Ableton Push 3 - My thoughts after a month of using it.

I think it's time to share some of my thoughts and opinions on Ableton Push 3 after I've spent some more time with it. Like with anything else in life - some things are really great, others are not that great and everyone is always entitled to having their own opinion.

This is NOT a review, just me going through some of my experiences and opinions on this new unit. Nothing more, nothing less. I know that we will get updates and new features added so this video might not age very well but it is what it is :D

I think it's a great device for sure! It's definitely up there with the MPC's in terms of usability and functionality. I never got to talk about the sampling workflow in this video but there's honestly not much to say... It's super powerful and great to use for that sort of stuff - Just like the DAW version of Live.

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[LowHeatBeats]

Much respect for your sincerity and for making such an informative video as always, really enjoyed it. Just wanted to clarify that Live Intro is not the one that comes for free with most MIDI controllers, that's Live Lite, which is even more limited. But the point about not getting the full license for 2k is still very valid.

[coreynasfell]

Most passive aggressive review I’ve ever encountered… and I loved every minute of it. 😂

[LemonfaceBeatz]

How you don’t get Ableton Live Suite included at this price point is beyond me.

[blue.sunset]

You made a very correct assessment. I liked your sincerity. I have seen other Youtubers who are not as sincere as you. Perhaps because Ableton offered them such a machine they felt their criticism conditioned. I felt it in them. The truth is that Push 3 is a disappointment. The price is abusive just as it is abusive to only give the Intro version of Ableton Live on a 2000 dollar machine. Ableton fell a lot in my regard.

[medenine]

I absolutely love my Push 3. Coming from hardware and back into a hybrid approach, it’s perfect timing for where I’m at. I’m sequencing all my hardware and feeding it back into the push with adat and mixing and recording each multi track, plus adding Push’s fx on top so I’m hearing my synths in a new way. I love the workflow. I have a launchpad to launch scenes and clips externally.Adding max for live midi and other fx changes the game for me, I can create those and build the setup I want, in hardware! I really don’t have any complaints that can’t be fixed in a firmware or upgraded as better processors and ram come out.

[DylanParisMusic]

I agree with almost all of this, I'll add that there are currently two huge limitations on this one that aren't on other similar devices

1. This is, I'm fairly certain, the only device in this category you can't build a song and export stems out of in standalone. I can do this on the MPCs, Force, and Maschine Plus but not this one. It requires plugging into Ableton for any sort of stem export even if you record into the arranger mode which you can do but you can't see it on device.

2. I have not been able to find a way to create custom instrument racks from scratch on device. I searched forums and reddit after building out a complex device with a bunch of fx, but realized that I couldn't actually save the whole chain. On a computer you'd select all the devices at once and then save them to a new rack, this currently doesn't seem possible on device.

I'm probably going to keep the one I bought, and I'm sure that Ableton will add these features and more over time, but it's a bit annoying for 2000 dollars.

[Drrolfski]

You have to keep in mind that for Ableton venturing into mobile standalone audio computing, this is pretty much a Gen 1 product for them. Which means it likely won't be a God machine right out of the box. Instead, you probably need to patiently await a few firmware upgrades or even a Gen 2 version for this device to really come into its own. Let's not forget that Push 2 was miles better as an Ableton controller vs Push1 and even that device saw a whole lot of firmware improvements over its lifespan.
Contrary to popular opinion, pricepoint wise it's actually not too shabby from a hardware perspective IMO. You would pay more for individual parts (laptop, Ableton controller, 4 times 4x4 MPE controllers, audio interface), and running dedicated audio software on Linux should be fine with these hardware specs. If anything, it's more a matter of optimizing firmware over time. Equipped with much higher hardware specs it would probably run into cooling and throttling issues anyway. Stepping into a new groovebox market with this device, it should have come with a Standard Ableton Live license though. People coming from other platforms simply expect more than a minimal Ableton experience at this price point.
In the end, this is the Ableton device I always wanted and there is definitely huge potential in the Push 3. But atm, I'm not throwing my Push 2 away yet. Instead, I'll wait a bit longer how the Push 3 comes along and matures before I'll jump ship. Until that time, I use my MPC Live 2 for mobile standalone music making.

