Live 9 Suite from Ableton is a solid update to the company's "think different" DAW software that is particularly popular with electronic and beat making creators. Two GUI views include a traditional, vertical-track display with time moving from left to right (Arrangement View), while the 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 top of the line version includes 9 instruments, 40 effects, over 3,000 sounds, along with Max for Live with its 24 Instruments and effects and further access to over 900 devices.

Aside from the particular way of presenting the creative process, the software also includes standard features such as unlimited multi-track recording with up to 32-bit/192 kHz resolution 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.

Max for Live is based on cycling74's Max 6 software and comes with a collection of instruments, effects, and tools. Users can create custom versions along with the ability to access more devices from a community of artists who share their creations. Every Max for Live device is ready to use and can also be edited and customized to suit specific needs. Each device includes an edit button, which when engaged, displays how it was constructed and allows for further modification. Additionally, Max for Live comes with a collection of Live's native interface elements that allows for building devices that look and feel like Live.

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 clips
Create new Session View scenes from Arrangement tracks with a single click, or drag and copy individual clips from Arrangement to Session

Browser
        Find sounds fast via 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 frequency of previous use
        Store sounds and Packs on any hard drive, or 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 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 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 stretch markers
        Hold a modifier while dragging to create and edit curves in automation envelopes



Max for Live
Collection of instruments, effects, and tools, with more available from artists who share their Max for Live creations
Create custom synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, and audio effects
Create other tools to do exactly what's needed
Edit button displays how a device was constructed and provides for further modification
Includes Live's native interface elements for building devices that look and feel just like Live
Change how Live works by building devices that modify Live, including the properties of tracks, clips, and native devices
Includes tools for modifying the way controllers and other hardware interact with Live, such as common MIDI controllers, multi-touch surfaces, and even "non-musical" tools like video cameras - turn pad controllers into step sequencers, trigger video from drum pads, and much more
Based on the latest version of Max 6 software from cycling74

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 1,100 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

        Thirty-seven 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
        Multicore/multiprocessor support
        WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC file support