Ableton Push 3 Vs Push 2 - Watch Before You Buy

[@synthfreq4993]

Im still on push1 and extremely happy with it .

[@vsd1988]

you can use any knob at the top to scroll trough sounds etc on the push2.

[@TeePeters]

“A daw being controlled as a instrument” is a music making dream… thats why i got it too

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Hells yes 🙌

[@dmthemost]

This was a thorough look for me. I have had Push 2 since 2016…think I will go for the PUSH 3, and wait to upgrade to standalone

[@Yosser70]

Haven’t used the Push 3 but recently upgraded to a Push 2 from the original, and it’s an amazing bit of kit. The step up from the mk1 is pretty big, the screen alone makes it worth it. It’s great for both studio or performance so can be the center of your setup wherever you are. I honestly can’t see me going to the 3, unless they release a mk4 and the value of the 3 boops massively! Oh one thing, big up to Ableton for keeping them all working with their latest releases, so whatever your budget, you can get a great controller.

[@foxcontrolmusic]

The pad feel is what I wanted to know. Thank you! Like comparing the ‘action’ on guitars

[@metamindmusicofficial]

It's EXACTLY like comparing action on guitars. Push 3 is buttery smooth on that front.

[@thomaswilliams7601]

Hey dude just want to say your video's are soo soo good,incredible inspirational and useful. Got A question a very important one. Just got a second hand push 2 and using it in sequence mode (not finger Druming) the pads are soo hard to push down.its actually effecting my wrist tendonitis.i gather you use push for finger drumming not the sequencer but do you think you could if it isn't too much trouble see if push 3 is easier to get a pad to register. Hope you are well and happy Thomas

[@TravisRocco]

Thomas have you tried adjusting the "PAD Sensitivity" the "PAD Gain" and the "PAD Dynamics"? I finger drum on the PUSH 2, as well as play lots of virtual instruments. Click the "SETUP" Button top right corner and those options will pop up. i set my Pad sensitivity to 10, Pad Gain to 9 and Pad Dynamics to 5 and it plays amazing, never tiring. I think that will solve your issue for sure. Good luck!

[@thomaswilliams7601]

@@TravisRocco really appreciate the reply brother and unfortunately yes I've tried all those things.im going to unfortunately have to open the beast up and clean the pad contacts. The loaded grid of drum hits in the bottom right corner are very sensitive.its the grid above that for sequencing drums that are very hard to activate by pushing.wish Me luck dawg

[@Antonio_Ortiz]

Just got a Push 2 and even after one day, it's made a huge improvement with how I use Ableton. You are now my go-to channel now for Push content.

[@TheBlackJewelz]

Do you think it’s worth getting the 2 for cheap to then eventually get a standalone 3 like 6 months later-is the workflow similar enough for both to transition easily?

[@metamindmusicofficial]

The workflow is almost identical- all my skills on push 2 transferred to push 3. I’d say if you can find a used push 2 at a good price you can’t go wrong. If you want Ableton control and to explore push = push 2. If you want to play push as an instrument = push 3. Hope that helps!

[@TheBlackJewelz]

@@metamindmusicofficial awesome, makes sense, thanks!

[@DadiWili]

I like this video and I have a Push 2 and Live 11 Suite. You have resonated with my thinking around mastery and I will continue with them. Incidentally I did opt to take the discounted price to upgrade to Live 12 but cancelled it.

[@TheJgraham12345]

For the most part, the Push 3 is a really great device. I got the controller version and this was my first experience with a push or with Ableton. I switched over from the Machine plus. There are a few downsides to the push compared to Machine plus that I miss though. The pad sensitivity is not as good on the push as it is on maschine. Ableton has a weird way of treating .wav files where you don’t get the full dynamic range of loudness to softest sounds where’s maschine pads express dynamic range a whole lot better. I also wish the push 3 had a built in arpeggiator on the device like mashcine does. A chord node button would be nice too. Other than that, it’s a pretty great device. MPE may seem like a gimmick, but I promise it’s not. Once you play some patches dedicated for MPE it’s really incredible.

[@ZuvielDrama]

Having Maschine Mk3. Thinking going to push3 Controller. How do you like the push3 one month from your last comment?

[@TheJgraham12345]

@@ZuvielDrama yeah it’s cool. I would say what I like the most is really just using Ableton as a DAW as opposed to liking the actual controller better than the Machine Plus controller. I honestly don’t use the controller to its fullest potential. I could use the controller to control eq, automation, and adjust a whole bunch of other parameters, but I do this with my mouse 99% of the time rather than use the controller. I really only use the controller for transport controls, finger drumming, manipulating samples, and some melodic stuff. The MPE control pads are actually incredible. I’m big into synth sounds so if you have synth patches that were designed to use with MPE (eg, Pigments Expressive Expansion) it’s really really incredible. I would say that the MPE functionality and maybe some of the onboard functions that you can control on the push are really the only thing that sets it apart from the maschine for me. But, it really comes down to how much more you can do in Ableton compared to what you can do in the maschine 2 software. I really miss having an onboard arpeggiator button like the maschine had though and the way that you can easily sample on each pad. I miss the feel of the maschine pads. But I honestly don’t miss much else from maschine.

[@drcr1bb]

Thank you for this great information! FYI - I just learned Live 12 no longer uses the Push 2 script, and the Push Live port is deliberately hidden to avoid conflicts. All the more reason for a Push 3 if you upgrade Ableton.

[@markcolwell]

Incredibly good review, definitely the best one I've seen. Better buttons, expressive instrument play style. Sold on the 3

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Glad it was helpful! It’s definitely a keeper 🤘

[@themorphingorb]

Thanks for sharing your insights! I'm going for the Push 2... :D

[@jixal]

Would you consider a Launch Pad Pro over a Push 2 for general controlling of Ableton + Using it for playing notes/ chords on the pads?

[@chrisharbin623]

For me, I got into Push 2 RIGHT BEFORE they abandoned it for 3. I love it personally, and I watch these vids on 3 and think "why would I need it". I'm not complex enough to warrant the MPE option, and 2 does everything I need, not to mention I wouldn't use the audio interface (my RME is less than 4ms in/out combined ;) ) and it's a grand for the basic version. Personally, I'm really happy with 2. Now, if it goes belly up, I'll get 3, but for now there is no real need.

[@AceGarpTruckingCo]

I ended up doing much the same, but I got the 3 because I did want MPE. It's great, *and*, Push 2 is like 90% of what the 3 is to me. Push 3 is better, but not my nearly as much as you'd think. Some parts of the Push 2's UX I prefer. I'm not mad keen on the new Push 3 jog dial, I preferred the encoder dance on the 2.

[@modular2590]

@@AceGarpTruckingCo which parts of the Push 2´s UX did you prefer?

[@AceGarpTruckingCo]

@@modular2590 mostly it was that with the regular 8 knobs you could do a little finger-dance to get to your favourites over the first three knobs and it was *so* quick and natural. That's been turned into a no-fun jog-wheel menu dive.

[@bubbysitch]

as a live midi performer the MPE pads are absolutely a must-have

[@nukenoly8751]

Push 3 is really that much better 😊 Way superior in every way from the build quality to the feel of the MPE pads. Got the controller version for $749 Black Friday sale and is the best investment I have made to trigger my creativity. BTW the Move is super fun too. Great addition to the family ❤

[@metamindmusicofficial]

I disagree that MPE is not musical - but also it’s not for everyone. What was buggy with you me Push 3?

[@nukenoly8751]

Would freeze and restart 😢

[@levraichris3321]

6X the price when you compare the controller version to the standalone version....

[@pastoralrezowiecki4379]

Hello. How are you connecting Push 2 to thunderbolt ports on a new MacBook? I have tried a few cables, but none of them worked. Would you recommend a cable?

[@VKJ85]

Does Your Push 3 go 1.1.1 position back (start) as what Push 2 did? Mine doesn't. I'm still holding Push 2 while using Push 3. I use both on occasions. It is a bit weird when some buttons have moved to the left side like dublicate. I was so used to the button layout on Push 2. Now on Push 3, it kinda requires You to use both hands on button combinations.

[@metamindmusicofficial]

I actually haven’t tried the back to 1.1.1 feature on push 3 yet - I’ll test it out. I personally prefer the new button layout but can totally see how it could throw you off.

[@justin032705]

Great comparison, tempted by current Ableton offer of Standard with a Push 2 for $600, less than half for the same deal with Push 3 non-SE…

[@DespairQuietlyPlease]

Can you create instrument racks eith mult devices and follow action in standalone??

[@metamindmusicofficial]

As far as I know, you can’t do either in stand alone which are huge missing features in my opinion. You can’t even map macros directly on standalone.

[@GaryStockton]

Other than the plastic outer frame of my Push 2 getting sticky, I am not seeing a big reason to upgrade. Still figuring out how to work with it.

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Totally fair - push 2 is still a fantastic unit.

[@claytonchipper3874]

Is there much of a difference for editing session view audio clips or midi clips between push 2 and 3?

