Is Ableton Move a must-have Live accessory? Review & developer interview
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- Опубликовано: 9 окт 2024
- After having teased its arrival earlier this month, Ableton has finally unveiled its latest hardware device. Move is a compact controller and instrument that - like the latest version of Ableton’s flagship controller Push - can operate both tethered to Live and as a standalone device, thanks to an onboard CPU and rechargeable battery. But who exactly is it aimed at and is it worth buying?
Move is out now priced at: $449/€449/£399
Read our full Ableton Move review: www.musicradar...
Mentioned in this video:
• Is Ableton Note as clo...
• Can we upgrade Ableton...
In this video:
00:06 - Move demo
00:45 - What is Ableton Move?
02:45 - Ableton interview: Who is Move aimed at, and what can it do?
10:24 - Move demo 2
11:05 - Review: Pros and cons
20:41 - Demo: Controlling Live with Move
22:08 - Verdict: Is Move worth buying?
As someone with many part time jobs and a few pockets of time throughout the day, the portability and sketchability of this unit is god send. I reeeaally would have loved a push style screen with more robust sampling and audio warp modes to make this my centerpiece outside the studio. Truly conflicted
Wow, having all this power in a slim box really works for me. To me as a non-instrumentalist, Push is too overwhelming. Somehow I can understand what Move does in one go and that makes me really want to make music with it.
Great for making your own personal soundtrack to a posh vacation
These plant comments are getting pathetic
@@nobodyhome3753 ???
When has anyone ever seen anyone ‘on the go’ producing music on the bus, in the park etc…I swear it’s an upper middle class myth….its a fantasy that incites GAS.
nobody making music outside unless its for a youtube video but its handy to pack all your gear into 1 bag and move it over to a friends house.
I started urban sketching. And doing art outside gave me the confidence to do music outside. I think more people would do it, but we care what others think of us - and we don't even care for these random people. It is why you see vids of people in the woods making music, they don't like the people watching in the situation but are OK to upload it. We are strange people. But doing art or music outside is a social passport, you have some great encounters.
This is my issue with it as well. Most of the features rely upon the idea that you're going to do what the people in the ads do, and you're just not. It's more like a physical phone app than a cut-down Push. Maybe if they'd at least put the full MPE pads into Push it would be interesting but for this price you could get, say, a Dreadbox Typhon and a Launchkey MK4.
@@chatbury or on the street at night like they're not expecting to get robbed at knifepoint. That said I live in Manchester. Maybe that's ok in Berlin..
Im weird but I do it. I quite often sit on a train for multiple hours on a day and I always pack my laptop + audio interface and Ive made alot of tunes this way.
I keep seeing a cassette portastudio 4 track from 1989 updated for 2025 -> in a good way though, instant workflow
You could record instruments on portastudio. OP-1 is more portastudio. This is not.
@@gepardek you can record audio though via mic or 3.5mm, more sampler like workflow admittedly
@@aliveintech Making little samples in drum racks doesn't make it a portastudio
@@gepardek I'm referring to the ethos of the whole thing rather than it literally being a porta-studio :)
@@aliveintech That dude is just here for an argument. I totally get where you're coming from because I was thinking the same thing. You want to record some guitars? Drum Rack is nothing if not a rack of samplers. I can't wait to get playing with this.
As much as I appreciate this guy's honesty, he really isn't helping sell the Move hahah
Its a Novation circuit, from Berlin
more like half a circuit
@@mathiasrain674 Naah .
with jog wheel😅
After watching this I'm starting to realize that having less clutter and distractions in front of you will be beneficial to just getting in the groove and coming up with ideas. It seems that is what they were after here. "Sketchbook"
True. Since I got Push 3 I hardly use Live or plugins. I just embrace the limitations of that, the lack of all the DAW is liberating. The only thing that I don't like with the Push is the mobility. You can carry it around, but you wouldn't want to carry it all day, or on a bike, on the off chance you get to jam. This solves that for me.
Your comment makes me think they should have gone with Ableton Book and embrace the marketing shenanigans of notebook for all your sketches
It's not the first video where i see that the jack isn't full plugged to the device or i'm seeing it wrong.
Watched a ton of vids now on this thing and this was by the far best. Answered almost every question i had. Thanks guys. Pretty much the only thing i'd still like to know is how deep does the controller mode go? Like for example if i load a compressor can i tweak every parameter with the knobs?
