Ableton Live vs Suite

One of the more advanced yet user-friendly music manipulation software in the market today is Ableton Live. It is a loop-based music sequencer and digital audio workstation (DAW) designed specifically for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. What makes it stand out is that it is supports three highly different functions; it is a tool used for 1) live performances, 2) composing and arranging, and 3) mixing tracks (by DJs). By default, it comes with two instruments which are Impulse (drum-triggering) and Simpler (sampling) but can support additional ones like Electric, Tension, Collision, Drum Machines, Session Drums, Essential and Orchestral Instrument Collection and many others. In terms of interface, it is composed of two views– the arrangement view and the session view. The former is primarily used to organize and trigger sets of MIDI and audio called clips, while the latter is used for recording tracks from the session view, further manipulating their arrangement and effects, and for manual MIDI sequencing. It also includes a long list of effects, most of which are already common effects in the digital signal processing industry. They are, however, more geared towards Live’s target audience ‘“ electronic musicians and DJs. Examples of which are Beat Repeat, Dynamic Tube, Multiband Dynamics, Resonators, Velocity, Chorus, Compressor, etc. Furthermore, Ableton Live has been developed into many versions with variations in features, interface, tools, supported formats, etc. The most recent of versions are Ableton Live 8 and Ableton Suite.

Ableton Live 8 was released April 2009. This version includes a range of additional features besides the basics mentioned earlier. Parts of the add-ons are an integrated Max/MSP platform, internet collaboration features, a number of new effects and workflow enhancements, a refined piracy protection system, and a dedicated hardware controller developed in partnership with Akai, called the APC40. It is specifically engineered to support activities from music composition, songwriting, recording, production, remixing to live performance. It is well-known with live performers for its nonlinear, intuitive flow, as well as powerful real-time editing and flexible performance options. Add-ons include several new techniques and improvements with a new groove engine, revamped warping, live looping, new effects, crossfades in the Arrangement View and a reworked MIDI editor. Ableton Live proves to be highly dynamic in literally making music, covering all phases from composition to live performance.

Ableton Suite, on the other hand, brags itself to be a complete package having both tools and sound. It is a comprehensive software studio that basically has all the features of Live 8 plus a new sound library jam-packed with sounds and useful resources. Suite 8 contains 10 Ableton instruments including synths, a sampler, electric and acoustic drums, mallets, and a number of sampled instruments, completely new ones- Collision and Latin Percussion- and a re-engineered Operator. Among its extensive range of add-ons, the sound library makes it stand out among the other versions. The library is a well-balanced collection of sounds and resources like real-world sound objects, presets, synthesis, grooves, and templates among many others. It also has sound themes or templates with pre-configured tracks and routing that are commonly used as backgrounds during live performances or recordings. Some of its distinguished add-ons are advanced warping and real-time stretching, muti-track recording capacity of up to 32-bit/192 kHz and multicore, multiprocessor support.

Summary

1) Ableton Live 8 and Suite are two of Ableton Live’s most recent versions

2) Ableton Live 8 is a digital audio workstation that has tools and features to support all phases of music-making from composition to live performance.

3) Ableton Suite is comprehensive software that has all the functionality of Live 8 with the addition of a sound library. It is well known for being a complete tool-and-sound package.

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