[samprock]

It’s cool to see you Accurate (Maschine lover), for me (Push Native) talking on Push3. I sold Push2 immediately to fund Push3 for studio, as controller. For pads and new functionality. Have not sold Maschine+ yet. Personally waited Push Standalone for such a loooong time, so not rushing at this point. Maybe when more powerful guts available and arrangement and/or song mode like in M+ implemented, I will stuff Push3 controller with a core also to take on vacation. I’m used to play with Push2 connected to Mac, screen off. Still an exciting hardware upgrade for me. Otherwise now I spend my music piggy bank on analog synths exclusively.
As your long time viewer it’s great to hear your opinion on it! Thanks and cheers very much!

[mr_zayjuan]

Been watching you for a long time bro love you man. Great video

[SURCOlive]

Great perspective and great video as always. Thanks brother!!❤

[marknesium]

I still love my Push 2 and Linnstrument combo! With Linnstrument (MPE controller designed by Roger Linn) you have a much larger surface and are not as limited as with 8x8 rows.

[googlerep]

Thanks for your review on this I always appreciate people who own products to explain how they use them and what's good or bad about them so thank you for your hard work much appreciated. You did mention though that the MPC didn't have song mode but indeed it does. Wasn't sure what you meant by it didn't at least the MPC live 2 has song mode. You go to menu then go to song mode and there it is.

[chrisliddiard]

Most people getting a Push 3 will already have the suite. If it were included, there would be loads of black market deals as folks were forced to sell their current license and use the one supplied with the product. [or sell the one supplied with the product] The alternative would be to make the Push 3 cheaper if you already have the software.

Of course, they may already be doing this. Imagine if the Push 3 was 400 euros more expensive, with a discount depending on what other versions of the Ableton you had. ;0)

[mindalteringfx]

I’ve had push3 for about a month as well. It’s not perfect and has some bugs that can be a deal breaker. The more I use it the more I like it. Had the same experience as far as button wise. Love the pads but the buttons are too stiff initially. Price point wise it’s fair. The software alone has always been on the more expensive end and hardware wise it’s competitive with other hardware groove boxes. It’s the most complete Daw in box software wise in my opinion especially since so many people port their projects to Ableton for mixing purposes. They probably should have offered a “special edition” of Ableton for the release especially in standalone so those who want to upgrade can get the standard or suite at a discounted price point.

[dracul]

I am an Ableton user for years and maybe because of this I didn’t get the hype for this product. It’s just an optional bit of kit that for me would get in the way. To be fair, I don’t use clip launch… so maybe that’s why I find it useless. I still have an apc 40 in my closet. I pull it out every few years and use it for a few hours, lol.

[matthewgaines]

MPCs do have a song mode. They don’t have a arrangement view. I'm good with the MPC song mode. Use it all the time.

I think the Push 3 is expensive for a machine that doesn’t come with atleast a Ableton Standard license. One can get a laptop, controller, and Ableton Live for that amount. That being said, most Push 3 users probably already have a license for Live so its not an issue for those folks.

[cresshead]

I think it's early days for push 3 standalone, a bit like when the akai force came out.
'IF" they support and develop the stand alone experience like Akai did wit the force it'll be pretty cool, right now it's seems like it's still in the BETA stage.
I do worry a littlle that they released an underpowered version just to get it under £2000 and they will be multi tier versions once an new cpu comes along
in 6 months or a year where if you havn't spent another£1000 on upgrading your cpu you'll be left behind on firmwares...

[hajohund]

Nice overview! The lack of an arranger/song mode overview is an absolute dealbreaker for me :( (And maschine plus doés have the arranger view btw).

[sCealt]

The extra $1000 for standalone is unjustified: the extra hardware costs less than $500 to buy separately at consumer price.
They should have at least included the Suite license or set it at $1500 or so.

[larrylunatic]

still rocking push 1 with f**ked up pads but ey, it's doing its job!