with copies of Live — for free.
