What's on your wish list for the Push 3? If you want to check out some of my music - instagram.com/pink.buddha.music

amazing review, thank you bringing in all these perspectives

Shift and record will capture the arrangement. when you put the project back into ableton the arrangement will be there.

Some very good points here.

Nice roundup! I mostly agree on the wishlist. I’d like an arranger as well, but it just looks like the main selling point here is live performance - and it might be best in class in that regard. (And also the reason I’m getting one)

"Live score to Monty Python" - beyond the double entendre, I did a double take to be sure I'd heard that right, haha! Nicely done... if this is the kind of fun stuff happening in Portland, it sure is tempting to relocate there some day!

Still considering getting Push 3 for live performances, but I always keep an eye on videos like this. I will wait a bit. Before getting Akai Force I thought it would replace my Circuit, but it turned out that workflow is not jam-friendly. Lack of tempo changes, weird Ableton project import (but at least it has something, no need to re-build project from the scratch), some stupid audio/midi track limitations. The good thing is that it has PLENTY of performance controls, and that's a pure win. It works for me at the moment, but Push 3 seems more convenient, as I will save so much table space by consolidating 2 things into 1 :D

I‘m personally really enjoying the Push 3 Standalone. Never have been more creative with a piece of gear. It’s helping me get more value of my other gear too. Lots of interesting compatible Maxforlive showing up more and more every week.

You got some good points

Isn’t it Push 3 standalone about the same weight as an Akai Force (which needs external power)? I’m trying to decide between the two. MPE looks amazing but scared of no arranger view for composing and recording songs (with vocals and guitars), hence currently stuck with MPC.

Hi mate, wondering if you know it has midi 2.0 for when ableton decides to bting it in? Cheers

What about changing tempo / time signature per scene in session mode? Akai force cant do it can push3 standalone do it? (Not talking about control mode and a computer)

Hold Shift and press the Rec button and it will record in Arrangement 😉

Ahhhh I'm conflicted between a push 3 and the force. I can spend $2k, but I don't want to, specially when I can get a force for $2k. I just got a Circuit Tracks and love how easy it is to sit with it on the sofa and compose (sketch) a song. It feels like when I sit on the piano or on the sofa with my guitar and just compose or jam. The issue is that the Circuit is too limited; too few synth tracks (only two). However, I love messing with the Circuit Tracks. I mainly use the pads as a step sequencer or to input melodies bc I'm a terrible finger drummer. Anyways, what would you recommend between force and the push 3?

Hey buddy, long time no talk! Hope all is well. Nice video by the way! Quick question 🙋🏽‍♂️ does the push 3 standalone have a built in visual parametric EQ? Im Curious 🤨 Second question 🙋🏽‍♂️ do u have to be connected to the computer 💻 to load samples into the push standalone?

I’ve been enjoying mine for a few weeks now but I think that as a standalone unit, it will need an arranger. I really hope they add one. I also use Maschine+ and the arranger on that is fantastic and really makes the unit feel standalone. My other hope is that they integrate some kind of tag based browsing for sounds; scrolling through a list of 500 bass sounds is tedious work! Also, I can’t seem to work out how to save a chain preset, only the individual instruments….

If you look at the updates from push 2 release to when push 3 were released, this is pretty much all your going to get and any update with be a fix rather than a massive addition or something it just should have in standalone. When you compare the force to the push 3, you realize that a lot of your wishlist could have been implemented but wasn’t. Meaning that the functionality exist as a standalone device already. Kind of like buying a sampler and only being able to import samples on an SD card. I’ve always wanted a push but just felt like the functionality was never truly standalone or even “no need to look at the screen” like the live software or even maschine in most cases.

I agre with the wish list for racks. Another is to be able to map LFO/modulation to parameters. I feel like a shift function and key combo could do this. Maybe shift+something then use the touch knob to pick the modulation route for LFO, or something like that. I don't know, I feel like this would be a great option. Also for Macros. I don't even need arrangement mode. Just these sorts of things.

Is it anymore usable than the push 2 in a brighter room or outside? With push 2 you can’t see a damn thing, especially outside.

What type of non-volatile memory to use for the system and host the firmware? Flash, eMMC, ROM?

Launch quantisation is already available in beta

Cool vid. Can standalone push 3 do power electronics? Merzbow, etc. ? I’ve tried a while back with push 2 and it was kinda boring to interact with. Op1 field is way more fun, but they need some updating on the behavior of it, so I’m looking for the perfect box.

