Ableton Push 3

This third iteration of the Ableton Push marks the leap from accomplished DAW controller to expressive instrument. Retaining the familiar 8x8 pad matrix, display and workflow of its predecessor, the Ableton Push 3 adds major innovations that further refine control and musical options in Live. Chief among these is the newly redesigned and fully MPE-enabled pad grid which responds to pitch bends, slides and pressure on every note, unlocking new dimensions of expression while keeping Live under even tighter control. Navigation is also streamlined thanks to a jog wheel, raised-ridge buttons and reorganised controls, making it faster to browse, trigger and edit directly from the hardware. Used with a computer, Push 3 delivers the tightest integrated Live control to date — and importantly, it can be upgraded into the Push 3 Standalone (item 624350) using the official upgrade kit (item 624351).

In practice, the Ableton Push 3’s tactile design feels like a direct extension of Live itself. The MPE-enabled pads respond not only to strikes but also movement—timbre changes, bends, slides and tremolos can be programmed per note, turning the grid into an expressive musical instrument. The thirteen encoders, touch strip and mapped functions shown clearly on the display give immediate control of instruments, effects and mixer channels without breaking creative focus. Pedal inputs add hands-free control for tasks such as patch switching, recording, or launching new scenes, while Max for Live devices can be browsed and manipulated entirely from the hardware. From sequencing to sound design, every layer of Live remains accessible. And with the official upgrade kit (item 624351), Push 3 can grow into a full Standalone workstation—even ready to run battery-powered sessions when the moment calls for it