Ableton Push 3 - standalone MPE controller

[elxsound]

Good demo of the CV side (just using the 4 built in CV outs) at about 19 minutes. I can see this being perfect for Eurorack users as you can sequence, modulate and record the eurorack output as clips! An ES3+6 will cost you about £300 (less second hand) but that would give you 12 CV outs and 6 CV or audio back to PUSH (+ the 2 high quality variable gain TRS recording inputs which will be also be suitable for euro rack recording). You can obviously put your Eurorack sounds through the Live FX before recording all in the standalone PUSH hardware....

(PS- check out about 16 minutes in where the new (bloody amazing) autowarp in 11.3 + MPE works like a Roland Variphrase!)

Wouldn’t ES-8 be the better option? I’m genuinely asking, not being snarky.

I was looking also at Boredbrain’s Optx but I also see lots of complaints. I’m not sure if anything improved.

EDIT: read on MW, Boredbrain is planning to release v2 of Optx that addresses the issues, but it grows the module to 10hp instead of 8hp. Still looks like a great option if everything is fixed.

[Goony]

Great to see Live packs coming out already from companies like Spitfire Audio that are fully MPE for the new PUSH 3- the future looks bright!

https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/expressive-choir/

A couple of the drum packs have already been updated to be MPE as well (session and club)

All above free with PUSH 3 by the way or you can buy the MPE packs.

I already have those except the Expressive choir one, website says free with Push 3 but doesnt show up for me in my account yet, and the Push 3 controller doesnt authorize like the standalone (in fact there is no registration at all), I have posed the question to Ableton support and await their answer next week.
But the new MPE drum kits are great

[SLiC]

Wouldn’t ES-8 be the better option? I’m genuinely asking, not being snarky.

The ES - 8 is also a full USB interface so you don't need the ADAT you can plug it in to your PC with USB and drive the CV outs. It has ADAT as well, but if you have an ADAT output you only need an ADAT input, not the USB. It will of course work, but its £450+ and they don't come up second hand very often unlike the ES3 and 6.

If you just want the P3 to control your eurorack (CV outs) the ES-3 will give you 8 for about £170 (so 12 in total) with just 1 ADAT cable. If you want audio/CV back in to push from your eurorack the ES-6 will give you 6 for about £120, so its all a bit cheaper as not USB I/O as in the ES8.

Hope that makes sense!

[SLiC]

Great to see Live packs coming out already from companies like Spitfire Audio that are fully MPE for the new PUSH 3- the future looks bright!

https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/expressive-choir/

A couple of the drum packs have already been updated to be MPE as well (session and club)

All above free with PUSH 3 by the way or you can buy the MPE packs.

I already have those except the Expressive choir one, website says free with Push 3 but doesnt show up for me in my account yet, and the Push 3 controller doesnt authorize like the standalone (in fact there is no registration at all), I have posed the question to Ableton support and await their answer next week.
But the new MPE drum kits are great

Good to know you are on the case ready for when mine arrives next week

[elxsound]

Wouldn’t ES-8 be the better option? I’m genuinely asking, not being snarky.

The ES - 8 is also a full USB interface so you don't need the ADAT you can plug it in to your PC with USB and drive the CV outs. It has ADAT as well, but if you have an ADAT output you only need an ADAT input, not the USB. It will of course work, but its £450+ and they don't come up second hand very often unlike the ES3 and 6.

If you just want the P3 to control your eurorack (CV outs) the ES-3 will give you 8 for about £170 (so 12 in total) with just 1 ADAT cable. If you want audio/CV back in to push from your eurorack the ES-6 will give you 6 for about £120, so its all a bit cheaper as not USB I/O as in the ES8.

Hope that makes sense!

Makes sense! Thank you

I’m going to keep checking the options and I’ll likely wait for Optx v2 before adding anything. I just reorganized after being happy with the rack, to fit Spectraphon. Now, I have an optional 8hp or an optional 10hp if needed.

I really like the idea of Optx, with 8in/outs and DC coupled for CV.

[SLiC]

I think the thing that will make P3 most useful for CV is the 4 hardware CVs already included...a user on Elektronauts just posted a list of pre-sets- this is true 'plug and play' to get the P3 controlling the eurorack and I know the complexity with ADAT/Expertt sleepers stuff can sometimes put people off...may bring a lot of people to the CV world as well as the MPE world- who know, maybe Ableton will do an ADAT to CV module....but the Optx v2 looks perfect if they are ever available!

