Ableton announces Live 6

Ableton has announced Live 6, offering Quicktime video support, a professional multi-sample library, and customizable racks of instruments and effects. Live 6 also satisfies frequent user requests by delivering multi-core support, enhanced project management tools, and improved MIDI control.

With Quicktime video support, Live enters the world of post-production. Drag and drop movies directly into Live's Arrangement View, and monitor the result on a video window or second screen. Then, align music to visuals, and process the movie's audio signal within Live.

The Essential Instrument Collection provides Live 6 users with a comprehensive library of multi-sampled instruments. The included instruments cover the entire musical spectrum, from orchestral strings and brasses, to classic guitars and electric keyboards, to instruments like the harp and the glockenspiel. Load and play the collection in Live's Simpler, or in Sampler, Ableton's new optional multi-sample instrument.

Instrument and Effect Racks offer a new level of depth to Live without sacrificing accessibility. Use Racks to create, save and control customized groupings of multiple instruments, effects and plug-ins. Then distribute your creations online. Use the Rack's included knobs to adjust any number of parameters with a single knob or fader. Live 6 comes with many pre-configured racks with both instruments and common processing tools like guitar and bass distortion, drum processing, and mastering.

Live 6 also features a number of other changes and improvements:

• Multi-core and Multiprocessor support allow the computational workload from instruments and effects to be distributed to other processors or cores, speeding up system performance.
• Deep Freeze expands editing functionality with frozen tracks (temporary rendered files created to free system resources). Cut, copy, paste, duplicate and consolidate clips without having to re-freeze. Automate mixer and clip envelopes, record frozen Session View clips into the Arrangement, and drag frozen MIDI clips into audio tracks, all without missing a beat.
• New and Improved Devices add to Live's palette of creative tools.
• EQ Eight has replaced EQ Four, with improvements that turn it into both a sound-shaping and a mastering tool.
• Add analog richness with the "warm" distortion of Dynamic Tube. Like many of Live's effects, it can be used for subtle coloration or drastic sonic manipulation.
• Saturator has been improved with the addition of a true analog saturation curve, a user-definable waveshaper, and an optional second output saturator stage.
• Automate and "play" incoming MIDI notes with Note Length. This MIDI effect can generate new notes when incoming notes are released, emulating the release behavior of instruments like the piano or the harpsichord.
• Operator has been augmented with a set of 24 dB filter modes, as well as new FM algorithms, giving users more sonic possibilities than ever.
• Conveniently organize collections of Live Sets, Live Clips, presets, samples, and movie files with Live 6's new Project Management Tools. Self-contain a project and pack it with lossless compression for archiving or transfer using Project Folders. Search for missing files and purge the disk of unused files with ease.

Ableton has also announced a technology licensing partnership with soundware provider SONiVOX (formerly Sonic Implants). Under the terms of their agreement, Ableton will incorporate a selection of premium SONiVOX instruments into Live 6, adding a comprehensive instrument collection.

Live 6 is scheduled for release in September 2006. It will be available for $599 (€549) (MSRP) from dealers worldwide and from the Ableton web-shop. Users who do not need the Essential Instrument Collection and Live 6 box can purchase a downloadable (serial only) version for $499 (€469) from the Ableton web-shop. Upgrade pricing details can be found here.

Live 6 Beta Test
Beta testing for Live 6 will begin in late July 2006. This is a great opportunity for users to get a firsthand look at what Live 6 and Sampler have to offer. To participate in the public beta test, sign up to receive the Ableton newsletter and watch for details.