Âme’s Frank Wiedemann Explores Ableton’s New Hardware: Move

In this new Electronic Beats TV video, one half of the German duo Âme, Frank Wiedemann, explores Ableton’s new portable Move hardware release (without any manual or external sources). We figured he’d the perfect man for the task as a long running Ableton user, both in the studio and as a live performer. Across 25 minutes Frank provides an initial overview for the use of the stand alone ‘’fun machine’ as he describes it, exploring some of its many functions as a tool for creation, such as its more than 1,500 sounds and instrument presets, 32 polyphonic aftertouch pads, seamless integration with Ableton Live, built in microphone for sampling, arpeggiator, time stretch, wifi connectivity and many other features. On top of this surface level demo of Move, Wiedemann also shares some on-the-fly tips and adds a few afterthoughts on latency and synth icons. Oh, and don’t miss the story behind that black eye! 😉
Frank has the following comments / corrections that he noticed after the video was finished...
1. I said it would be nice to see from which synth engine/plug in a sound has been produced. Move does this actually by showing small icons next to the name. This is still not very helpful though, unless someone has the manual at hand to look the icons up.
2. When re-sampling I said there’s a little latency at the beginning of the sample. This might (might!) be (with all self-respect) my not so perfect timing. However: it would be nice if the recording could be quantised so that one can use it as a looper without too much hassle.
3. Kristian treated me really badly just before the video was shot - hence the black eye ;)

[@FJAAKBERLIN]

It’s so much fun. Been using it for 2-3 weeks now and can guarantee one thing: FUN ❤️

[@weisland2807]

cant wait to get one. gonna get it for the kids so prob gonna have to get another one later hehe

[@db_030]

Do you guys know if it's possible to jam with two units? Can you get them to sync with each other? :)

[@Deepenuv]

Findet ihr nicht für den Preis 4 Tracks ist bisschen pimmlig und ist ja auch nicht innovativ oder der gleichen klar wenn ich wie ihr sowas geschenkt bekomme ok aber für mich absolute Kinderspielzeug

[@paradiddle16]

@@db_030 It has ableton link so I would say yes.

[@Psioxify]

@@db_030 Yes you can use Ableton Link

[@P4TCH5S]

Got mine today! super stoked! gonna take it on bike rides and make beats around town. despite its limitations im happy with it. your review was very great! blessings

[@dontcallmejon]

They need to fix that re-sampling issue asap, that's a major block in creative flow... ...whew that last jam 🔥

[@aloharay]

12:00 I think when browsing sound names, to the left is a symbol to tell what the sound source is. 22:30 re editing on a screen... this is abelton Note IOS app in hardware. you can transfer it to Note on your IOS device, edit it, and transfer it back to your Move device all through the cloud service.

[@Funkotronimus]

I feel like this is the kind of thing I felt myself wanting after noodling around with the original KO pocket operator.

[@RobotSnake]

Phaser/Flange at 4:45 sounds absolutely sick. Ordered mine first thing this morning. I think it will go great with the Push 3 Standalone. I'm slowing moving away from Elektron and AKAI and adopting the Ableton standalone devices. Not complaining at all. I love that they work and will continue to work with all future versions. I've always considered what I would do when Elektron no longer makes a RYTM or something like that. Sticking in the Ableton ecosystem is future proof.

[@kristianTV1974]

Like painting your hallway through your letterbox.

[@hugevibez]

I don't think this one's for me, but I'm just here to enjoy seeing the legend Frank mess around with this device. See you next week for your set with DJ Holographic, should be a good time

[@WasabiNoise]

Looks like a nice way to start with new ideas. I wish it had more than 4 tracks, still undecided for my use case. Nice video

[@peterimmelmann1070]

I love it. I wanted to love the ipad-stuff, but it collects dust for years know.

[@rgeraldc80s]

I did not really gel with a push 2, because it takes up so much space, hopefully this works for getting me ideas into ableton, and creating ideas with the limitations it has.

[@cliftonoquinn1865]

The not so obvious: Audio interface, Multitrack recorder with 64GB memory and 32 sample slots, Sampler, 1500 sounds, battery powered, speaker and microphone built-in, WiFi, wireless import and export. Show me one piece of gear that does all of this (and does it well) at this price point.

[@baconbigbeats]

Exactly. Build quality looks solid too.

[@djkanyon]

Bro... i can show you a lot of gear that include midi out jack(s).... at much lower price point

[@PaulSalamoneComedy]

I've seen a lot of comments saying this will enable people to pump out ever more generic music. Sure, but what will it enable? What new genres come out of people trying to push (haha) the Move past its limits?

[@el_dani]

It‘s about the fun. And maybe you can use it for track replay at shows..

[@patrickpoggensee6333]

Can you sidechain in any way?

[@kosmikmusa]

Nice move.

[@Z3RODIVID3]

should have at least been 2 pages of 4 channels each (8 total). And a bigger screen. Very limiting for what could have been a very nice idea imo

[@seanp2k617]

Polyend Play+ exists too

[@FilippoCarrux]

Can I import my own samples on this machine?

[@FJAAKBERLIN]

Of course - it’s super easy as this device has WiFi and you can literally load up files with any computer via your browser!

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Yes

[@JohanWave]

Great video! Does it have probability / chance for midi notes? I find this very useful on Push and in Ableton.

[@claudiongleur]

Sadly it doesn’t 😒

[@jmawa8616]

Cool device 😮 nice presentation 😊 those building parts cost money, so I get the price tag

[@burtcocain1986]

Plus it's THIN. I mean, half a Maschine Mikro.

[@jmfhsmith4923]

Can you erase one note in real-time by holding a delete button and note pad when the note plays without using the step sequencer or going into a sub menu?

[@eyespy3001]

This is basically the Abelton Note app for iPhone/ipad, but in hardware form. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since I use Note pretty much daily to get ideas for tracks down quickly. Edit: 5:26 Well, glad I’m not the only one that thinks this way 😂

[@smuller1]

How would you guys make a transition from one project to another?

[@JamesBermingham]

2 Moves and a Mixer 🥴🤗

[@ickekiecke]

I think, copy the set an take just the last scene an make in the new set to scene 1 and change the next scenes. I think this going just with drumtracks, because drumtracks can have enough samples inside…

[@Alex7Alex7Alex7]

How many external Midi Devices can i Connect and Play with the internal Sequenzer?

[@NewKilnStudios]

Very limited midi connectivity accordingly with the manual

[@Alex7Alex7Alex7]

@@NewKilnStudios how many devices? One?

[@whirrings]

Very cool demo/walkthrough, many thanks! 👍

[@DayflightTrok]

For me it seems that is an Ableton OP-1+

[@Sensitivo.1992]

Is it technically an option to get 8 or more tracks and toggle between them with a dedicated shift+ command? this would be such a game changer. 4 tracks is just not enough for a standalone unit :/ i mean even the Ableton Note iOS app has 8 tracks.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

I guess it’s meant to be a Sketchpad. Limitations are good for creativity and you can resample and put it into Drum Rack so you have tracks free again

[@RobotSnake]

8 makes way more sense and I am sure will come but right away I see an alternative. The drum tracks can hold 16 samples per track and then you could play the sample chromatically and that will have its own sequencer ability. Technically that is 64 tracks. If you really wanted. You can also sample up to 4 minutes per pad so you could make some loops and resample them down as stems to play in a drum track. Seems easy enough to squeeze out more than the 4.

[@Maurizio_909]

@@RobotSnakeexactly this! 👍

[@RevIsnot]

i dont get its function. Its an ableton LITE LITE box?

[@mju135]

It's a Push standalone Lite for a quarter of the price.

[@iamkeebz]

its a groovebox

[@Ground_Effect]

@@mju135 Except you can get an actual Push 2 for 100 less than this little Box.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Yes and No. It’s much more than a groovebox with lots of instruments and advantages from Ableton

[@mju135]

@@Ground_Effect Push 2 isn't standalone.

[@a.c.2211]

Novation circuit adaptation? It looks like a quite similar device

[@98INST]

Need this

[@derekholland3328]

think its great for taking it with you as you travel. jot and sketch out ideas roughly. then take back to ableton and flesh it out fully.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

💯

[@RobotSnake]

Then you could bounce down the stems and load them up to play live from the Move. That's what I plan doing with the move and my Push 3. Both out to an Octatrack or Sp404mk2 as a mixer/fx unit.

[@vforvillain77]

Can you record audio (not just Ableton instruments) into clips while things are playing and have them loop immediately in real time just like ableton?

[@db_030]

No, as Move only triggers midi notes and not audio clips. You can sample into a drum rack while the device is playing and immediately sequence that recorded sample in the sequencer to get a similiar effect, I guess.

[@RobotSnake]

I believe so. Each pad can have 4 minutes of audio too.

[@PoboyMusic]

16 pitches should be on push too

[@rafa787]

just a headphone out? not a MAIN OUT and a AUX OUT?

[@rundtomrasmus]

Yes Frank, you may say that ;-)

[@chrisliddiard725]

Circuit with a screen. Is it MPE?

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

No, „only“ aftertouch

[@TeleporterM11]

How many tracks can it run standalone

[@el_dani]

4

[@RobotSnake]

4 but the drum tracks have 16 samples per track track and the samples can be played chromatically. It also can resample and load full loops on a drum pad. It should have totally been 8 and likely will be but the immediate workarounds are nice.

