Live 9 Intro from Ableton is an update to the company's "think different" DAW software that is particularly popular with electronic and beat making creators. The Intro version contains all the basic features of the Standard and Suite versions, but with limited audio and MIDI track counts and fewer effects and sounds. It does retain the two GUI views that include a traditional, vertical-track display with time moving from left to right (Arrangement View), while Session View is a place for experimentation that provides room for improvising, playing and performing with musical ideas without the constraints of the timeline.

The software allows for up to 32-bit/192 kHz resolution audio recording with nondestructive editing and unlimited undo. Essential automatic plug-in delay compensation is available, along with multiple automation lanes and track freezing for conserving DSP. Warping and real-time, time-stretch processing can be applied to any clips, and unlimited instruments, audio effects and MIDI effects can be utilized per project.

MIDI sequencing, remote control instant mapping, and MIDI output to hardware MIDI devices allows the software to play a central role in any studio situation. New in Live 9 is an audio-to-MIDI functionality that can extract musical ideas from samples, or convert drum-breaks with the Drums-to-MIDI feature and reuse them with custom sounds. MIDI clock synchronization and ReWire ensures that the software functions with external hardware and software.

Virtual instruments and effects are included for composing and editing audio tasks. The software supports multi-core and multiprocessor computer configurations, and includes support for WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC file formats. The software functions under both Mac and Windows operating systems.

What's New in Ableton 9

    Automation

        Record parameter changes directly into Session View
        Edit automation with curves
        Edit automation curves with the mouse to create smooth mix transitions or radical parameter changes in your clips
        Create new Session View scenes from your Arrangement tracks with a single click, or drag and copy individual clips from Arrangement to Session



    Browser

        Find sounds fast with a new browser
        Browser puts all instruments and effects, samples, Packs and VST/Audio Units plug-ins into a single easy-to-navigate view
        Drag and drop folders into the browser from anywhere on the computer
        Search while typing, navigate from the keyboard, and sort items by various categories
        Browse by type with samples, devices, presets, and VST/Audio Units plug-ins all available from the same view
        View items by how frequently they were used in the past
        Store sounds and Packs on any hard drive, even multiple drives
        Instant preview of all Ableton Packs



    Effects

        Analog-modeled Glue Compressor and redesigned studio effects
        Glue Compressor modeled on a classic 80's console bus compressor, both for its sound and also to provide musical results with a simple set of controls
        Studio effects (compressor, gate and EQ Eight) have been improved with new displays and enhanced controls and sound
        EQ Eight includes a breakout display, an Audition mode for soloing frequencies, an analog-style adaptive Q option, and improved filters



    Audio-to-MIDI
        Extract musical ideas from samples and then build upon them
        Convert drum-breaks with the Drums-to-MIDI feature and reuse them with custom sounds
        Speed up remixing work by using Harmony-to-MIDI to get the notes and chords from the original audio stems
        Sketch out ideas quickly by singing (or beatboxing) into Live and converting the recording into MIDI
        Sing, beatbox, tap a rhythm, or play any solo instrument to capture musical ideas as they come and then use the Melody- or Drums-  to-MIDI feature to turn the recordings into MIDI clips that can edited and reused with any sound



    Editing
    MIDI note manipulation tools and an improved editing workflow aid in creating new musical ideas quickly
    Invert, reverse, transpose and speed up or slow down selected MIDI notes in a single click
    MIDI Note Stretch markers let you speed up, slow down, or even reverse selected MIDI notes
    Add or remove breakpoints with a single click
    Hover the mouse near envelope segments to select and drag them without using a modifier
    Editing grids are now "sticky," allowing notes to be freely moved and resized while still snapping when close to grid lines
    Warp clip automation alongside the audio
    Envelopes in MIDI clips can be stretched using MIDI stretch markers
    Hold a modifier while dragging to create and edit curves in automation envelopes

Features

    Recording and Editing

        Software that allows for creating ideas and making changes without stopping using two project windows
        Arrangement View uses the traditional track-style convention where time moves from left to right, while tracks are stacked vertically
        Session View is a sketchpad for improvising, playing and performing with musical ideas, without the constraints of the timeline
        Freely and independently start and stop any number of audio or MIDI loops while everything stays in sync
        Almost everything works in real-time - add, reorder or remove devices, play with track routing and more, all without interrupting the creative flow



    Instruments and Sounds

        Includes a collection of instruments, sounds, kits and loops for creating any kind of music
        Three instruments
        Devices including FM and physical modeling synthesis as well as sampling
        Classic analog drum machines, one-shot samples and multi-sampled acoustic drum kits
        Over 700 Sounds including vintage synthesizers, acoustic instruments and combinations of sampling, effects and synthesis
        Variety of audio and MIDI patterns ready to use, covering everything from 60's Soul and Hip Hop to Electronica



    Effects

        Nineteen audio effects
        Wide selection of audio processors, from the classic to the unique
        Seven MIDI effects
        Includes devices to rearrange, constrain or randomize MIDI notes for creating endless variations



    Integrating External Hardware

        Use external hardware synthesizers or effects units as if they were plug-ins, via the software's
        External Instrument and External Audio Effect devices
        Create custom racks
        Racks allow for combining multiple instruments and effects into a single device
        Each of the eight Macro knobs can be mapped to any number of parameters in a Rack, allowing for customized controls



    VST and Audio Units

        Use VST or Audio Units instruments and effects alongside Live's native devices



    Controllers

        Works with any MIDI controller with instant mapping available for the most popular ones
        Control Live with your iOS or Android device using third-party software
        Flexible MIDI and keyboard mapping
        Map MIDI knobs, sliders, and buttons or a computer keyboard to almost every control in Live



    General

        Unlimited multi-track recording up to 32-bit/192 kHz
        Nondestructive editing with unlimited undo
        MIDI sequencing of software and hardware instruments
        Warping and real-time time-stretching
        Unlimited Instruments, Audio effects and MIDI effects per project
        Group tracks
        Time signature changes
        Multiple automation lanes
        Track Freeze
        Automatic plug-in delay compensation
        MIDI remote control instant mapping
        MIDI output to hardware synthesizers
        MIDI Clock/sync
        ReWire
        Video import and export
        Multicore/multiprocessor support
        WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC file support