Thanks. Depth of the control is a bit mixed. With devices you get eight assigned parameters (so for example, with the compressor you can control threshold, ratio, compressor type, attack, release, knee, output gain and dry/wet). It’s enough to make adjustments to the main elements of most devices, but not exhaustive. The pain appeal in controller mode is probably as a lightweight playing surface with poly aftertouch pads and a step sequencer.
This makes absolute sense for how I work and is a prayer answered from the gear gods.
I wasn’t convinced but as someone who loves Note as a sketchpad with all of its limitations I’m coming round to the device, the limitations of 4 tracks though is a bit of an issue, but could be a workaround with the ability to play each pad in the drum rack as an instrument
Love the honesty of what this is and what it isnt. Much respect. I like the form factor and portability with the internal battery but since im not an ableton user its probably not for me i wish it had more groovebox functionality and could work better in a live setting.
Cool device, too pricey for what it does imo.
Thanks for clever questions!
I'm not a Live user but really enjoyed Circuit, just never got too much use out of it (aside from enjoying it in the moment) as solo/record is too painful of a workflow for just quick sketches. Being able to export stems easily (eh, i think?) and get them into Maschine or Samplitude etc for further working on seems right up my alley.
this with the push screen and ability to use Mute / sol / arm / select with the pads would have been game changer for me.
My thoughts as well
They already do that product, it's called a Push 3.
@@watercolourmark the push 3 is too big to fit on your desktop as a controller; that's way I'm never getting one. this on the other hand is the perfect size.
They should have omitted the control wheel and added a touch screen in that area. Betweeen that, external storage support, and more tracks, It would have added much more value against their competition as well as provided more room for expansion such as user-selected macro knobs, slides, gesture support, etc.
That’s cool you can send the midi and audio into Live correct?
Appreciate the honest review
really interested in the controller part, close to zero interest in the standalone thing, there is no other option for a live controller with this level of integration in this form factor. Shame. I'd probably pay 250 for this as just a controller (if someone would actually make a deep demo of it)
I’ll buy from reverb at a discount once the new tech luster wears off
You could be jamming out for 6 months rather than save $50. Bad economics.
@@watercolourmark nah, someone WILL buy it, hate it, and sell a perfectly mint unit for 100-125 less. Reasonably priced but I’m cheap lol
@@officialbestkeptsecret - Good luck, but it is very multi functional and relatively cheap. It will take some time before someone says they don't like it for sketching out ideas, taking it to friends for jam, using it as a controller or 2nd controller for Live, use it with Note, take it on a biz trip or holiday in summer.
Theres another thing that is quite a nice size and you can take it anywhere and open it up and make music, its called a laptop
I think thi sis pretty cool, but I'm surprised by the lack of sample slicing... from another video it seems there's a workaround where you could sample something and resample it in chunks to other pad, but that might be clunky and there's no way to edit the slice points. I hope that's something they add in the future.
That’s correct, you could resample in chunks, or load the same loop across multiple pads and manually adjust the start/end points. As you say, hopefully some kind of automated ‘slice to drum rack’ feature might be added in a future update
It’s frustrating cause they could’ve made a fully integrated controller for Ableton note. But instead they made hardware that’s way less powerful than Ableton note.
The portability and enough features to create standalone and also control Live make it an ideal device.
for who tho
@@TheChameleon2008 For anyone (including me) who likes to capture music ideas in different locations and later finish them in Ableton.. Right now I just use apps but a portable hardware device will be so much better.
What is the frequency response of the mic? Is it only for low-fi sampling?
It has an audio input also. So what's the freq response of your mics, that is the question.
Can you Pan L-R each sound you sample with Move ?
very simple sampling + preset player as I understood. same functionality on iphone with the app. no thanks
I’m struggling to see how this is a competitive product, stacked against things like Novation Circuit or Roland MC-101.
Or a Roland SP-404MKII, or a MV-1.
same here.... also no proper midi out
I’ve owned all of those (MC,SP, Circuit 1 and Tracks) - For melodic sequence building and playing it looks a lot more powerful than the MC-101. Compared to the tracks, it’s missing the MIDI, but gains quite a bit of sampling, which although not as powerful as the SP-404mk2, occupies a happy middle ground, for a hundred or so less than the SP and MC, and about $50 more than the circuit.
@@djkanyon I mean, the USB Midi will work though, won't it? What's the big limitation of Midi over USB-A?
@@burtcocain1986 well... most of my other synthesizer do not support usb over midi.... what's the big idea was leaving regular 3.5 jack out of the equation? I don't get it
AUDIO TRACKS - can I record them? for vocals etc. Does it have a preamp on the audio in? (it's less portable if it requires another preamp box)
No audio tracks
no audio tracks but seems like sample memory limited to 64gb so u could record loops and put them in drum track.
