Ableton Archive

back to ableton.com

Press Release

January 15th, 2004

ABLETON SHOWS LIVE 3 AT WINTER NAMM 2004

Live 3 enables producers to "enter the sample" like never before in yet another Ableton audio sequencing breakthrough

Anaheim, California - January 15, 2004 - Ableton is excited to show Live 3, a new upgrade of their award-winning sequencing instrument for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and Windows at the Winter NAMM Convention in Anaheim, California on January 15-18, 2004. The Ableton booth is located within the M-Audio booth in Hall A (booth #6700).

Where previous versions of Live provided the revolutionary ability to easily and cohesively mix and match samples of any tempo and pitch, Live 3 is the first integrated audio sequencing tool that also gives users control "inside" of the sample. Live 3 offers sound designers and musicians a whole new world in which they can easily and flexibly animate their samples. In Live 3, changes in volume, pitch, pan, mix, and effects controls can be drawn onto any section of a sample as clip envelopes-thus adding unlimited dynamic musical expression to previously static samples. Whether you are looking to make subtle corrections or entirely new and exciting sounds, Live 3 further empowers musicians to create infinite variations from a single sample -non-destructively and in real-time.

"We are very proud to release the first audio sequencer that will allow you to 'get into the loop'," says Ableton CEO and founder Gerhard Behles. "As we know, making music with samples and loops is fast and fun. But it can sound static when loops repeat continuously. Live 3 puts an end to this problem by allowing you to draw volume, panning, pitch and effect curves onto extended instances of a single sample. You can vary every other instance of a loop, every fourth measure, or any other repetition you choose. Combine this ability with Live's arsenal of effects (as well as VST plug-ins), and Live becomes the sample re-synthesizer of your dreams."

Live 3's key new features include:

  • Clip Envelopes: Clip envelopes allow musicians to create endless variations of any single sample. This technology implements Live's "elastic" approach to audio by extending Live's mix automation to the sample level. Every clip (loop or sample) in Live 3 features independent envelopes to draw pitch, volume, warping, mixer and effects automation both non-destructively and in real-time.
  • MIDI Key Mapping and Velocity Sensitivity: In conjunction with Live's beat-synchronized playback and real-time quantization, your MIDI keyboard becomes a powerful song arrangement aid and performance tool. Improvise new melodies over vocal phrases or spoken passages, or play variations of an instrumental solo on the fly-and capture it all in the Arrangement for further editing. With MIDI key mapping, velocity sensitivity, and the new Legato Mode, Live 3 -the musical instrument- is realized.
  • Four New Ableton Effects: Resonators: A creative vocoder-like harmony creation tool. EQ Three: A DJ-style EQ with high, mid, and low frequency kills. Compressor II: A sophisticated compressor with built-in side chain EQ. Utility: A handy channel tool for enhanced panning, stereo phase, and signal gain control.
  • VST Plug-In Improvements: Live 3 now allows simultaneous multiple VST Plug-in editor windows and VST Plug-in preset save and recall handling. Mach-O VST Plug-in support for Mac OS X is also included.
  • Improved Clip Settings and Features: Clips can now be set individually to play from RAM instead of from disk. Also, you can now easily replace any sample -while retaining all of the clip's creative settings- via simple drag and drop. Other enhancements include, increased clip volume and transposition ranges, clips in Session View continue playing even while being dragged to other clip slots and all clip Launch Modes are now available for the computer keyboard.

Live 3 Pricing and Availability

Live 3 for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and Windows is currently available in stores worldwide and via the Ableton web shop at www.ableton.com for EUR/USD 399 (MSRP). Upgrades from previous versions of Live are available online at www.ableton.com. Upgrades from LIVE 2.x are EUR/USD 69 for the download version and EUR/USD 99 for the boxed version. Upgrades from Live 1.x are EUR/USD 99 for the download version and EUR/USD 129 for the boxed version.

About Live

Live is the real-time audio production solution that eliminates the boundaries between composition, performance, recording and sound design. In Live, you can easily combine loops, phrases and songs from diverse origins, as well as create music on the fly, without being bound to a fixed timeline. Live also allows you to improvise song arrangements, instantly drop samples on cue, interact with other performers, musicians or DJs, and record multi-track audio or real-time loops. You can also instantly change the tempo, melody, groove and sonic signature of your sounds at any time. Live is the first compositional and performance tool that enables you to enter your samples and work 'from within' to create endless variations. Live combines all of these possibilities in a simple and friendly environment that allows your creativity to flow without limitations.

About Ableton

Ableton's aim is to develop modern software technology that empowers and inspires creative people. Since the company started in 1999, more than twenty developers and business professionals have joined Ableton-many of them active musicians or DJs. The company has received outstanding press and customer feedback since the launch of Live in October 2001.

Images and Live Demo Version available on our website: www.ableton.com

For more information, contact:

Europe North
Claudia Weidner
Ableton Public Relations
Schönhauser Allee 6/7
10119 Berlin, Germany
ph: +49-(0)30 288763-211
fax: +49-(0)30 288763-11
press@ableton.com
www.ableton.com
Northern America and UK
Dave Hill Jr.
Public Relations
Ableton
Schönhauser Allee 6/7
D - 10119 Berlin, Germany
ph: 917-459-3488
dave@ableton.com
www.ableton.com