Ableton Push 3 - standalone MPE controller

[Double Tap]

They obviously weren’t set up to handle the amount of returns they’re dealing with

Curious to know more about this - is there a news article or something? Couldn’t see anything in KVR.

Me too, I can't find any info on 'the amount of returns'. Probably all in his/her head...

There are plenty of threads on the Ableton forums addressing this, with employees of Ableton chiming in to apologize for the delay. It's a backlog, they admit it, nothing is "in my head".

Thanks - I just checked several threads there and I think you might be mistaken. I can only see one thread where an Ableton person says anything except "we have a lot of support requests" but they always have a lot of support requests and always take a long time to respond. One time I asked for help a couple of years ago it took them three weeks to reply.

[sQeetz]

I just wish they had a controller-only Push 3 without the build in sound interface. Don't need it. Neither the stand-alone functionality.
I'm fine with a mixture of Push + keyboard + big screen + mouse kind of environment.

[elxsound]

I just wish they had a controller-only Push 3 without the build in sound interface. Don't need it. Neither the stand-alone functionality.
I'm fine with a mixture of Push + keyboard + big screen + mouse kind of environment.

I know this is not likely to change anyone’s mind, but out of curiosity I wanted to see how Push 2 compared in price to Push 3 with inflation taken into consideration.

Push 2 released in 2015 at $799
Push 2 price with 2023 inflation adjustment is $1039.75 (per https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm)

Push 3 Controller is $999.00, so the price adjusted for inflation is actually less than what Push 2 was at release.

Then there’s MPE. I am not the one who can compare MPE instruments. I think Pdxindy knows much better here when it comes to comparing feel, features and possibly value… but even as just an MPE instrument, it seems competitively priced. - Anyone, please feel free to correct me here, as my only experience with MPE was Roli Seaboard Blocks and their lightpads. Push 3, IMO blows those out the way… which may, or may not be saying much (again, my experience with MPE is limited).

The interface capability, basically looks like freebie when you start looking at the other features, so I’m not even sure what their profit margins are looking like.

[sQeetz]

If you look at it from this angle then you're probably right.
Would probably just use the audio interface once or twice just because I can, and then never again.... I regret buying a smartwatch with SIM capability. Thought I would leave home without having to carry the smartphone around... great idea! Did it once and realized it was money really not well spent
Anyway... still considering swapping my Push 2 for the new one just because of the extra dial on the upper right and the dedicated 'capture MIDI' button. Those are nice

[elxsound]

If you look at it from this angle then you're probably right.
Would probably just use the audio interface once or twice just because I can, and then never again.... I regret buying a smartwatch with SIM capability. Thought I would leave home without having to carry the smartphone around... great idea! Did it once and realized it was money really not well spent
Anyway... still considering swapping my Push 2 for the new one just because of the extra dial on the upper right and the dedicated 'capture MIDI' button. Those are nice

Another couple things that may or may not be useful... The other big changes that I keep forgetting are available on Push 3 Controller, over Push 2 are Midi in/outs and CV controls.

This means both the Standalone and the Controller version can be used directly with external gear.

The jog-wheel I'm still getting used to. I'm also curious to see how they refine it, because there's still some navigation that doesn't make use of it. I'm assuming that's a bug.

For browsing large folders, I still use the encoders (7 & 8 ) to move quickly, or if I know something is towards the end of the folder, I'll use the directional pad holding down one arrow, and as I'm closer to what I'd like to select, then I'll use the jogwheel.

Much of what I think is brilliant about it is on the Standalone side, just because it makes up for not having a mouse with editing notes in the clip view. But... A mouse is still easier if you are in a hybrid setup. So for the controller version, I think you'll benefit most if you're anti computer monitor (which I'm on board with at times).

[sQeetz]

Another couple things that may or may not be useful... The other big changes that I keep forgetting are available on Push 3 Controller, over Push 2 are Midi in/outs and CV controls.

I don't have and don't plan on ever using any external gear. Might be great for some, but not for everyone.

Much of what I think is brilliant about it is on the Standalone side, just because it makes up for not having a mouse with editing notes in the clip view. But... A mouse is still easier if you are in a hybrid setup. So for the controller version, I think you'll benefit most if you're anti computer monitor (which I'm on board with at times).

That's it. I can't stand editing clips on the Push. It's cumbersome and slow and... I'm way faster with a mouse and monitor..
My usecase might also be somewhat different, since I'm basically just interested in the pads, the encoders, and some DAW controller stuff.

I have several .adg presets just for, e.g, have the pads light up color coded to the drums in Addictive Drums or Heartbeat or Reason's Kong.
I use the Scale function a lot.

I also have a launchpad, but with Push you select a track within a set and the pads light up according to the type of instrument it is holding. With the launchpad you can save presets for each plugin you want to have different colors for each pad, but you have to manually select it.

So... I don't use it as a sequencer. I use it as a very convenient and smart extension of Live itself
Nothing more than a super-advanced MIDI controller.

I know I'm not using it to its full potential, but I'm ok with it

[elxsound]

Another couple things that may or may not be useful... The other big changes that I keep forgetting are available on Push 3 Controller, over Push 2 are Midi in/outs and CV controls.

I don't have and don't plan on ever using any external gear. Might be great for some, but not for everyone.

Much of what I think is brilliant about it is on the Standalone side, just because it makes up for not having a mouse with editing notes in the clip view. But... A mouse is still easier if you are in a hybrid setup. So for the controller version, I think you'll benefit most if you're anti computer monitor (which I'm on board with at times).

That's it. I can't stand editing clips on the Push. It's cumbersome and slow and... I'm way faster with a mouse and monitor..
My usecase might also be somewhat different, since I'm basically just interested in the pads, the encoders, and some DAW controller stuff.
I have several .adg presets just for, e.g, have the pads light up color coded to the drums in Addictive Drums or Heartbeat or Reason's Kong.
I use the Scale function a lot.

I also have a launchpad, but with Push you select a track within a set and the pads light up according to the type of instrument it is holding. With the launchpad you can save presets for each plugin you want to have different colors for each pad, but you have to manually select it.

So... I don't use it as a sequencer. I use it as a very convenient and smart extension of Live itself
Nothing more than a super-advanced MIDI controller.

Push 2 and Push 3 controller are great at being that extension.

I will say I use capture much more than before. Not all of that is because of Push 3, but something I noticed when using Ableton Note. Note is basically built around Capture as the main input and it worked quickly. I still don’t like where the capture button is on the iPad, but it does work well (when not accidentally triggered because of its location), so now with Push 3, I use capture more than record for midi input.

[sQeetz]

I use capture more than record for midi input.

I can imagine. I have capture remapped via Key Map to Backslash (US Keyboard). Just one key press. But having it on the Push would really be nice

[JamminFool]

I use capture more than record for midi input.

I have capture remapped via Key Map to Backslash (US Keyboard).

good idea. i'm going to steal it.

[sQeetz]

I have capture remapped via Key Map to Backslash (US Keyboard).

good idea. i'm going to steal it.

Right on! The key by default isn't mapped to anything in Live anyway....

[Goony]

Capture is a button on Push 3.

[JamminFool]

Capture is a button on Push 3.

yes. if you have push 3. (which i hope to get if they ever come into stock again)

[carrieres]

I remapped capture button on record button on my launchpad !

[drez]

I remapped capture button on record button on my launchpad !

Smart!

[octopod]

Shift Record does Capture on Push 2 apparently. I found this out after I got my 3