Ableton Live 7, New Instruments and Ableton Suite

Ableton Live 7 renews the core of Live, with enhancements to the audio engine including 64-bit mix summing, new and improved devices with side-chaining capability, better MIDI timing and hardware integration. We have also included the most-requested features, such as time signature changes, video export, multiple automation lanes and much more. Version 7 marks the arrival of the new "Drum Rack" which streamlines beat production via an easy drag-and-drop interface and offers native sliced audio and REX file support, bringing endless creative possibilities to beat lovers.

Session View

Live's Session View acts as a musical sketch and launch pad, encouraging you to try out new ideas and improvise freely. Each cell in the Session View grid can hold a loop, recording, MIDI file, complete song or any other musical element. These ideas can be recorded on the fly or dragged in from the Browser, combined and played in any order you wish.

Arrangement View

The Arrangement View offers a timeline-based approach for traditional recording, MIDI sequencing, arranging, editing and other musical production tasks. And when you improvise in the Session View, all of your actions can be recorded into the Arrangement View, where they can be edited and perfected whenever you like.

Live 7—What's New

Ableton Live 7 renews the core of Live, with enhancements to the audio engine including 64-bit mix summing, new and improved devices with side-chaining capability, better MIDI timing and hardware integration. We have also included the most-requested features, such as time signature changes, video export, multiple automation lanes and much more. Version 7 marks the arrival of the new "Drum Rack" which streamlines beat production via an easy drag-and-drop interface and offers native sliced audio and REX file support, bringing endless creative possibilities to beat lovers.
Version 7 Renews the Core of Live

Enhanced Audio Engine
Live 7's enhanced audio engine improves fidelity with precision 64-bit summing at all mix points throughout the program, POW-r dithering, optimized sample-rate conversion and other advances.

New Compressor
The new compressor device integrates the compression models of Compressor I and II, and offers a new model based on a feedback design commonly found in the most praised vintage compressors.

Sidechaining
Fully integrated side-chaining capability is available for the new Compressor as well as Gate and Auto Filter.

Device High-Quality Modes
Operator, Dynamic Tube and Saturator now feature optional High-Quality modes for anti-aliased processing, reducing typical "digital" artifacts.

EQ Eight—New and Improved
EQ Eight sports an improved user interface and a new 64-bit mode for increased accuracy and fidelity.

Introducing Spectrum
The new Spectrum device is an analyzer that provides real-time visual feedback for any audio signals within Live (and it looks really cool!).

Improved MIDI Timing
The MIDI engine has been reworked and we were able to significantly reduce timing error (jitter) of recorded MIDI.

Easy Hardware Integration
Hardware integration has been streamlined with the addition of two new devices—External Instrument and External Audio Effect—allowing hardware synthesizers and effects to be inserted into device chains just like software plug-ins.

Enhanced Memory Management
New memory management technology allows users of large sample libraries, such as Ableton's new sampled instruments or third-party libraries imported via Sampler, to run an impressive number of instruments at the same time. This happens automatically, with no setup changes required.

Audio Engine Fact Sheet
The Audio Engine Fact Sheet explains exactly how signals are (or are not) being modified when performing fundamental audio operations in Live, and provides tips for achieving the highest quality results.

MIDI Engine Fact Sheet
The MIDI Engine Fact Sheet documents MIDI timing tests on both Windows and Mac platforms using various MIDI interfaces and describes exactly what users can expect in terms of MIDI timing accuracy. Coming Soon.

Live 7 Brings the Most Requested Features

Time Signature Changes
The MIDI Engine Fact Sheet documents MIDI timing tests on both Windows and Mac platforms using various MIDI interfaces and describes exactly what users can expect in terms of MIDI timing accuracy. Coming Soon.

Time Signature Changes
Live 7 allows the use of multiple time signatures within a single Live Set in the Arrangement View timeline and Session View Scenes.

Video Export
Video that has been edited or warped in Live can be exported to a new file.

Easier Automation
Multiple automation lanes per track can be displayed and edited at the same time.

Tempo Nudge
A new "tempo nudge" function makes it easier to synchronize to live musicians or DJs.

REX Support
REX files can be dragged, dropped and played just like WAV or AIFF files.

Many Other Important Improvements
Live, Operator and Sampler have received many important improvements and additions based on users' requests.

New Ableton Instruments

The new add-on instruments are the result of Ableton's collaboration with leading industry partners. The palette covers physically modeled electric pianos, analog synthesizers and string instruments as well as multi-mic/multi-layer sampled acoustic drums, drum machines, orchestral strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion. The instruments integrate tightly with Live, both in terms of workflow and resource management.

Tension is a physical modeling string synthesizer that allows you to create incredibly accurate reproductions of real instruments or design otherworldly hybrids.

Electric offers the sounds of classic electric pianos through physical modeling synthesis, allowing you to dive inside and play with the guts of the instrument.

Analog emulates the unique circuitry and irresistible tweakability of vintage analog synthesizers. Able to produce everything from silky pad sweeps to earth-shaking bass.

Session Drums is a meticulously multisampled library of acoustic drums that reproduces the nuances of a recording session and puts you in the engineer's seat.

Drum Machines offers a choice selection of classic drum machines, meticulously sampled to faithfully reproduce the original sounds.

Essential Instrument Collection 2—a choice selection of acoustic and electric pianos, guitars, bass, drums, orchestral instruments and more. Version 2 adds acoustic and electronic drums as well as presets optimized for better sound quality and faster loading.

Orchestral Strings-a comprehensive selection of naturally rich and dynamic stringed instruments. Features solo and ensemble violin, viola, cello and double bass, all recorded in their natural positions within the orchestra, complete with a number of articulations.

Orchestral Brass is a thorough set of vivid and colorful brass instruments. Features solo and ensemble French horn, trombone, trumpet and tuba, with a unique set of articulations in multiple section sizes.

Orchestral Woodwinds delivers a variety of clear and vibrant wind instruments. Features solo and ensemble flute, clarinet, bassoon, oboe and English horn with a broad selection of articulations.

Orchestral Percussion captures the true essence of symphonic percussion instruments in pristine quality. Features vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, crotales, glockenspiel, tubular bells, cymbals and timpani with a variety of articulations.

Ableton Suite combines Ableton Live 7 with Ableton instruments in a comprehensive bundle at a great discount. Ableton Suite includes Live 7, Sampler, Operator, Electric, Analog, Tension, Drum Machines, the Essential Instrument Collection 2 and Session Drums.