Ableton unveils Push 3, an “expressive standalone instrument”

Push 3, the next generation of Ableton’s Push, has been unveiled.

It comes 10 years after the release of the original version in 2013, this time marking the first product in the series to work as a standalone instrument.

Push 3 can be hooked up to a computer or used on its own, and allows for a user to transfer Live sets between a computer and Push and vice versa.

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With a number of modifications and additions to its design and original features, Push 3 also boasts a newly designed 64-pad grid with multidimensional polyphonic expression to the controller (MPE), working with the pressure of each press of a finger.

“Shape your sound with pads that respond to the slightest movement of your fingers,” reads Ableton’s website. “Bend, slide and shift between different notes, sounds and articulations.”

The MPE-enabled pads also respond to multi-directional use, generating different filters and effects with each shift in direction, responding to the “subtlest shifts in finger placement and pressure”.

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The controller’s battery lasts for around two and a half hours on a full charge, features WiFi compatibility, and includes eight different inputs and outputs.

“From sampling records to controlling modular jams, to making multi-track recordings of your band’s rehearsal, Push works as a flexible creative hub,” reads Push 3’s description.

“Built robustly for frequent travel between sessions and stages, and made to work with your trusty old gear and your newest toys, it’ll see you through many changes in setup, sound and scene.”

Push 3 is currently priced at $1,999 (£1,599), while a slightly cheaper version without a processor is also available for $999 (£799). Find out more about Ableton’s Push 3 here, and check out a video of it in action below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter