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Press Release

November 1st, 2002

Ableton announces Live Version 2.0 - Free upgrade to the new version available soon for new users

Berlin, Germany - November 1, 2002 - Ableton, an innovative Berlin-based music software company, announced Live 2.0, a major upgrade of their award-winning sequencing instrument for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and Windows. Users that buy or unlock* Live 1.5 or 1.0 for the first time after November 1, 2002 will be eligible to receive a free (download) upgrade to Live 2.0.

Introduced in 2001 as an audio sequencer to be played like an instrument in live performances, Live was quickly embraced by studio musicians and post production professionals because of the swiftness and ease it provides for executing musical ideas. Live Version 2.0 enhances the performance and jamming features of the original software and adds multi-track recording and editing with Elastic Audio.

Elastic Audio refers to Live 2.0's unique ability to render audio totally elastic. This feature allows tempo to be set at anytime during recording, performance or playback. In addition, users can drop in recordings, loops and complete songs, which will play in sync direct from disk. Live 2.0 makes it possible to synchronize loops and recordings of any length at any point in a session or performance. Time stretching is no longer limited to loops but can now be applied to any audio material. Also, time stretching algorithms have been optimized for rhythmic and melodic material, thus producing cleaner results.

Live 2.0 allows the user to tap tempo during recording and playback. Tempo changes are recordable and editable as a continuous curve. This allows for increased flexibility and creative efficiency in synchronizing, improvising and recording. Making music has never been faster, easier or more fun.

Multitrack recording and editing in Live 2.0 transforms the Arranger View into a full blown multitrack recording and editing suite offering extensive real-time effects, dynamic parameter automation and unlimited undo. Recording can be initiated directly from the Arranger View.

Other new features of Live 2.0 include:

  • Advanced automation handling
  • DJ-like crossfading
  • Relative Session Mapping: assignable scene up/down and track launch buttons
  • Tempo and Transport controls can be mapped to MIDI or keys
  • Presets to save and recall effect settings
  • New effects: Gate and Redux

Pricing and Availability

Live 2.0 will be available online from www.ableton.com and from Ableton dealers worldwide in December 2002 for a MSRP of EUR 399. Upgrades from Live 1.5 will be available online for EUR 89 for the boxed version or EUR 69 for the downloadable version.

About Ableton

Ableton's aim is to support creative people with modern software technology. Since the company started in 1999, more than twenty developers and business professionals have joined Ableton, and many of them are active musicians or DJs. Since the initial release of Live in October 2001, the company has received outstanding press and customer feedback.

* Ableton uses a challenge-response copy protection. When running Live the first time, the user will need to unlock the program.

Free reproduction of this document is permitted. Please send a proof or copy.

Images and the Live 2 Demo Version available from our website: www.ableton.com

For more information, contact:

Ableton
Claudia Weidner, PR
Schönhauser Allee 6/7
D - 10119 Berlin
T: +49-(0)30 288763-211
F: +49-(0)30 288763-11
press@ableton.com
www.ableton.com