Push 2 - will it kick start my creative juices ?

[basic channel]

Hello

I've had Live since v6 (now on 9 Suite), and have dabbled with it but still consider myself a relative novice.

Push 2 seems quite interesting - both as compositional tool (and ? also for performance).

I rarely get any tracks completed (and, like most folk, have many other distractions in my life).

But I'm thinking Push 2 could be a quick way to improve my creativity and get stuff done (mainly because it looks like great fun to compose with). I love the way it appears to integrate so closely with Live, so this may simplify things & allow me to ignore distraction of other hosts I own.

Maybe Push 2, with my Behringer BCF2000 as mixing surface (Mackie mode) and my old Midi controller keyboards (Roland PC-180 for synths and Ensoniq SDP-1 for pianos).

Might this work ? My principle concern is that using the Push 2 may not be as immediate or easy as I would like. Is there a steep learning curve (especially considering I'm no Live wizard) ?


Thanks

[shroom81]

For sure, you come up with melodies and beats that you won't with your mouse. It's much more like an instrument then a controller. There is not much of a learning curve it's pretty straight forward and you do not need to be a Live wizard to use it, just do it

[DJ Warmonger]

Push 1 made me start to play with samples, drum racks and one-shots. Now that Push 2 has graphical sample manipulation it looks like the best sampler on the market

[bronxsound]

is push 2 something like maschine ie requires mac/pc to actually run? if so what does make it different from the ni product? they look the same to me.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

they look the same to me.

apart from the 64 clip-launch buttons

[bronxsound]

^
well, I did not mean the actual physical appearance.

so in essence p2 is another maschine like controller

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

^
well, I did not mean the actual physical appearance.

so in essence p2 is another maschine like controller

But it's such a fundamental difference, beyond just appearance

It's maschine-like, in the sense that it is designed as a hardware front-end to work in conjunction with specific software

[bronxsound]

i appreciate the differences. thanks for the clarifcation

[rod_zero]

That maschine works with maschine software and Push with Live.

But Push has stuff that I think is better than maschine:

1.- The drum sequencer
2.- The keyboard and in scale modes
3.- The melodic sequencer

And obviously all the control it provides over Live which is a full DAW.

[elxsound]

@OP

Push is a more efficient way of working in Live.

When I first bought Push 1, I did it knowing that due to a number major changes in my schedule (all positive) I would have to streamline my workflow. I dumped most of my 3rd party software plugins, and purchased Push.

It was one of the greatest decisions I made at the time.

I'm not saying it will help you finish your projects. That's a personal problem (and you have lots of company everywhere you look, with lots of advice on the topic too).

Again, it makes working in Live very efficient.

Push 2 for me is even more efficient thanks to the display. So working with samples is easier via the updated Simpler and the Mix display was my most wished for feature on a controller.

[basic channel]

Thanks

So is it just an "instrument" to play Live, or an instrument / compositional tool so one can complete entire tracks with it ?

I gather it has no significant integration with the Arrange page, so can you create complete tracks via Session view + Push 2 ?

[deastman]

At some point in the process you're going to have to turn to your computer screen and flip to the Arrange page, yes. However, I find that it gets me further along much faster. Push is great for coming up with a lot of parts, both melodic and rhythmic. You can then easily prepare your clips and scenes, and record a performance into the Arrange view. By the time you go back to your computer screen, you'll already have a full performance captured down the timeline, and you can focus on editing and refinement.

Push is very interesting. It is a controller, obviously. But in practice it feels more like working with an instrument. You can get a whole lot done without looking at the computer screen, especially now with sample editing and the improved display on Push 2. You'll find yourself focusing on Push and forgetting that it is even connected to another device.

[BDeep]

I'll second everything what deastman said. I have Push and love it, it's an instrument and really let's you focus on making music.
One thing though, it's not the most ideal to do sounddesign (not impossible, just not its strength), and you won't be able to browse the presets for most of your VST's (everything from Live you can browse though).
And yes, you have to go to Live and the arrangement view to finish a song. But what I usually do prior to that, is to record a performance from the session via (with Push), into the arrangement view, so that a barebones arrangement already exist when I start.

[basic channel]

Thanks again all.

What's the learning curve like (especially for someone who is keyboard player / guitarist, with no significant experience of playing pads) ?

Would it be easy to integrate keyboard playing & bashing away on Push 2 during the compositional sessions ?

[BDeep]

Oh absolutely, the pads are in fact much easier to use than a guitar or keyboard. What you need to figure out is what the "chord figures" are (for lack of a better word). Basically because you can set a scale, you're always in key, it's really nice (especially for a very unskilled keyboard player like myself). And to operate it is fairly straightforward, especially if you're already used to Live. I wouldn't worry about that.
As far as drumming on the pads, well, if you're not that good, just use quantize, or the step sequencer.
You can use your existing keyboard alongside Push with no problem. Just hit record on Push, then play on they keyboard.