Ableton just announced Live 10, the latest version of its digital audio workstation (DAW) for DJ/producers. It brings a host of new features and content for Ableton Live, including the brand new Wavetable synth, Echo, Drum Buss, and Pedal effect plugins. Workflow improvements have also been implemented, which include new Midi and audio clip editing features along with an improved browser for quicker navigation.
Songwriting and jamming also get a boost via the new Capture feature, which lets you “recall” a melody that you’ve just played even if you didn’t hit the Record button. Live brings those notes back onscreen, plus it can adjust their tempo and timing for you. The user interface also gets a flatter look that is crisper and more contemporary.
For Push 2 users, a new melodic step sequencer mode has been added, letting you add beats and play melodies from a single pad layout, and new Push 2 screen visualisations have been added, potentially decreasing time spent staring at your laptop while you perform with Push 2.
Ableton Live 10 isn’t a game changing update, but it’s a welcome refinement of the Live production and performance experience: The new Wavetable synth looks like a versatile instrument for sculpting a wide variety of sounds to add to your sonic palette, and the Echo, Pedal, and Drum Buss compressor add some analogue / vintage flavour to Live’s toolkit.
We’re quite excited for the Capture feature because it allows creative room for serendipitous melodies and passages, which often are the result of jamming over a simple looped progression. This is one way producers and songwriters come up with vocal parts and lead melodies, and having the Capture feature onboard makes that process simpler and elegant.
Check out the promo video below.
Promo Video
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• Ableton Live 10 will be available the first quarter of 2018. Get a time-limited 20% off of Live 9 and a free upgrade to Live 10 when you purchase from the Ableton online store. Check the Ableton site for more details.
What do you think of these new features? Think they’re useful, or are they just more of the same? Share your thoughts below.
Joey Santos
