Ableton Push 3 Standalone

This third iteration of the Push marks the leap from accomplished DAW controller to fully fledged instrument. While it retains the familiar 8x8 pad matrix, display and workflow of its predecessors, the Ableton Push 3 Standalone features an internal processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, running Live entirely on its own—even on battery power when required. The redesigned pad matrix is fully MPE-enabled, responding to pitch bends, slides and pressure on every note, unlocking new dimensions of expression while keeping Live under tighter control. Navigation is streamlined thanks to a jog wheel, raised-ridge buttons and reorganised controls, allowing faster browsing and editing directly from the hardware. Now featuring an audio/MIDI interface with analogue, ADAT and CV connections, the Push 3 Standalone works equally well as an autonomous workstation or as the hub of a studio setup. It unifies composition, performance and sound design in a single instrument.

In practice, the Ableton Push 3 Standalone blurs the line between controller, interface and instrument. Navigation is streamlined; the Session Screen view mirrors Live’s clip grid on the display, complete with names and scene launching directly from the jog wheel. Notes are edited via the encoders for pitch, length, velocity and probability, keeping composition fluid and self-contained. Recording external instruments is equally straightforward: guitars, synths or mics plug straight into the multi-mode inputs, complete with tuner and Live Suite’s Amp and Cabinet effects. Latency is minimal when routing external gear via the External Instrument plug-in, while Freeze and Flatten can also be applied to external audio sources. The internal battery provides around two hours of power, extendable with high-wattage USB-C power supplies.