Change the color of that launch screen! Live 11.2 is now official and out of beta. Here’s what’s new: a refresh to Reverb, AUv3 support, and more.
I wrote a preview of Live 11.2 as it hit public beta:
Here’s the overview of what’s new, if you’re in a hurry:
AUv3 plug-in support on macOS 10.15 or higher. (Both AUv2 and AUv3 plug-ins can be enabled in Preferences.)
Improved Reverb. New UI, CPU optimization, fine-tuned options for Diffusion and Density (formerly Density and Quality), and most importantly, Smooth options as you change Size. That means you can perform live (cough) with Reverb’s Size parameter and control the sound artefacts that result. Plus there’s a new switchable filter (one-pole lowpass or low-shelf).
Tuner supports enharmonic spelling.
Channel EQ, Saturator preset CPU improvements.
Redux has a Hi-Quality option.
Map/Unmap labels now work properly in Macros.
Plug-in errors display in the status bar.
Metal rendering enabled on macOS by default for better UI performance.
Capture MIDI improvements.
Improved Control Surface support, including Novation Launchkey MK3 quantize settings, PreSonus ATOM SQ improvements.
Lots of little fixes and UI tweaks, as per usual.
New Max for Live
Max for Live gets some improvements and fixes with the inclusion of Live 8.3.1 and enhancements to the Live API.
One for developers: there’s now the ability to observe the number of visible Macro Controls for Rack Devices in the Live API – that’s a feature introduced in Live 11.
The Live API can also now look in on time signature, opening some creative possibilities, as well as improved scale name and interval properties.
Also, audio input and output latencies now are taken into account for external Max for Live routings.
In use
An updated reverb is actually very nice to have and might see you returning to Live’s underrated effect – especially now if you play with Size. But the “don’t look back” feature of 11.2 for Mac users is unquestionably AUv3 support.
I spoke highly of the support for the default Mac audio interface but… quite frankly, 100% of the time I wound up having to go back to Preferences anyway. Apple appears to have made some changes to how the default audio API works across OSes and how multiple apps handle access to the current interface, as well. Whatever the reason, this feature was removed and – I think it won’t be missed. Pro audio apps sort of require that you explicitly set audio interface in and out anyway.
Release notes:
https://www.ableton.com/en/release-notes/live-11/
Oh yeah, and since there isn’t much to say really about 11.1, if you really want to nerd out, try this (that’s what I’ll be messing around with in October, in part):