Why would they not add the simpler device 🤦🏾♂️ time stretching and chopping?
Yeah you can sample but do nothing with it, so easy to implement, auto chop grid, set start end for each chop, play any chop in scale with time stretch… sounds like these guys have no idea about producing. Just get koala sampler on your phone or iPad and you can go miles beyond this Move thing for 10 bucks. And if you really need pads get a launchpad mini. Anyway this thing have no MPE pads
No time stretch?
Because it would canibalise Push 3. Simple.
@@gepardek no it won’t just add simpler device..
but u can play any of drum samples in chromatic so it makes like 16 sounds simpler? also while sampling (so i believe in resampling) u can make chops by hand so its also possible to slice but in different way. dont know about timestretching exactly, but i remember guy from Tmobile beats mentioned timestretching as option.
Is switching to different sets seamless?
Not having midi means you can’t have it in a dawless setup… they could have had 4 instrument tracks and 4 midi tracks by pressing shift… maybe the mk2 will have these features ?! Novation circuits has midi for cheaper ! Seems like they made this device thinking about push 3 owners who don’t want to take it out of the studio…
yea, at first it seems like a nice device till you dive deeper
It wasn't designed for sequencing synths.
Cant beat the Koala Sampler. Daughter 11 and I went with Koala Sampler and two Android tablets, but have it on our phones too. I mean to be able to sample on the go, while we travel and stuff and compete with each just cant be beat.
i bought SP404mk2 to have Koala sampler controller/audio interface but Move looks like better combo for it
@@bonwowo better in what? i mean.. it can load 6 samples vs 16x10
can u live loop from the audio input on the back?
No. I wish
I wonder if you can hook it up to Live and trigger scenes as in a live application..
Yes you can
We'll watch the video for you, yes.
@@watercolourmark Well, it seemed like it, as it said it would work when it is hooked up to a computer. I was just double checking. It was a lot about editing functions and ways to create which I am less interested in. I just need a simple device to trigger scenes.
@@norenttv_ Thank you.
wish it was more focused on M4L integration & all the generative midi stuff. feels to me like a lowest common denominator kinda device. want to make "beats" while you wait for your chai latte? we got you covered. alas, I'm in the minority I reckon. no biggie, just not the target audience. nice review guys :)
You're not in the minority. There are people who really like the idea of making music on the go, but I don't think they are a majority and they are overrepresented among content creators.
it would be great to have possibility to add max4live devices:) but im worried its rather not in plans for Move
I was thinking this would be a killer device if it has M4L, as it could be anything. Obviously M4L would need to be custom but it would be great. Sadly it is Arm based so I guess it will never happen. But they have RNBO.
I love it!
Quick question guys - can’t find it on the specs. When plugged into a laptop as a controller for live does it function as an audio interface?
It does, yes. It's worth noting though that there's only one 3.5mm audio output, so it's not ideal for hooking up to monitors, etc.
@@MusicRadarTech hey thanks. Thats all I need 👍🏻
@@MusicRadarTech you could use an audio splitter cable
@@fxdaly An audio splitter from a 3.5mm to drive monitors? No.
is the whole soundengine based on samples or is there also real synthesis in it, like i can manipulate in ableton live ?
The synth sounds come from Live’s Drift and Wavetable synths. When you open a Move project in Live you get full access to the synths themselves
@@MusicRadarTech ok so the move itself does not offer manipulating the synthesis.
@@eta-fc1dx- You have 8 preset knobs to tinker the preset, and inputting presets from Live is an update away.
@@watercolourmark ya sure, the question was for me if there is synthesis in it like in live so...
@@eta-fc1dx - It can be done, just not implemented, maybe in an update
I hope this has 808 and 909 samples.
If not, you can load your own samples
can midi be work with elektron digitakt or octatrack?
Yes it can control other midi hardware
The USB-A output will send MIDI to anything that can receive MIDI over USB, so in theory yes, but we haven't tested this with an Electron device specifically yet
so you are just supposed to remember what all 8 encoders do? seems like a missed op to include some kinda mini info screen above/below
If you touch any of the encoders the screen changes to display the relevant parameter info, so it's easy to keep track of
Oh so they're touch sensitive? Good to know
In the running for a straight to Bad Gear release.
Such a miss. What were they thinking?! 😬
Lets talk about what it isnt 😂😂 well to be fair it isnt much 😢
too bad Ableton didnt embrace limitation when they priced this
Like for King Gizzard
£100 too expensive
Great another OP-1 thingy....
