Push 3 or Maschine MK3 or others?

[Goony]

For Ableton there is no better than Push, its as plain and simple as that. You can use third party VSTs with controller Push 3. Get in the queue and order yours, it is really the best Ableton controller, the MPE pads themselves are gorgeous to play on, and the integration with Max 4 Live is getting better.

[BrainBeatMusic]

Yes ..... Nice video..... I don't own a PUSH... I have a "Launchpad X" that I'm pretty happy with , it's got velocity sensitive pads ,drum rack mode , scales modes , piano mode , some of the scales mode is almost setup like a guitar too .. which guitar and bass is my main instrument ... It does NOT have the chord mode . I think Launchpad Pro mk3 or whatever it's called has the chord mode but a lot of folks were like just buy a Push1 or 2 don't get that model was said ... ... I think you'll be happy getting a Push 2 or Push3 ... But if you are trying to save money check out the Novation Launchpad stuff too , I'm really happy with the Launchpad X for all my needs , but I'm a very simple user NOT a power user or a synth programer type of guy . I like a lot of smaller and mini type of controllers and laptops . So I like stuff like Launchpad X and Presonus Atom type of stuff , and NOT blow the bank type of things .

Thanks, I do already have a Launchkey 25 and can say for sure it does have chords and Arp which I have used a bit. It does also come with 16 pads which you can use for drumming or playing chords etc but I for whatever reason haven't seem to have gotten the knobs etc to work right in Ableton Live which is a bit odd as it was said to have been designed for it. I probably should see if there is a manual or some videos to see if I can work it out. I think if I was to get more Novation stuff it probably would be to get one of the Circuits but I feel like they need a screen to be super useful. They are at least affordable at less than half the price of the Push 3 and can be standalone I probably would want to wait for a version 3 with a screen.

[BrainBeatMusic]

To the OP you could also get you a Presonus Atom 16pad 4x4 controller to use with Live 11 too .... Check out this video https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z-_eerTVFes&feature=share7

Thanks for the suggestion I had not looked at this particular option before but so wonder what I would actually be gaining as I do already have 16 pads on my Launchkey 25 (just not in a square) with similar possibilities of navigation.

[BrainBeatMusic]

For Ableton there is no better than Push, its as plain and simple as that. You can use third party VSTs with controller Push 3. Get in the queue and order yours, it is really the best Ableton controller, the MPE pads themselves are gorgeous to play on, and the integration with Max 4 Live is getting better.

I am guessing you have gotten one already based on your tagline?

[Goony]

Correct, I got the controller version, as currently standalone not needed, but at least I have the option to add that later if needed.
Push is an awesome beast if you can get one, Push 2 is still great as well and could be had 2nd hand quite cheaply too.

[fedexnman]

Yes , a whole lot can be done on a Launchkey 25 ... There's a YouTube guy " Quest for Groove " that does a cool video with but he uses a Launchkey25 mini so yes you've got your 16pads ...... He's a fingerdrummer guy ... I showed you the Atom (Presonus) because it integrates with "Live" and is cheap $100used $149new and also very "FUN" to use . I would definitely use what you have for the meantime then . I'd also save for a Push3 if you are craving it . I would NOT get a Maschine ....

[BrainBeatMusic]

Correct, I got the controller version, as currently standalone not needed, but at least I have the option to add that later if needed.
Push is an awesome beast if you can get one, Push 2 is still great as well and could be had 2nd hand quite cheaply too.

Nice how do you like it? I have seen a few videos in the last few days now people who bought it have gotten it and some have been a lot more negative to those who got given theirs. I think mostly that is from the standalone version as installing packs seems to take forever. I think in one video it took him about 2 hours to install all of the packs he had which is crazy. I will for sure still keep watching to see if I can get a bargain Push 2 on Ebay etc but would want to get it for a little less than the cheapest I can see at the moment (~$400 AUD shipped). Given there may be a small chance I might want to upgrade to standalone sometime in the future it would mean I would have to buy both as the 2 is not upgradable.

I am not in any hurry to buy anything despite my GAS and want to only buy equipment that I am hopeful will be useful.

[BrainBeatMusic]

Yes , a whole lot can be done on a Launchkey 25 ... There's a YouTube guy " Quest for Groove " that does a cool video with but he uses a Launchkey25 mini so yes you've got your 16pads ...... He's a fingerdrummer guy ... I showed you the Atom (Presonus) because it integrates with "Live" and is cheap $100used $149new and also very "FUN" to use . I would definitely use what you have for the meantime then . I'd also save for a Push3 if you are craving it . I would NOT get a Maschine ....