[@itsdrawkcab5899]

Do you think they'll run a sale on push 3 with the release of live12 on March the 5th? I'm kinda hesitant to buy right now 😵‍💫

[@davecarver3864]

I play/sequence multiple synths with push 3 it’s fantastic for workflow. Also using controller only I didn’t care for the standalone

[@JacobTutt]

Would you say you still need a computer with Abelton with the push3 or can you can you absolutely make music anywhere that has a power outlet? Cause I feel like then it justifies me just paying the money for push 3 vs push 2 and having to purchase a laptop plus Abelton software to some degree.

[@JacobTutt]

Wait I finally finished the whole video lol you answered my question already disregard 😂😂

[@normanfreund]

Hmm, no CV inputs, some hardware gear outputs CV which can control digital effects in Live. Now that Push3 is their flagship, wonder if they will share their USB code to control the LCD of the Push2?

[@metamindmusicofficial]

I’ve never thought about CV inputs, interesting. Perhaps on day I’ll get into modular lol. Custom control of the lcd would be sick.

[@na-dj6ob]

You can always just get an expert sleepers module with ADAT like Es-8, Es-3/Es-6 and connect it directly to the push 3 for CV ins and outs.

[@fatbelly3385]

Great information

[@merlinoner]

Interesting. Lighting could have been better to see what you were talking about during the layout part.

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll make a note to tweak my lighting setup.

[@DiamondDogsBand]

Is it that the pads on Push 2 are optically nicer?

[@metamindmusicofficial]

I think the black lines between the pads makes the pad stick our more for sure. They both look cool 😎

[@DonnDeVoreMusic]

Good review. Going with the Akai APC64.

[@LoserDub]

And this dude has two what a world

[@odeonhealingfrequencies2743]

I bought the push3 and sold mu push2, had nothing but issues with push3, display would stop working after 3 min, then the whole thing would reset, would require me rebooting push and would work again maybe 3 min tops. Went back and forth with ableton support for 2 months troubleshooting and they finally agreed the issues was w the push3 after troubleshooting on multiple computers. Ableton is sending me a new one which I'll probably sell on ebay since im past the 30 days for a refund and buy push 2 again

[@metamindmusicofficial]

So sorry to hear that - sounds like a headache. Hopefully your new unit works perfectly well. I’ve had pretty much zero issues with mine.

[@injectionAI]

Push 3 controller edition ftw

[@mrcanisters]

Don't under you comparing the secondhand push 2 to a brand new standalone push 3 o_0

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Most premium vs most affordable

[@mrcanisters]

@@metamindmusicofficial ah, gotcha. The new pads are worth a good chunk of change too. My spelling o_0

[@bikesbeersbeats]

I'm fortunate to be a simple man, all i need is to trigger clips and tweak some parameters.

[@MakerManu]

I get a used push 2 today mint with the cover for 500usd.

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Can’t go wrong!

[@DJBre]

still scrathing the surface of push 2 after a year

[@metamindmusicofficial]

It’s a deep device!

[@potatosan4250]

i have a 2 and a 3 they both nice but i like the pads and note value buttons on 2 better. If anyone wants my push 2 lemme know! KZbin discount

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Interesting! I totally prefer the push 3 buttons and pads.

[@TheBlackJewelz]

Heck yea I’m interested fam

[@jerzboybeats]

Push2 help me to understand Ableton.

[@metamindmusicofficial]

Me too - it’s a great tool to learn Ableton.

[@312dasbkilla]

The price is what keeps me away from it. I’ve been an Ableton user since live 8.

[@edrift3d]

Push 2 hands down. 3 is priced way beyond its value.

[@metamindmusicofficial]

I think the Push stand-alone 3 is priced fairly for what it is. But there’s no doubt that the value to price ratio of a used Push 2 is much higher.

[@ivang2490]

Push 2 + new Mac Mini m4

[@CristianIorga]

"the sixteenth of a inch" :-) 1.5 millimeters; isn't that simpler??? Please align with the world, stop being so proud and admit when you are using crap. Like imperial system.

[@freewheelburning8834]

the push 2 is a little more satisfying to look at

[@alexanderstuartpetty485]

Push 2 is actually a far better product in almost every way.

[@TheBlackJewelz]

Care to explain further? I’m new to Ableton and considering saving up for the 3

[@alexanderstuartpetty485]

@TheBlackJewelz my main observation is that the Push2 build quality is better than Push3. Its a case of things in the past used to be built with higher quality than things built today. It's like they cheaped out on the parts selection so they could increase profit per unit sold. That, at least, is my perspective on it.

[@TheBlackJewelz]

@@alexanderstuartpetty485 ohhhh gotcha, interesting. Yeah those batteries are MEGA expensive so maybe they cut some of the costs on the build

[@phatplates]

😂😂😂