I was hoping for moving faders...
It's more Roland MC-101 territory imho. OP-1 thingy can record stems at last and loop audio.
I pity your Secret Santa.
for the low price of 799.99🤣
Oh wow, is that what thing goes for!? I was thinking like 200 bucks. Oh I see 449 US dollars.
That’s still a lot I was hoping for 299 at best your talking close to 500 , you can get a used digitakt for that , too bad they didn’t put a SD card to load your own sounds maybe Move 2
@@georgerivera7193- It has WiFi and a 64gb harddrive - you just can't please everyone with limited features.
Think I'll stick with my 404 Mk2
404 runs laps around this one... even the p6 not even worth it now that you have great apps on mobile device that you can pair with the 404 makes it a all round beast
What synth engines do you get on the 404
Word, Bill.... this is not even discussable, next to any Roland SP!
Wow, sadly this is a let down.
Right? I would rather just buy another OP-1 Field or an iPhone with GarageBand on it. Both are better looking and have even more capabilities than this.
But… are they as fast at grooving?
@@robertjamesonmusic- If you are spending that sort of money you could get a Push 3, and wouldn't need to pretend.
Overpriced Ableton. Not suprised. Get an ipad mini and drambo. Costs less than this lol.
...for that making music on a coffee table feel. It's an expressive tactile instrument and not a computer.
This is a bust… 4 tracks limit? No sample slicing? Tiny screen?
Who asked for this???
They already released what you are asking for. It's called Push (3)
Are you too poor for the Push 3?
@@Johnny-Hash Push 3 is too big to be portable.
@@billB101 Then make beats on your phone?
@@Johnny-Hash I have a 404 mk2 thanks.
When we will see a company create a normal product? All companies throw a product that has 5 things and misses 10 more. The current industry state for grooveboxes and samplers is like a joke from god itself. The one machine has portability but doesnt have screen. The other has screen but its small. You get a notmal screen but limited sample size. I think that the only company that goes a little bit better is Akai.
That tiny screen is an abomination. This POS just convinced me to buy a Push 3
Maybe that is their move (no pun intended). Be underwhelmed to buy Push 3
@@gepardek Ha! Maybe
You can literally have mine. Replacing it with the move. Push 3 is not ergonomic and doesn’t fit well on a desk.
Total cod
So underwhelming... just make that f-ing mixer people actually want..
I don’t want an mixer
Watch this go on to become a cult classic.
Why do we need a mixer?
Huh why do you want a mixer
@@HammyHavocall hate and skepticism aside: why would it? Push3 already exists. This is just a trimmed down version of it.
looks like any generic midi controller these days
Its standalone capabilities are definitely the main selling point. It's handy as a controller, but if you only want to control Live, you can get more for your money elsewhere
@@MusicRadarTech One advantage of this over any other controller seems to be the mix of pads and encoders. Launchpads don't have any and the faders on the APC64 seem to get a mixed reaction. I imagine the sequencer on the Launchpad is a bit more intuitive maybe though? The more I read the manual though, seems like it can do quite a bit. For example "Hold the Delete button and tap an encoder to delete the automation for the corresponding parameter." That's pretty nifty, especially since this is v1.
Not in this form factor you can't
Yes I'm yearning for a small desktop controller with encoders and a few pads, and a nice interface with a screen. Novation has something with their keylaunch mk4 but sadly it comes with a keyboard attached (a shitty keyboard I might add for the smqller version)
No probability no go for me
No probability in more ways than one for you
As usual with your videos, the lack of chapters and the constant shots of your faces - rather than the gear - is super frustrating. You're not the focus here lads!
Nope
Another device to keep musicians stuck in 1/2/4 bar loops.
What about an arranger option in standalone hardware to map out songs??
If you have a Push 3, this is a pass. IMO this is aimed at a new generation of young kids, Especially trying to convert FL studio users to the Ableton platform in general.
Move is like a clone of Roland’s Verselab, but with better sampling but more limited sound/preset options.
Elektron’s workflow is the bench mark. Although more expensive, a Digitakt MK1 or MK2 paired with either a Syntakt or Digitone is the ultimate workflow for either pattern (session view) or linear view (Song mode) composing.
The Move workflow can easily be created as a template on Ableton Live and ported over to Push 3 for those who already have a Push3, if users want to work on a limited yet creative workflow of 4 tracks and limited effects if they want to.
It’s definitely more desk friendly than push.
lame.
L