Ableton Live 13 hands-on: ARA 2, Drum Synth, new effects, more

Ableton Live 13 is now in limited public beta. That includes a lot of what you’ve asked for, like multi-band Racks, overhauled preset navigation, and ARA 2 support for tools like Melodyne. And it’s packed with new goodies: a very Ableton step sequencer, a multi-engine Drum Synth with some nice twists, new effects, a new ambient looper, and more. Also, I know some of you will like this: no mention of AI. It’s like we just get to talk about music-making tools again.

Free Downgrade turns Ableton Live into lo-fi wobbly vaporwave tape

Fidelity? High-quality sound? No – degradation! And if you don’t have a ragged VHS deck or cassette Walkman handy, these free effects racks in Ableton Live will sort you out.

Peter Kirn - April 17, 2019

Ableton Goodies: Free Fairlight CMI Sounds, Skins, Amazing Reverb, and … TETRIS!

Want to relive the sweet sounds of the classic Fairlight instrument, because you love the 80s? Want to reskin Ableton so it doesn’t offend your aesthetic sense or blind you and bathe you in blue light when you’re onstage? Do you want a different reverb from a master sound designer and patcher? Do you just […]

- November 1, 2013

Ableton Goodies: Free volca beats Drum Rack, Drums Smash Effects Rack

- October 29, 2013

Propellerhead Reason 7: External MIDI, Integrated Slicing Get Serious, Overdue Love [Preview]

- March 12, 2013

Reason Opens Its Rack To Developers: Q+A with Propellerhead, What This Means for Plug-ins

Peter Kirn - March 20, 2012

Six Months of Free Ableton Racks, Six Favorites from the Creator

Peter Kirn - September 23, 2011

A Free Sampled Yamaha CP-35 Saves You From Lifting; Handmade Albums Lift You Up

- May 25, 2011

Make Ableton Sing Like a Tuvan Synth, or Bleep like an NES

- May 5, 2011