Thanks for suggesting the Quest for Groove channel he seems to have made and tried out a good amount of devices which I will have a look at. I think my Launchkey 25 is the version released after that one as it has a screen a few more control buttons and proper wheels. I am not a finger drummer and probably won't be much and a more looking for a more sequencing drums workflow which I don't think I can do with that controller. One interesting thing I didn't know you could do with it was play a bass note with the pads while playing chords with your right hand.

I am thinking where I am now is probably to wait until later in the year closer to Christmas time and see if there are any other devices that look to be a better option. Given it looks like it will already be a 2-month wait to get a push 3 that is only another maybe 4 months after. I think if I could get a Maschine for less than double a 2nd hand Pushsh 2 I would defiantly consider it but am somewhat expecting NI will have to release an update to the hardware sooner than later.

[Goony]

Push 3 is nice to use, installing the packs would take that long some are quite large downloads.
Personally I wouldn’t get anything NI, it’s ok if you want to stay in their eco system, but Maschine makes for a poor controller within Ableton

[pdxindy]

I am not in any hurry to buy anything despite my GAS and want to only buy equipment that I am hopeful will be useful.

I've spent lots of money on various controllers with the promise of using the mouse less and not a single one of them ever stuck. I always end up back on the mouse and big screen.

Maybe Apple's new AR Goggles will be it!

[dannydanvers]

It really is up to you, and the only way you'd find out is trying them both. I think that the real choice is more so the Maschine software into Ableton workflow vs just working in Ableton.

[BrainBeatMusic]

Hi guys I am still researching the option and seeing if I can get a good deal on something to sway me to go one way or another. One interesting thing I have found suggested by some in videos is to get an MPC and use it as a controller that happens also to work standalone. They suggested it may map better in Ableton than others like the Maschines which is interesting.

The MPC One + is probably what I would be looking at if I got an MPC as it is still cheaper than a Push 3 and not much more than the Maschine MK3. As a bonus, I could use it both standalone or as a controller and it will work as a sequencer too. I am not sure it would be worth paying about $500AUD for the Live II as I think its main differences is just the battery, expandable storage and extra ports. The one major thing I don't like about the MPC options is while they do have virtual synths now which is great they are propriety only so you are stuck using them only on the devices and maybe in their DAW and they don't support 3rd party synths. On the plus side you can at least construct a full track internally as there is a proper song mode. You can also sample any synth and use it as if native.

I am also still looking at the cheaper end at possibly just getting a launchpad or similar or its bigger brother a circuit. The circuits in many ways would fill many of the wishlist specs, but the lack of a screen seems like a wasted opportunity and makes me hope they might make a new version with a screen.

Another that has gotten me interested a bit is the Korg Electribe which seems fairly capable but also over 6 years old and so probably lacking a lot of more modern features and I am not sure how good Korg is with their updates. I have at least been able to try a blue one and it sounded decent but I think I would need to read the manual as it didn't seem as intuitive as I would like. I again would probably be interested in an updated version with more storage as the reviews suggest it is fairly limited.

I feel like I am in 3 minds.
1 Just get a cheaper pad controller as a stopgap. - I would get some of the fun of programming beats etc. but would be tied to a PC.
2 Get just a drum sequencer. I could do most of what I wanted to do by experimenting with beats standalone probably with my synth via MIDI and in some cases control stuff in Ableton. The one big issue here is they are not much cheaper than a more full-featured groovebox.
3 Invest in a more advanced groovebox / advanced controller. This is the option I guess the thread was made for but I kind of feel the Push 3 is too expensive for what it is. The Machine 3 is still not great value for what it is and is probably closer than not ready to be replaced by a mk 4. Then there are the standalone options that seem to have quirks or limitations that make me unsure they are worth the investment.

It probably doesn't help at least locally most of the things I actually am considering would seem to be not easily available. If anyone has more suggestions or owns gear and would like to share your experience I would be grateful.

[rod_zero]

I would just go for a used Push 2 if integration with Live is that important to you.

[BrainBeatMusic]

I would just go for a used Push 2 if integration with Live is that important to you.

I get that but the few 2nd hand ones I can see are not that great value. The current cheapest 2nd hand ones are $550 AUD which while about 1/3rd the price for a push 3 is a lot of money to risk on something with no warranty sight unseen. This I think is also partly why I have not made a decision on anything I guess as most stuff seems to be out of stock locally so the ability to even try stuff out is limited.

[rod_zero]

I would just go for a used Push 2 if integration with Live is that important to you.

I get that but the few 2nd hand ones I can see are not that great value. The current cheapest 2nd hand ones are $550 AUD which while about 1/3rd the price for a push 3 is a lot of money to risk on something with no warranty sight unseen. This I think is also partly why I have not made a decision on anything I guess as most stuff seems to be out of stock locally so the ability to even try stuff out is limited.

I see, low availability of Push 3 is also making Push 2 move slower, if anything I will wait before Christmas to see if people dump more Push 2 at lower prices.