New Software To Be Reviewed Review

Since it's arrival in 2001, Ableton Live has built a following and reputation as being one of the most powerful and flexible software platforms on the market. With the more established linear sequencing programs like Cubase and Reason dominating the scene, Ableton opened up a new market for itself as a software which could be used as both a loop based live performance tool, capable of "on the fly" creation and manipulation of audio, and a straight laced, linear sequencing, recording and production program. Many established industry heavyweights use it including Daft Punk, Sasha, John Digweed, Surgeon, Matthew Dear, Liam Howlett, Dirty Vegas and Paul Van Dyk. 

The Live working environment is laid out in a clean, uncluttered, logical manner allowing for a quick and flexible workflow. Whether you are an seasoned professional or a curious newcomer to music making, live has a lot to offer. One of the reasons for live's success is it's ease of use, it feels natural and logical, even to a beginner. No other software is as competent as Live at producing music in a real time manner while offering everything a more conventional multitrack studio sequencing software does. It's automated, intelligent and quick looping and queing system with drag and drop effect functionality allowing for a simple yet sophisticated way of constructing and editing your loops, built in drums and instruments can be racked, mounted and chained in any way you like. Live really is unparalleled when it comes to combining sophistication and functionality, with ease of use.

As a standalone program, Live is as capable as alternatives like Reason or Cubase at putting rich, complex tracks together without the aid of external MIDI hardware. With it's extensive live performance, production and processing features, huge sound library and instruments, it is more than capable of allowing musicians to work entirely from their computer. The Live package is so comprehensive, that it can easily cover any musical performance or production project entirely on it's own.

So for those who are familiar with Ableton Live's previous instalments, what's new in Live 8? Live's latest incarnation stays true to the tried and tested workstation we all know and love, but adding subtle changes which add functionality and stability without major upheaval, enabling previous Ableton users to get straight back into their familiar work processes without a problem. The warping and grooving engines have been renewed and fine tuned, the new looper grants the ability for sound on sound looping without having to use an external hardware device, this can be mapped to an external trigger such as a footpedal for remote operation. Five new effects including the excellent vocoder, multiband dynamic, overdrive, limiter and frequency shifter. Other enhancements include the new group tracks function, which allows you to group several intruments or tracks (such as drum or vocal tracks) and send them to a group channel before they are sent to the master output, allowing you to apply effects and controls to them as a collective, it also includes functionality to trigger multiple or all loops at once. Another subtle yet effective new feature is the ability to add programmable crossfades across clips within the same track in the arrangement view.

All in all Ableton Live remains the best all round audio production package out there and Live 8 continues the functionality and flexibility of the existing formula while adding small, subtle enhancements which add real value to the package. For DJ's, musicians and producers it is the best all round software available and deserves it's reputation and status as one of the most popular and reliable music packages available.