Inside the new Ableton Push: all the technical details so far, from I/O to Max for Live

The new Push represents a technical leap forward for Ableton, both in terms of its upgradeable, Intel-based standalone architecture and its new pad sensor tech. I got a chance to speak to the folks at Ableton about some of those details, and how the hardware evolved. We also have some early answers for those curious about connecting gear or developing in Max for Live.

The new Ableton Push 3, at a glance: standalone, new pads, new platform

Ableton today introduced their long-awaited third-generation Push hardware. The layout and functionality are familiar, but there’s new hardware including new pads, MPE support, and audio + CV + MIDI connectivity, plus standalone operation and upgradeability. CDM has talked to Ableton and tested the gear with prerelease software.

Dark, eerie, modular sonic adventures from Tehran and the Caspian shore: bernisaun

Sound recordist, producer, audiovisual producer, and modular experimentalist Behrooz Farahani is spinning deep ambient excursions live in modular. And sometimes there’s literal spinning.

BOSS is bringing back an 80s Roland rackmount delay in a collab with the late Eddie Van Halen

Meanwhile, at Roland… Check your bingo cards, because I’ve got … “the 1980s…” … “digital” … “Roland rackmount digital delays” … “BOSS” … “floor pedal” and … “Eddie Van Halen.” Who has bingo?

Hands on: Soundtoys SuperPlate is five plate reverbs in one – and delivers on nuance

In the midst of lots of splashy effects, Soundtoys’ latest is an exercise in subtlety and precision. These plates are as lush as you’d expect, but they stand apart in giving you detailed control over their results.

Here’s Bruce McCulloch and a BOSS DR-660 for peak 90s drum machine vibes

“Check it out.” It’s just The Kids in the Hall’s Bruch McColloch and a BOSS DR-660, “the hottest drum and percussion sounds.” “And the surprisingly low price makes this the best value of any drum machine on the market.” Now add one Bruce. Just watch.

Rooms.xyz puts adorable remixable, code-able 3D rooms in your browser – you know, for kids

Okay, forget the vaporware “metaverse” business. You can open a browser tab and use this right now (in beta). Create, build, remix, and code 3D rooms for any kind of fun you imagine. While the big tech platform internet is unraveling, we can all play with stuff like this instead. And it’s kid-friendly – and a way for kids to learn to code (human coding, not AI).

Capitol Studios hand-built just four of these tube compressors – now UA has a plug-in

Universal Audio, which now make native plug-ins you can run anywhere (not on specialized hardware), has a couple of new releases this week. Most interesting: they’ve recreated an insanely rare tube compressor.

Molli is the quick iOS looper we were waiting for – and you don’t even have to hit record

Molli Looper is a new quick-looping tool you can use standalone or drop in any iOS host. It’s always on, so you can grab a recording or loop whenever inspiration strikes. And there’s synced loop playback and filtering onboard, as well.

Gaza kids need a skate park and equipment; a powerful music compilation has come to their aid

Skating, like music, can be an escape and a DIY means to healing. “No ComplY” is a new compilation from Arabic- and African- region artists benefiting children in Gaza. They’ve just lost their skate park, but there’s hope – and a call for your help.