How's the pad brightness (when plugged into A/C) compared to Push 2?

Hi Pink Buddha, is the Push 3 still worth it in June 2024?

Pink Buddha Academy - Hey! What's an update on your feeling about Push 3. If you still have it, it will be six months. Very curious! Thanks.

I use Launchpad Pro MK3 and I think it still has a better sequencer. I was waiting for the premiere of Push3 and was very disappointed, especially with the price. And secondly, I was disappointed with the screen, why isn't it twice as big and why isn't it touchscreen? this doesn't make sense to me. MPE is definitely a great idea, but it is very heavy on the computer and when I use MPE sounds on Launchpad it starts to crash. I don't know what it's like on Push3, or is the CPU load too high?

What about bining the 64 pads into 16 large pads to make the play space larger for finger dumming

I’m very ‘meh’ on the Push 3. I have a Push 2 that barely gets any use since I bought my Launchpad Pro. The Push 3 just doesn’t offer anything compelling for my workflow I guess.

On the top of my wishlist for Ableton and the Push is a chord mode where I can just mix and match chords according to my ear without knowing the theory.

Pink Buddha Academy - Great review. The sheer weight defeats the "making music anywhere," argument which is NOT Ableton's 'fault,' indeed it's no one's fault. (I'm speaking of standalone version). Also, even in say a Vancouver, WA Starbucks, LOL, if you're there for some reason recording music (LOL) can you chance going to the bathroom with something at this price point? Clip view is awesome 100%. P.S. A hub can have intermittent problems; mine did (not on Push but with regard to Ableton generally). Finally, if folks aren't sold on MPE pads which was the killer app on this thing, huh..?

Jamming live to Monty Python is beyond genius 😂👌subbed as soon as I saw that

I wish Push3 had a bigger (touch) screen and more USB ports. Also possibilities to record (sample), like AKAI Force.

Thanks for the nice video. +1 on max4live compatibility and MIDI learn. Please! I still cannot find a way to assign specific tempo and time signature to a scene, I'd love to have that on stand alone mode. (correct me if it already exists) I REALLY REALLY would love to be able to create macros on the push, that would be so amazing... I imagine it could be easily implemented like the matrix in the wavetable device, Whenever you touch a parameter, a button turns into "add to matrix" If that could be done for the macros by a buton turning into "add to macros" My two cents on the pads: I get what you are saying about the pads when it comes to finger drumming, however, I strongly feel that these pad are way more designed for playing instruments. Especially if you are an experienced guitar or keyboard player, the xyz throw of each pad is plenty!

Which is more satisfying to you overall..Push 3 or Akai Force? I have a Akai Force but want the Push 3. Been holding my breath that Akai would give the Force a software companion, but I'm blue in face now on the thought. Does the Push 3 workflow feel like the Force without a touch screen?

Here's what I would love you to do in your One Year Later review: 1. Using this device as a standalone groovebox. The whole hip-hop/MPC/sampling community has been in an uproar about this device as a possible MPC-killer and you're not even touching on this use of the Push 3? Are you kidding me? That's just a big opportunity loss IMO. I'll bet that every top hip-hop producer would take notice if you would really deep dive into this. People are literally dying atm for this "Can my Push 3 replace my MPC" (not the Force) -kind of content. Heck, even I bought an MPC Live 2 a while ago because there was simply not a Push 3 out yet. 2. Having said that: Ableton venturing into standalone makes the Push 3 pretty much a Gen 1 device for me. So atm, I'm not expecting it to be a good standalone groovebox. One year down the line though, this could be very different with all the firmware upgrades and especially the Max4Life support. It's especially the latter that can endlessly expand the potential of this device as a standalone. So be sure to keep an eye on that.

The cons seem like a deal breaker for me

I've really enjoyed mine but the lack of features is starting to get to me. No midi-in means my eurorack jam becomes a real pain with it, but it's still really good and I'm glad I bought it. They've also already fixed some serious bugs that I ran into.