[pdxindy]

Although they won't, but I still believe hey should release a MIDI only version of it.
I like the jogwheel and extra button for "capture MIDI" but I'm not paying for an external sound card when I don't need one. They should have left that out as an expansion as well

If I were to buy a Push 3 for my studio, I wouldn't use the audio interface aspect of it. I already have a more capable and higher quality interface with more I/O.

But that is just how it goes. Ableton cannot cater to everyones interests.

[SLiC]

Although they won't, but I still believe hey should release a MIDI only version of it.
I like the jogwheel and extra button for "capture MIDI" but I'm not paying for an external sound card when I don't need one. They should have left that out as an expansion as well

If I were to buy a Push 3 for my studio, I wouldn't use the audio interface aspect of it. I already have a more capable and higher quality interface with more I/O.

But that is just how it goes. Ableton cannot cater to everyones interests.

I guess a lot of people are in the same boat, although it does have some advantages if you take it out of the studio as a portable solution (just need a laptop and 1 USB cable)

Obviously needed for standalone and they want people to be able to update- as the audio IO needs holes in the case, makes sense its in everything...people may not need the audio IO but its hard to totally rule out the option top upgrade to standalone in the future...

[elxsound]

Although they won't, but I still believe hey should release a MIDI only version of it.
I like the jogwheel and extra button for "capture MIDI" but I'm not paying for an external sound card when I don't need one. They should have left that out as an expansion as well

If I were to buy a Push 3 for my studio, I wouldn't use the audio interface aspect of it. I already have a more capable and higher quality interface with more I/O.

But that is just how it goes. Ableton cannot cater to everyones interests.

I guess a lot of people are in the same boat, although it does have some advantages if you take it out of the studio as a portable solution (just need a laptop and 1 USB cable)

Obviously needed for standalone and they want people to be able to update- as the audio IO needs holes in the case, makes sense its in everything...people may not need the audio IO but its hard to totally rule out the option top upgrade to standalone in the future...

It’s also one of the biggest and longest running requests since Push 1 was released, to add an audio interface.

Obviously not for everyone.

But it does create opportunities not there before. I’ve alway resisted using a laptop, but I’d be more willing now with a semi compact setup.

[nanostream]

I already have those except the Expressive choir one, website says free with Push 3 but doesnt show up for me in my account yet, and the Push 3 controller doesnt authorize like the standalone (in fact there is no registration at all), I have posed the question to Ableton support and await their answer next week.
But the new MPE drum kits are great

I’m having the same problem, the Expressive Choir pack doesn’t show up. But I can see a Push 3 serial in my account, so it should be registered correctly. I’ve also contacted support.

Apart from this very minor issue I’ve had loads of fun this afternoon, I got the controller a few hours ago. I’ve never owned a Push or an MPE controller, so I can’t really compare the pads. They feel really good and playable, though, but it will take some time to learn playing them properly, I guess. I’m used to MPC/Maschine sized pads, and MPE is a completely different story — and still a bit confusing, tbh.

In any case I’m very happy with the purchase so far. The build quality is excellent, as expected. Same for the UX, for the most part anyway. I wish the manual wasn't just a long html document without anchor links, index or anything.

[Goony]

I already have those except the Expressive choir one, website says free with Push 3 but doesnt show up for me in my account yet, and the Push 3 controller doesnt authorize like the standalone (in fact there is no registration at all), I have posed the question to Ableton support and await their answer next week.
But the new MPE drum kits are great

I’m having the same problem, the Expressive Choir pack doesn’t show up. But I can see a Push 3 serial in my account, so it should be registered correctly. I’ve also contacted support.

Apart from this very minor issue I’ve had loads of fun this afternoon, I got the controller a few hours ago. I’ve never owned a Push or an MPE controller, so I can’t really compare the pads. They feel really good and playable, though, but it will take some time to learn playing them properly, I guess. I’m used to MPC/Maschine sized pads, and MPE is a completely different story — and still a bit confusing, tbh.

In any case I’m very happy with the purchase so far. The build quality is excellent, as expected. Same for the UX, for the most part anyway. I wish the manual wasn't just a long html document without anchor links, index or anything.

You got the standalone version? Yeah same here I can see my Push 3 in my account but not the Expressive Choir pack yet. Hopefully support can sort that next week.

[rod_zero]

I also don't have a regular need for another audio interface but when visiting friends studios it is nice not to carry my main audio interface.

[nanostream]

You got the standalone version?

No, controller only.

[worldfever]

is there any list of max for live patches that work with this?

[SLiC]

is there any list of max for live patches that work with this?

Some info here

https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/artic ... patibility