Ableton Live 12 and Push 3: Should a Long-Time Logic User Take the Plunge?
Alright, let's have a heart-to-heart. For years, my musical world has revolved around the familiar embrace of Logic Pro. We go way back, Logic and I.
I remember the days of plugging my decidedly budget-friendly SX Strat into my trusty iMac – a sound that, let's be honest, was more akin to a strangled cat than anything resembling music. But through the sonic muck, Logic was there, a constant companion as I fumbled my way through layering guitar tracks that, thankfully, suck a little less these days. Now, I can comfortably navigate its interface, whip up a beat, mangle a sample in Quick Sampler, and bathe it all in some nostalgic tape hiss without even thinking about consulting the internet. It's my creative home base.
Then came the Maschine. Oh, the allure of those pads! The tactile feedback was undeniably satisfying. But the software… that was a different story. It felt like wading through treacle, slowing down my workflow instead of enhancing it. Eventually, the Maschine and I parted ways, another expensive toy relegated to the "good idea in theory" pile. My trusty Keystation 61 has been more than sufficient for triggering samples since then, no need for complex routing or template projects.
But the gear lust, as any musician knows, is a persistent beast. Lately, Ableton's website has been whispering sweet nothings about Live 12 and the Push 3. Released on March 5th, 2024, Live 12 boasts a "fast, fluid, flexible" workflow, complete with the intriguing Session View and a treasure trove of beatmaking tools. And the Push 3? Described as "intuitive, expressive, inspiring," with those tempting MPE pads and standalone capabilities. My curiosity, naturally, is piqued. Could this be different? Could this actually enhance my creative process without becoming another expensive paperweight?
The online buzz certainly adds to the intrigue. Sample-driven producers, the kind of folks who, like me, enjoy digging through dusty breaks and soul chops, seem to be singing Live 12's praises. While I'm not exactly unhappy with Logic, there's a nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, Live could help me churn out beats with more immediacy, perhaps escape the linear confines I sometimes feel trapped in.
One of the first things that struck me was Ableton's pricing structure. Unlike Logic's straightforward one-time purchase, Live comes in three flavors: Intro ($99), Standard ($449), and Suite ($749). Intro feels too restrictive with its 16-track limit – I tend to layer things unnecessarily, a habit I doubt I'll break anytime soon. Standard offers a decent package with 13 instruments, 42 effects, and 38GB of sounds.1 But it's the Suite, with its hefty 71 instruments, 60 effects, 20 MIDI tools, and 71GB of content, that seems like the true Logic equivalent. MusicRadar even calls Suite a "creative sandbox," highlighting intriguing additions like Meld (a dual-oscillator synth) and Roar (a saturation plugin). These, along with the MIDI generators Rhythm and Seed, and tools like Stack and Strum, have definitely caught my attention. Could these finally make me embrace MIDI manipulation, something Logic's MIDI Transform has never quite managed to do? The promise of effortlessly laying down grooves and chords, and quickly tweaking sampled ideas, is undeniably appealing.
And then there's the user interface. I've always found Ableton's UI a bit… utilitarian. But the promise of a browser that can actually find similar sounds? That's genuinely cool. It's 2025, and Logic's file browser still feels like it's stuck in the dial-up era. Seriously, anyone who's experienced the MediaBay in Cubase knows what a modern file browser should be like. This seemingly small detail could actually make a significant difference in my day-to-day workflow.
| Feature | Logic Pro | Ableton Live 12 Intro | Ableton Live 12 Standard | Ableton Live 12 Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $99 | $449 | $749 |
| Workflow | Linear | Linear & Non-linear (Session View) | Linear & Non-linear (Session View) | Linear & Non-linear (Session View) |
| Key Features for Sampling | Quick Sampler, Flex Time, extensive audio editing | Simpler | Simpler, Drum Sampler | Simpler, Drum Sampler, Granulator III |
| Built-in Instruments (Count/Highlights) | Extensive library including Alchemy, ES2, Drum Kit Designer | Basic selection including Drum Rack, Impulse | 13 instruments including Operator, Sampler, Analog | 71 instruments including Meld, Wavetable, Collision, Electric |
| Built-in Effects (Count/Highlights) | Comprehensive suite including Channel EQ, Compressor, Reverb | Basic selection | 42 effects including Glue Compressor, EQ Eight, Reverb | 60 effects including Roar, Echo, Hybrid Reverb |
| Session View | No (Limited loop-based functionality added recently) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MIDI Tools (Highlights) | Extensive MIDI editing, MIDI Transform, Drummer | Basic MIDI editing | Basic MIDI editing, MIDI effects | MIDI Transformations & Generators (Rhythm, Seed, Stack, Shape), Max for Live MIDI Tools |
| Max for Live | No | No | No | Yes |
| Third-Party Plugin Support | AU, VST | AU, VST | AU, VST | AU, VST |
| macOS/Windows Compatibility | macOS Only | macOS & Windows | macOS & Windows | macOS & Windows |
But let's be real, it's the Push 3 that's really pulling at my heartstrings. Ableton's marketing paints it as "intuitive, expressive, inspiring," boasting 64 MPE pads, standalone mode, and a generous 250GB of storage. The r/ableton community is buzzing, calling it "a beat machine you hold". I envision it as a natural progression from my Keystation, a more hands-on way to interact with my samples. But the ghost of the Maschine still lingers. I'm wary of another hardware controller that promises the world but delivers a clunky integration with my existing DAW.
The thought of bypassing the Maschine software altogether and instead grabbing a soulful sample, chopping it in Logic's Quick Sampler, nudging it with Flex Time, and warming it up with my beloved Vintage EQs is comforting. But Live 12's offerings are tempting. Roar could potentially give my drums that beautifully degraded tape sound I crave, and Meld might twist a familiar sample into something entirely new. