The Ableton Push 3 further refines the formula that made its predecessors central to Live performance. Retaining the familiar 8x8 pad matrix and display, the Ableton Push 3 introduces major innovations that extend its role beyond controller into expressive instrument. Chief among these is the 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 tighter control. Navigation is streamlined with a jog wheel, raised-ridge buttons while the Session Screen mirrors Live’s clip grid directly on the device. Used with a computer, Push 3 delivers the tightest integrated Live control to date, with the option to upgrade into the full Push 3 Standalone model via the upgrade kit.
The Ableton Push 3 takes integration with Live to the next level. The new Session Screen displays the clip grid, complete with cursor and jog-wheel navigation for easy browsing and scene-launching. Encoders adjust pitch, velocity, length and probability of notes directly from the hardware, while thirteen rotary controls and a touch strip map to dozens of Live parameters. The redesigned pad grid functions in both Note and Drum modes, while the firmer raised-ridge buttons improve tactile feedback and accuracy. Connectivity includes USB-C for computer and power, a USB-A host port for class-compliant MIDI devices, and dual pedal/CV inputs for sustain, footswitches or modular control—expandable via the official upgrade kit for those needing more.
The Ableton Push 3 serves a wide spectrum of musicians. Seasoned producers will value the deeper integration and faster workflow, with device editing, sequencing and mixing accessible entirely from the hardware, freeing the pads for Note or Drum modes. Newcomers benefit from an intuitive and immediate entry point into Live, composing and performing without relying on a mouse or screen. In the studio, the Push 3 is a versatile writing tool for sequencing and sound shaping, while Max for Live devices and external synths can be integrated easily via CV or USB. Sessions prepared in Live translate directly to Push, ready to be reworked or performed—in the studio, on stage, and even on the move—with the added depth of MPE pads for bending chords, shaping melodies, or fine-tuning percussion hits.
Ableton was founded in 1999 in Berlin, by former Native Instruments employees Gerhard Behles and Bernd Roggendorf. Ableton AG now employs around 350 people worldwide and has since expanded to Los Angeles and Tokyo. Ableton is famous for “Live”, their flagship software DAW/sequencer. Live is a market-leading application in the field of music production. Live is performance-oriented, allows real-time processing of samples and synthesizers, instrument-like flexibility for improvisation on stage and also provides renowned music production tools. Ableton is famous and used worldwide for its creative possibilities, in the both sound design and music production.
In practice, the Ableton Push 3 feels less like a controller and more like a direct extension of Live. The MPE-enabled pads register velocity, slides and timbral gestures, turning the grid into a performance surface on par with keyboards and specialist controllers. The encoders, touch strip and mapped function buttons offer immediate access to instruments, effects and mixer channels, while pedal inputs enable hands-free control for patch switching, recording, or effects. Max for Live devices can be browsed and manipulated directly, keeping the workflow contained within the device. From sequencing to sound design, every layer of Live remains accessible—and with the upgrade path to the Standalone, the Ableton Push 3 can adapt as workflows evolve.
MPE expression
The Ableton Push 3’s most transformative feature is its MPE-enabled pad grid. MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) carries the data for pitch bends, slides, pressure and timbral shifts on each note, opening up articulation once limited to specialist controllers. The 64 pads respond to velocity, pressure and multidirectional movement, shaping chords with vibrato, letting melodic lines glide across intervals, and adding dynamic colour to percussion kits. With Live’s instruments and an expanding ecosystem of MPE-ready synths, the Ableton Push 3 elevates pad performance to a new expressive level—bridging controller, instrument and workstation in one device.