Ableton Push 2 & Push 1 comparison (new vs old)

Compare how Ableton Push 2 versus Push 1 look, operate, and the features that you can now access with the new model, together with updates in Live 9.5 onwards.

Andri

I'm going to be making online courses shortly, as well as more video content.

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I strongly strongly believe in supporting local shops. Please buy local if you can. If you're buying online, I've put links below, if you use those you pay exactly the same amount but I'll receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). This helps me make more videos. Thanks!

My "shops" / recommendations (some have my suggested items and my thoughts on them)

My kit list:

Ableton Push 2:

2019, and current setup:
Macbook Pro 2018, 15", 2,6 GHz Intel i7 (6 cores) 32 GB RAM, Vega 20 Graphics, 1TB SSD
If buying today, I'd go for the fabulous new 16", 2,3‑GHz 8‑core 2.3Ghz, 32GB RAM, 1TB.

Soundcard: UAD apollo x4

Speakers: Genelec 8340AWM with GLM room microphone kit
Buy local :)

Headphones:
Beyerdynamic 990 pro (open-backed) for clarity and comfort,
(note the higher ohm rating, meaning these need to be driven at a louder volume - just good to know)

Beyerdynamic 770 pro (closed-backed) for bass and sound-isolation.

In-ear monitors:
Shure Shure SE535-CL (which I love, and the lower models are very good too)

Cables: Cordial wherever possible.

Videos from 2018 and earlier:
Macbook Late 2012, i7 2.6 (quad core) non-retina, 16GB RAM, 2x custom-installed 500GB SSDs (get one, seriously, it will change your life). This computer has been just amazing, and for me proof of the (generally) incredibly long life-span of Apple computers (I repeat, in my experience). It now backs up my data and acts as a video-capture computer.

iMac 27" Late 2009. So, so old, but it still works as a second monitor, using a (carefully researched) displayport cable. Just fantastic that some iMacs have this capability, and again something I appreciate as it means I don't have to throw it away.

Soundcard: Scarlett 6i6 V1 - very happy with this, provides two headphones outputs, important for using cue in Ableton.

Speakers: I don't recommend what I had back then at all! I would recommend looking at something like the iLoud speakers (now available in white :D).

In short, buy the very best you can afford - you won't regret it. Shop local if you can, or support them now and then, they give us invaluable help and advice.

Video Equipment:

Panasonic GH5:

Lenses:
Panasonic 12-35mm 2.8 (decent all-rounder but I recommend getting prime lenses for making videos, checking first what angle of view you need - i.e. how wide)

Panasonic 20mm pancake (really useful, nice angle of view, a bit of bokeh)

Panasonic 15mm 1.7mm (love this lens, very useful all-rounder)

Lights:

[AndriSoren]

Hello everyone! For my online courses on Ableton Live & Push,

[ChrisFriesenMusic]

Seriously, one of the best videos I've seen regarding the push 2. Thank you.

[angeliec.]

I love your voice, this comparison was so soothing to listen to-- plus I learned a bit that a lot of other reviews didn't touch down on as much!

[eafortson]

Brilliant work. I've wanted this since the drop. Thx

[teet]

Went looking for a video about the differences and this was the first one, and I don't need to go any further! Thanks!

[k_]

man im so torn, ive been wanting a push for ages and i never owned one.... being a musician that doesn't make money from music the price point has always been quite high.... now the push 1 has gone down considerably for a used one but the push 2 seems like such a superior device im so torn as to which one i should get... the push 2 used is still too far out of my budget but i feel like if i buy the push 1 i'll just be buying a soon to be paperweight. :(

[rattacos]

Thanks for post this, just what I was looking for.

[musicbyvankloot]

Holy shit. I knew I was interested in upgrading to Push 2, but now that I've seen them side by side like this... DAMN. This is such a massively functional upgrade. No question now... I'm sold. Time to see if I can get more than $240 for my Push 1!

[tremelo]

Just the video I needed to see. Local sale of a used Push 1 for $300 was drawing my attention, but now I see that the Push 2 is well worth saving a little longer. Thank you, Andri.

[GeekingOnGames]

would you recommend push 2 over 1 for Techno? any difference between both?

[PhillipDavisMarketingSolutions]

So, I'm assuming the Push 1 is the one on the left, correct? Trying to figure out which one I have.

[alejandrom.]

Hi, friend, Thanks for the explanation, Do you recommend having push 1 in 2024? Or it is preferable to choose a more recent one Thank you very much!!!!🙏

[SaiaFT]

Great videos. Succinct explanations. Cheers bro.

[PeteHorsham]

what conga drum rack are you using ?! Sounds wonderful!

[martinohlson]

I recently switched from Push 1 to Push 2. Here are some of the reasons why I believe it was worth it:

- The pads in Push 2 are much much better. Incredibly responsive, it´s much easier to control the velocity output of the pads. The pads in Push 1 are quite difficult to control.

- The opportunity to work with samples in Push 2. If you like to control, slice and crop samples outside the software, this feature alone is pretty much worth the upgrade.

- The amazing (and larger) display. Plus, everything is color coded based on the track colors. You can even color code individual drum pads.

- Due to the color coding possibilities in Push 2, the workflow is much more efficient. It´s a lot easier to know which track you are currently working in. You feel much more in control of the hardware. I almost never feel the need to revert back to the software. Push 2 is that intuitive and versatile. Whereas with Push 1, it´s a lot more difficult to navigate between tracks, devices etc. So with Push 1, I tended to revert back to the software quite a lot.

With that being said, Push 1 is still amazing. But I think Push 2 is everything that Push 1 wanted to become, even though they share 90% of the features.

[mrburns]

As a Komplete user I was looking to maybe get a Maschine Jam... BUT sense the pads aren't velocity sensitive I really don't think I'd like it. That leaves me with getting a Launchpad Pro or a Ableton Push 1 for around $150-200. I mainly want to use it as an isomorphic instrument and possibly do some step sequencing. :-/ Ugh...

[allancerf]

when i opened with a sales dude at Guitar Center (somewhere in California) the VERY first boxes of Push 2 there were horrendous quality control issues, buttons depressing to different depths, etc. I am informed this was immediately put right in the subsequent batch. I am NOT talking about pads, rather the other buttons.

Guitar Center were nice to open box as they know I'll run the upgrade for 30% through Ableton. Anyhoo... I was still, as were GC personnel, disappointed at the 'hardness' of the pads on 2 as I'd been led to believe they were massively softer. I'm committed to the platform though and will be getting II. Better, sure. Massively better, no.

Interested to hear from other upgrade users on there feelings about old pads vs. new and the degree of different feel...so, Hollah! Regardless of your views, please keep it civil.

[thesecret]

Is it "Native Instruments Maschine Mk3 Drum Controller" better than "Ableton Push 2" ? Or it has anything to do? Can you use Ableton with Native hardware .. ?

[KKLASSIC]

ive noticed on push2 when im in clip view then hit device button....and then hit  the clip button again it doesnt pull up the clip view in ableton like push1 did while in session view or am I missing something...damn I hope they fix tht if so...let me know if u can get it to work ...thx

[DopamineOverload]

Hi could you tell me if the Push 1 can chop sample start/end points as easily as the Push 2 (with Simpler or Simpler inside a Drum Rack)? Thank you!