The competition - Akai

@BOOM BAP XL
Push 2 seems interesting to me, not so much for the sampling aspect of it but the Daw/instrument aspect of it. Did you use Ableton before you got Push 2, if not how difficult was the adjustment to learn a new Daw. Which version of Ableton would you suggest getting with it (intro, standard, full suite)?

 

Unfortunatly I had to learn Ableton from scratch (and still am). It's not for every one, and I had to wrap my head around a few concepts before things finally clicked. I'd advise using the demo to see what you think. I actually *briefly* tried to use Ableton several years ago (before Push arrived) but didn't like it (ie the above mentioned concepts didn't click with me) and so reverted back to Maschine. However, with Push 2 I've decided to try again and stick with it. It's definatly much more deeper but one of Maschines strengths was it's simplicity (for better or worse)

With Push 2, you get Live Intro which is enough for me to get going with. I've decided to start using the Trial version of the Suite which gives you 30 days. (After, it will revert me back to Intro)

 

Thanks for the info.

 

@jonespnice ableton has session view which you'll probably be able to get your head round quite quickly, after coming from the striped down, wonky version that maschine offers.
It's routing is superior, and resampling on a par... With push2 it makes a very powerful combination, but still doesn't match maschine when it comes to duplicating pads....
But it's close, and has a lot of extra stuff which make up for its losses... Just know to utilise it fully you WILL be using the mouse a lot more...

 

Thanks, it does seems interesting and I know Ableton has alot of great features but the big deterrent is the huge learning curve, not only will I have to learn Push 2 but also Ableton, and it seems like the older I get the more I hate reading manuals. I'll give it some time and see if any of my friends pick one up and go from there.

 

you might check on facebook to see if there is an ableton user group near you. they are usually run by ableton certified trainers and have monthly meetups. it's a great way to meet people that can help you.

 

Good idea Spazoo, thanks.

 

To date, Push 2 isn't close to the level of integration we have with Maschine and MPC Touch controllers and their respective software. I just sold Push 2 because of this. While Live is a full featured DAW and has more features than Maschine and the MPC Software. But this advantage will soon disappear. The one advantage Live had was its time stretch and pitch shifting. The MPC is projected to have the same feature, using the same algorithm later this year.

 

the same algorithm is not the same as the application of the algorithm though, although I wish akai's use would be identical in every way, have you heard whether or not within a 'loop' one will be able to manipulate the warp markers like you can in ableton and bitwig? If so this would be monumental!

 

So it's not as good of a product as the videos would lead you to believe? It seems to me, as a person that hasn't tried it yet, that it could suffer from doing too many things and possibly being too convoluted.

 

ableton live is too much for some people. but it's not convoluted. it makes a lot of sense once you learn it. of course push 2 doesn't come close to the level maschine integration. ableton live has much more capability than maschine. it can't all be mapped to a controller. nor should it be. some features are better with a mouse. selecting notes, drawing automation, drag and drop, etc. imho mixing is done better with faders, not encoders/knobs.

 

the only thing it isn't is convoluted, on the other hand it's exceptional. Did you see the last video I posted in the push 2 thread?
forgive that guy for talking so much and try to absorb the workflow.

 

Exactly

 

I just watched the video and you're right convoluted is not the correct word, it does seem simple enough. I hear nothing but good things about Ableton Live but being a Reaper user I would imagine there is a big learning curve, I've always liked how Ableton handles clips. One thing that stood out on the video was that there seemed to be alot of button pushing and knob turning to do different things and it seemed to appear a little slow, it could have been that the guy was doing things slowly so that he could explain things more effectively, regardless it still looks impressive. I said it before we are living in the best time for music technology for software and hardware and it will only get better.

 

I WILL KEEP THIS!!!

 

If you are a die-hard Live user...I would say without question that you should be on the Push 2. It is as good as what you see in the videos. My issue is what is not shown in the videos.

My problem is I was expected the level of control I get from using an MPC or Maschine controller. It is not there yet IMO. But the latest Live beta has implemented one of my simple feature requests...something basic that Maschine and the MPC could do out the gate. Simpler pads know act more like Maschine sound slots and an MPC Pad layer.

 

I have every confidence that Akai will make it work like the leading competitors at a minimal and perhaps go above that. The specific Live feature you are talking about is in pretty much every DAW today. Live doesn't hold any advantages as far as I can tell.

I currently use Logic X's Flextime for warping. My workflow includes:
1. Sampling and truncating no the MPC
2. Loading this sample into Logic
3. Adding warp markers and nudge elements of my loop to a grid (e.g., make sure my kick hits at 1: 1:1 or my snares hits at or near 1: 2: 1)
4. Save the warped sample and load into the MPC for chopping and sequencing

I will flood Akai with feedback to ensure I can do this within the MPC...no need to do this in a 3rd party app

 

oh but it does, it's in the combination of that feature and triggering, other daws will allow you to bend the audio via warp but none allow you to trigger them, that's why I say if akai does this it will be monumental because to have this ability combined with a drumsampler will be nothing less than terminally iLL lol

 

I agree, I'm even optimistic about maschine, it's a very good time.

the main feature that is seldom mentioned about ableton is that (if) you enjoy using it, you'll love it. after you get over the environment you will really get into it..... in reality it's not a daw but an instrument, it won't feel like any of the other daws. If you don't like it you'll hate it, but if you like it all of the work arounds will feel like discoveries instead of torturous steps you're taking to try to get from A-Z ... ..... unlike 'some sequencers'

 

The akai ipad app looks pretty dope.