With Isotonik’s Darren celebrating his birthday this week, we’ve got an Isotonik Studios shopping guide, with favorite Max for Live add-ons, CDM reviews, and sound demos. Now with a special CDM-exclusive Labor Day discount code.
Isotonik Studios has not just been a storefront, but a boutique for a bunch of independent developers making crazy, quirky, beautiful plug-ins and add-ons. And it’s been great for us to connect as producers and performers with tools people are building, largely in their free time. There’s a pretty clear relationship here: your support keeps folks updating and making new stuff.
That novelty can be really inspiring. Sure, you don’t need extra tools for inspiration, but it sure can be fun. Even as a patcher, I like seeing what ideas people cook up. I’ve been re-arranging my Ableton Live Browser in particular just to have access to these. It’s like pulling an instrument off the rack for a recording session — or a toy out of the closet.
Labor Day Weekend exclusive: Through Wednesday, Sept. 3, take an additional 15% off your order with code CDMLABOR15
Here you go – with my demos and reviews where available:
If you buy something from a CDM link, we may earn a commission.
SBAM by Tomavatars: sequenced sampler
Ooh, this one is good — a deep sequenced sampler with a bunch of chopping, randomizing, mangling options. It’s so much to even explain it that I haven’t managed to write a review yet. Well, and I got distracted doing things like this, entirely with SBAM instances (plus one acid line):
I will try to share that review tomorrow. Meanwhile, if you can’t wait:
Monomono Maya: synth
Everything Monomono is wonderful and beautifully designed, but I have a special place for this velvety poly modeled on a certain Japanese favorite.
Swimmer: modulation
I think people didn’t necessarily get this Device at first, but I wrote a manual as much as a review, and — ooh, it’s good fun. I have some tracks coming out of this one.
Gamepad by User Friendly: controller
By far the most powerful way to connect modern Xbox and PlayStation controllers to music making, Gamepad M4L is a must — likely paired with Xbox Wireless Controller over both Bluetooth and wired for Windows, or PS5 controller via cable on the Mac for best results. I wrote about it my recent round-up.
Gamepad MaxforLive by User Friendly
Push:Euclidean Mode: controller/sequencer
Pure inspiration: generate Euclidean patterns right on hardware in Push or even Push standalone. Instant live techno rig is go. There’s a version for Akai Fire, too.
Push:Euclidean Mode by Mark Towers
OktoPush Three: controller
We got to help follow the development of this one. OktoPush is a full-fledged Push 3 controller tool with standalone support.
GrainyDay by AVAL: effect
There’s no granular effect quite like this production from AVAL, as I explain in the review. (Ooh, and dig that vintage STING! in the video!)
GrainyDay by AVAL
Piastrone by AVAL: plate reverb
Everyone needs this plate reverb as part of your reverb collection, plain and simple. My review goes deep into the theory of the model. Listen to how it sounds:
Moon.Hands.Core by elian.studio: arranger
This one is ambitious, and to be honest, I haven’t had time to try it yet. But it’s absolutely newsworthy for doing stuff with arrangements that were unimagined before:
Moon.Hands.Core by elian.studio
ClyphX Pro by nativeKONTROL: controller, actions
By far, this is the deepest controller and action customizer available for Live. It’s a massive problem-solver / power tool. And it’s great to have the tutorial series above.
XFX 2 Audio Effects: audio processors
There simply is no more extensive audio processing toolset for Ableton Live than this one from Noah Pred and Manifest Audio — it’s the best way to extend the native tools. So seeing it on sale here is a big deal.
EboSuite TWO: video synth/VJ tool
Unique for its cross-platform Windows and macOS support, EboSuite is a deep AV toolset running like native devices inside Ableton Live.
Pathways by Dillon Bastan: spectral playback instrument
Dillon is a planetary treasure and a community pillar, so check the whole set. But I have especially enjoyed Pathways lately. I can’t top Dillon’s video, so there you have it.
Bonus – more must-have add-ons
Elisabeth Homeland makes tons of essential utilities and add-ons, including the free Modulation Devices for Push 3 Standalone, and wrappers for software from Arturia, Soundtoys, and more, so you can integrate those in your Live sessions, as I’ve raved about before.
And Rupture by Rawton Forge, an all-new kick drum generator, just landed. I have not tried this one but I’m planning to do some kicking this weekend, for sure.
You can support Push properly, too!
Bonus round: for developers, don’t forget that you can make your devices work on Push more efficiently, including Push 3 standalone. With Darren’s help, we put together a guide. This question comes up all the time and the 2023 guide here is still relevant:
Did I miss something crucial? Probably. Let us know.