[@53nzr]

Totally underwhelming. Sorry to say it but I had to. The thing with devices like these is they have no labels on the controls anymore. They are meant for people to only use them for long and long periods of time until they form muscle memory. Nowadays anybody has 3-5 synths or other grooveboxes, effects and if you don't use one for 1 month, you'll have to re-adapt to it every time.

[@adknon9631]

@@53nzr Agree. Also for my style of working completely senseless and as far I know nobody was asking for such kind of tool. Sad that this is next step into moneymaking focus of Ableton.

[@sudbenzer6603]

this is a fair point tbh. i don't like this minimalistic approach ensuring that music get's more and more generic.

[@weisland2807]

the price point is great. not overly complex. perfect for someone getting into musicmaking who has not been bitten by GAS yet. personally i'm impressed! also there are displays showing parameters no?

[@plutostube]

True, I felt the same after first demo

[@maxbowie3254]

Agreed. Thre is nothing innovative about this. Ipad with $6 Koala Sampler and a Launchpad X is deadly. Fits my little bag, has 50 times more power, 64 pads, exports directly to ableton drum kits, and there is nothing faster.

[@KebbaPropulsion]

It's basically Ableton Note for about 4 times the cost of an old iPad 6 and Ableton Note . Nice piece of hardware though. Very cute.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Incl. a mic, audiointerface and much more hands on.

[@theinvisibleman-e8v]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV iphone has a mic and 8 tracks and far superior screen.

[@foljs5858]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV iPad is hands on too. And this is not small enough to take easily everywhere, nor cheap enough...

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

So it‘s great, those which are happy with an IPad and Ableton Note don’t need it but why complaining? There are others who might like it and don’t have an IPad.

[@AlpaySahingoez]

New material for a Bad Gear episode. 😂

[@milkmannheim]

does it have time stretch ?

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Yes

[@milkmannheim]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV great ! strange no one talks about that and it is not mentioned on the ableton website tech specs

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

It’s in the video. I hope I'm not confusing anything

[@milkmannheim]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV I did not find any mention of time stretch. I think they would advertise it, if it would have it ?!?

[@Psioxify]

@@milkmannheim you can time stretch samples in a drum rack

[@Niko80s]

Not the best presentation unfortunately.. (also only 4 tracks is a bit disapointing at that price range...)

[@ChrisP3000x]

4 tracks and non-removable battery? HARD NO.

[@daaniehamel]

Dit people forget the op-z? 😭😂

[@kitespongan]

Op-Z has a screen?😂😂😂😂😂

[@daaniehamel]

@@kitespongan true hahah

[@daaniehamel]

I didn’t miss the screen tho but i get where you are coming from

[@RobotSnake]

According to it's update history apparently teenage engineering did!

[@pawelgrund4540]

this will sell like crazy

[@Niko80s]

im not sure about that, only 4 tracks for 450EU...there are better competitors in that price range..

[@foljs5858]

Pass. Not portable or cheap enough to be worth it over saving up for Push

[@flrn84791]

The metronome being on master and no dedicated headphones out just kills this.

[@darkuniversesound]

There is a dedicated headphone out 🤙🌌

[@flrn84791]

@@darkuniversesound There doesn't seem to be, no.

[@darkuniversesound]

@@flrn84791 There literally is, in the back next to the power button 🤦‍♂️🙄🌌

[@flrn84791]

@@darkuniversesound Yup, and that's the main output, there's only one stereo output, not two. So, no dedicated headphones output where you'd route metronome and cue. "🤦‍♂🙄🌌" but you're welcome to try and make your point with more emojis

[@baconbigbeats]

6:58. A fart….its a fart.

[@repinekb]

Полная уета

[@Deepenuv]

🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱

[@seventfour9247]

MPE?

[@relative_vie]

negative

[@MichaelSyrrakos]

Poly Aftertouch

[@Nothingspeshalwaysfresh]

First !

[@flflflflflfl]

Your gf left you because you always came first.

[@Nothingspeshalwaysfresh]

@@flflflflflfl lol. 😂 touché

[@jeffkay1977]

Go get an MPC.

[@inveruriedruglegend1550]

Second

[@jeffkay1977]

That is clunky.

[@romulus_]

not impressed. four tracks? other hardware does it better. plus, ableton has warped many of us into visual producers. the tiny display is a joke.

[@adknon9631]

Yeah. Even more generic music is coming.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Don’t be so negative. It’s all about creativity and skills it doesn’t matter what you use. See it as a sketch pad.

[@jeremyadam19]

Don’t care for the product. I’ll watch anything with Frank 🤘🏼🤌🏼