Good thoughts, thanks for sharing them. You're clearly already an Ableton user and you're using the Push for live performances, so your needs are going to be very different from mine. But they were still useful in de-GASing a bit. 😊 I'm looking at this as a potential grown-up version of a groovebox. Having used both Elektron hardware (with the Syntakt currently being my favorite) and the modern MPCs, my assumption is that the Push 3 would provide a more seamless flow from ideation/sketching, through basic arrangement (recording a live performance is fine), to the final mixing phase. I found that whole process to be clunky on the MPC and when it comes to finishing the job on the computer, the MPC software is lackluster at best. But the reality is I haven't ever used Ableton, so this would mean switching DAW too, which is both an added cost and time investment. So it just seems like maybe it's not worth it for me, but I'm still intrigued by the idea. 🤔

With potential upgrades and firmware, this machine is lite years ahead of the others, I'm not a standalone guy. I will be upgrading to the Push3

I feel you on this. The Push 3 is nice. But for me it’s not 1000 bucks or even 2000 bucks nice. Way to underpowered in its caps from the first push Oberrad. So many missed opportunities with this device

Which M4L devices are you missing? Unfortunately Ableton is not making this really attractive so far for M4L developers as I explain here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bJiJlbpyxqzdnmw.html

JAJAJAJAJAJAAAAA....Animo con alegrias...very good...a hacer bonitas canciones...

There are more layouts than those two. I think you should spend more time using the push. It was in both pervious pushes. I have owned both albeit I gave my push 1 away to my friend earlier in the year.

Mpe is cool, if you have the extra money go for it, but if you own a push 2 already there‘s no need for an „upgrade“ imo.

S..t Push 1 is still the best, even though the materials used is crap, still thats just technology.. esthetics takes precedence over durability and quality...

Very informative , but the real question is… where did you get your shirt? 8😂8

I kind of already thought these same things about the push when it came out but also had those thoughts about all the possibilities... but they lied about the CPU.. it's not a CPU change it's a mini computer change which will have to be specifically built by them so yes you can up grade but through their own company not on your own experiment. As for the functions of the standalone, it is great if you have a hardware setup and only use the basically live functions of Ableton with it... otherwise you aren't getting much from the standalone... and only getting improved latency from not going into a computer complicated computer OS in performance... but that much improvement? Maybe just it being a simple setup only for the live aspect is is real drawn. I myself just love it as a controller and love the NPE functions and find it a little bit more responsive in the pads when used as a normal controller like it was. I myself would not upgrade to a standalone until they bring out future upgrades. At the moment I find it a bit like using a FORCE but with slight more compatibility but without a time line song mode and AKAI is yet to bring out a new rendition of that yet. I would hope if they did, on top of being able to connect a multi channel interface or digital mixer they would allow multi-track recording. We all want a DAWless setup that does everything a DAW can. The price of this thing is also way too high... they probably appreciate companies like Teenage Engineering for making anything look like better value lol

Apart from the shocking price (which doesn’t even include a Live license) the Push3 has a few major drawbacks. It cannot be considered a serious standalone device without an arrangement functionality. Of course you can do performances without an arranger, but you can’t write songs. I guess that functionality will probably be added at some point in the future, as it is a clear gaping hole in the Push 3 capabilities. The inability to connect an audio interface is frankly bizarre. There is of course ADAT, but nobody apart from professional studios uses that. An insane choice by Ableton.

There's always a gotcha with this gear. But you never find out what most of them are until you've lived with it for a while.

I'm on the fence

Live, it’s called Live

force is best

Just moved from a force/mpc, man am I missing the standalone chopping. So many limited features, the Force/mpc is way more mature as a standalone product. I’m not even a Live fanboy.. Seriously thinking of going back. Gas regrets.. lol. The retrospective record works a lot better on the push, the warping is a lot cleaner, but this thing is unusable to write songs with in standalone.

Im so glad I cancelled my order. The amount of friction in the workflow is debilitating.

still? It's still a new product ffs 😂

So many things it doesn't do that Live does on the Mac. For me this is overpriced, limited and over hyped product. Would never buy.

Way, way to expensive for what it does.

2 hour battery,no arranger,the price,standalone is useless..

Narcissistic is about having many layers of abusive qualities, please don't use the word in a down played manor. The form of narcissism of thinking one is special is all about the context of how one thinks they are special... it's more of a 4 year old mentality that they never grown out of so will often lie even though they know you know they are lying but will do so even then... will torment you even if you are silent because they know you are suffering even when not reacting... the word is for a deeply abusive character. Some don't even think the world revolves around them they are just simply in denial... like a kid that gets caught with their hand in the cookie jar and says "no I'm not" when the evidence is as plan as day. And more so than anything else will control how people see you. If you are here giving a honest opinion that is your own how can you refer to it as being narcissistic unless you want to down play the thermology or simply do not know?