The Ableton Push is destined for LIVE use:
Richie Hawtin with Push
I know it’s an older thread, but as I have gone through all the replies now, I hope you confirm my understanding:
APC40 is naturally more for live performance. Maschine to me sounds more as a beat production machine with several additional options. Finally Push seems to be the most reasonable controller to work on music production with Ableton Live. My concern is: Maschine comes up with a massive library of sounds. I am not sure about Push. Where does e.g. the drum kits come from? With Maschine it’s a soft- and hardware solution. Push is almost ready to go by starting Live, but where does the sounds come from?
No, I definitely don’t think so. Push doesn’t really have access to many of Live’s production functions - only note input and clip launching.
It plays drum racks and other instruments in Live. Live comes with some sounds, Suite comes with more.
Not if you’re wanting to do hands-on sampling and sample-based production using an integrated controller. Push doesn’t let you sample from the hardware and it can’t do any of the sample slicing, or even manual chopping, editing start/end points, sampling to a pad and duplicating that pad to other pads, basically any kind of sample manipulation…etc. Maschine is what you want if you need to do any of that.
Push is just hardware used with Ableton Live. Ableton sells their own instruments but you can import any sound pack you want. The instruments (vst) from Native Instruments can can be used in Ableton Live. Keep in mind Push comes with a lite version of Ableton Live so when you out grow it, you’ll spend more for the full version. So you can get sounds, samples, and VSTs from all over and use it in Ableton. Ableton Live Standard has built in instruments. There’s a more expensive version with even more instruments. BY THE WAY, you should read up on Maschine Studio or the Akai MPC Ren if you are crossing the $1k budget.
Thanks.
Yes, definitely interested in the new maschine studio. However, I can’t find that much information yet, beside of natives introduction video on their website or even better the DJTT vid here. I am not sure yet, what it can more than the traditional mkII version before or the push right now. My overall first impression is, it come with better features like the jogwheel which allows you a better workflow .. the 2 new colored resolution displays .. the new 2.0 software. But I don’t see the big deal yet. By the way, I don’t want to limit my budget. I am going to build up my home / project studio now at home within the beasement and already spend a few thousand dollars for acoustic.
MK uses a Maschine for production and he’s absolutely killing it at the moment, he’s also got over two decades of experiences. If a guy like that uses one, it’s testament to it’s capability.
C’mon .. just because other people use it, doesn’t mean it automatically fits to my needs. That’s bull shit. Did you heard about marketing? May be it’s not what I am looking for.
Better to ignore Akai’s “MPC” Ren related products. That’s their first attempt at a software based product and it’s notoriously buggy and lacking in features. And despite having the controller, it still forces you to use the mouse and stare at the computer screen a lot unlike Maschine. And you can’t even export individual sounds. It’s very telling that Akai (now owned by Numark/Alesis) are amateurs when it comes to software since they’ve only had experience making hardware.
I think this is mostly fair - remember that Akai also makes Push, but Ableton makes Live.
I checked some details again to get a better understanding. Finally I absolutely agree to one of the former posts when somebody was saying: It’s not either or! You may need both! ← Again, totally right. Push vs. Maschine is not apples with apples. Push is really more for the workflow and control on Live while Maschine Studio e.g. is more a monster groove production system even when there are more options and possibilities for your workflow.
The sounds and instruments that come with Ableton Live are really mediocre and cannot really compete with what comes with Komplete. Also, Live’s built-in instruments can only be used in Live while Komplete instruments can be used in any DAW you choose to use.
There are similarities though and some people do choose to use one or the other. It just depends on what your needs are. They both have a pattern based sequencers with scenes and clips. Where Maschine has the edge is being able to have complete control over the software with the integrated hardware and giving you the option never to look at the computer or touch a mouse if you don’t want to. Maschine also comes with a rather excellent Live control surface template which you can switch back and forth from Maschine mode at the press of a button. Of course, Push has the 8x8 grid buttons but I prefer to just use a regular MIDI keyboard for chords and melodies.
I have both Maschine MK2 and recently got Ableton. I will say the combination of them both is a gift from God! lol I try to use them as one unit as oppose to seeing them as seprate production tools.
indeed, Who says it has to be either or? 
The AudioModder VST Bridge can load Maschine 2.0 kits from Push’s browser as drum racks.
They are also preconfigured with 16 channel audio routing back into the chains for FX - big time saver.
For nicer control and M4L users we made a device to map 8 macros of each chain into the Maschine 2.0*vst. *128 parameters are preconfigured in total for every kit. *This workflow lets you keep your composition and automation in Ableton’s clips for the Maschine VST. *And you can use Push’s per step automation without looking at the computer screen.
You have to own Maschine for this to work of course.
Older video:
Maschine and Push
So.. I have Ableton as DAW, Maschine MK1, Launchpad, Traktor Kontrol F1 and X1, Arturia Keylab25 and an Axiom 49. I am looking for the perfect Ableton Controller. I want to play my music live in the studio, mute or solo tracks, easily adjust volume or parameters
The APC has the Faders and knobs i am loonkig for, PUSH doesn’t have this faders etc.. But Push has this workflow which seems to be very nice.. i am looking for the “total” ableton control via faders and knobs and i think the apc would be my choice..
Get the Push. You can control pretty much everything important and make music.
The APC is more of a clip launcher. If you need more knob and faders then get a used APC40 mk1 or the Novation Launch control.