Ableton Push 2 Review: One Year Later

I've had the Ableton Push 2 for more than a year. This is the full review.

Timestamps:
Intro - 0:00
Good - 0:23
Bad - 3:02
Quality - 5:12
Problems - 6:30
Would I buy it again? - 7:36

Ending screen music:
There's Love To Be Found - Jake Borg

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Instagram:

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[theok]

This was a really good, unbiased practical review of the Push 2-nice job.

[Jzh]

Jake..it's painful to see talented people like you are somehow unknown....wish you all the best. Your odd meter series are mind blowing.

[davemakesnoises]

Push is super intuitive for guitarists and bassists because when you play the pads in chromatic mode, the scale selection acts as a guide, you're no longer stuck with only the notes in the selected scale, you can borrow tones from other key centers etc, and since it ascends in 4ths, the patterns are identical to a bass or the first 4 strings on a standard tuned guitar.

[rmcstay]

I don’t have a Push yet, but I’ve heard that if you press Select + Scene select button it will show the name of the scene.

[jaycano]

As a piano it's confusing, but it's very intuitive if you are coming from playing guitar. The rows are tuned in fourths, like a guitar (more or less), and the way you do chords is by memorising patterns. For example, a triad is something like (x is pressed, - is open):

- x -
x - x

and a triad with a 9th is:

- - x
- x -
x - x

This only works if you are using scales. You can also use chromatic mode, and if you set the scale to C Major in the chromatic mode then the black and white keys of a piano match the light and dark patterns on the Push 2. You still get to use patterns for chords because the rows are still tuned in 4ths, but now the patterns change depending on the chord being major, minor or any other quality.

Still, I do agree that getting used to those patterns coming from piano can be a bit weird, but from guitar (or similar instruments) it's quite intuitive :)

[Ayo.Ajisafe]

As someone mentioned its intuitive coming from a guitar or ESPECIALLY bass background. Its tuned in fourths.
I don't use the scale feature I just look at it like 8 frets of a guitar. I can play in every key given 8 frets (5/6 even).
Chromatic mode all the way.

You pianists are spoiled for choice for midi instruments. Finally us bassists and guitarists have something.

[EthanPerkins-qckd]

Just grabbed a used push 2. Looking forward to what it can do

[BoopPOPO]

One thing is for sure, it wipes the floor clean for sample based creation with that drum seq.

[Bashanvibe]

You have the set up I’m trying to upgrade to!!! Komplet Kontrol s88 with Abelton Push!!! I’m a keyboard player as well and want to use the push because of the drum pads and how it sync to AL!!! I just started learning AL lite now that I have an understanding now I’m going to upgrade to the Suite and get the Push!!!

[RomanWave]

About how to understand "playing piano" on Push – there are some guide videos how to use this matrix in building chords and modes.

[djtheman]

Thank you for this review. I love hearing reviews from people who have used gear for a long time. It gives the reviews nuance.

[RomanWave]

Amazing review, Jake! I like the way of your fundamental approach – it's feels so right.

[krzemian]

Thanks for a detailed review, mine is arriving on Monday, looking forward to it. Regarding cables, it seems you should be able to buy extension cords with a regular usb socket and simply extend the cable from the other end. Not ideal, but would work without buying proprietary Ableton cables (which I suppose are rather expensive)

[Dennistube]

RULE NUM 1
just adjust how hard you have to press the pads
on push 2.. top right (set up) button
pad sensitivity. it should NEVER hurt your fingers, EVER. you should be able to place your hands and signal to activate

[reaktiv]

Totally agree, esp. with the isomorphic keyboard, it's kinda confusing. I first thought it would help me since I don't know much about scales. Real begginer at playing keys but I still prefer traditional keys because you know what you are doing.
Otherwise it is a very good controller for testing ideas, jamming, at first stages of creating a track ... but I won't use it to arrange it, it's not meant to be a self-sufficient solution :=)

[TerenceKearns]

Another great practical review of hardware that has been used professionally for some time.

Really looking forward to your review of your native instruments keyboard. I'm thinking about getting one. I have to plan ahead because I am not rolling in money, but I would rather save up and get something of decent build quality. The push looks nice, but Ableton is not my only daw. It's not even my main one but it's always interesting to hear people's experiences. You do great reviews.

[cybergwen]

Thanks, this was very useful. So if I want a better controller than my squishy-keyed AKAI, I'll go and look for a good MIDI keyboard rather than the Push.

[hardcoreherbivore]

Also, I'm using push 2 as a master clock, along with CV tools. When recording from my eurorack into a track. Such an enjoyable experience now, I love it.

[mrnessss]

"It's like you're using Ableton [as an instrument]". That's so cool! I love that description. Mine's in the mail. Can't wait!

[nthurston]

I like your presentation. You speak similar to the way I do. I agree with the issues about buttons being too deep and cables being too short. I found a way around the short power cable for live use. I bought a Mophie Powerstation AC, charge the battery, then use it for power on the Push 2, which gives me a little bit more wiggle room there. It is AC only so you may need an adapter for other countries or a similar style battery for your power needs. I was also confused by the way they created the USB cable ports. I tried other cables and ran into the same problems. The only thing I really disagree about is the note modes, but I am not a piano player nor have I ever learned. For me it’s easy to grab a chord and just go with that sound because the pads are close together and the scale modes help me stay in key.