Ableton have finally added MIDI mapping to the Push 3 Standalone. Why this wasn't there from day one, I have no idea. But it's here now, and it changes how you can set up a proper laptop-free performance rig. In this post I'm going to walk you through exactly how MIDI mapping works on the Able...
Is the Ableton Push 3 Good for Beginners? An Honest Answer
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Every week, someone asks me some version of this question.
In my YouTube comments, in my inbox, and most often in the room during workshops I run at colleges like ICMP, BIMM, and WaterBear.
I want to give you the most honest answer I c...
Is Ableton Hard to Learn? (Honest Answer from a Working Educator)
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I get asked this question constantly. At every university I teach at, including ICMP, BIMM, NHAM, and Thinkspace Education Online, it's always the same. Performance students, creative artists, people who've never opened a DA...
How to Get Started with Ableton Live
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When I first opened up Ableton Live, I had no idea what I was doing.
That was over 20 years ago.
Since then I've toured the world, worked on prime time TV shows, and taught music production at some of the most well-known universities in London.
I've ...
The honest breakdown from someone who's been using it for over 10 years.
I get asked this question constantly. At the universities I teach at, students want to know if they can afford it. Producers on YouTube want to know if it's worth it. And beginners just want to know which version to buy ...
The Novation Launch Control 3 promises a lot for Ableton Live users. You get compact hands-on control, full 5-pin MIDI for hardware, and tight integration that makes it look like an ideal MIDI controller for hybrid and DAWless setups.
On paper, it ticks a lot of boxes. In practice, though, th...
Novation Launch Control 3 and Launchpad Pro Review: A Cheaper Alternative to Ableton Push 3?
If you want hands-on Ableton Live control but Push 3 pricing is a stretch, the Novation “Power Combo” (Launch Control 3 + Launchpad Pro) can cover most of the same workflow for a fraction of the cost....
How to Use Link Audio in Ableton Live (Does It Actually Work?)
Link Audio is one of the most talked-about features in Ableton Live 12.4, and the promise is genuinely exciting. Stream audio wirelessly between devices, no cables, no audio interface. In real-world testing, it works. But ther
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Best Max for Live Synths for Ableton Live (That Also Work on Push 3 Standalone)Â
If you've been searching for the best Max for Live synths for Ableton Live without spending a fortune on expensive plugins, this is worth your time.
In this post, we're looking at 3 affordable Ableton synth plug...
How to Optimise Your Mac for Ableton Live PerformanceÂ
If you perform with Ableton Live, yes, you should change your Mac settings before going on stage.
Default macOS features are not built for real-time audio performance. Background services, wireless activity, indexing and power-saving beh...
If you want controlled chaos and evolving movement in Ableton Live, Pigra 2 and Whale are the kind of Max for Live devices that instantly wake up static sounds. They behave more like mini modular rigs than simple delays, constantly shifting, mutating and surprising you in musical ways.
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Key...
How I Built a YouTube and Music Studio in a Tiny Garage (While Renting)
Yes, you can build a fully functional studio even if you're renting and working with a tiny garage. I quit my teaching job in London, moved to the countryside, and turned a single garage into Push Patterns HQ. Here's how ...
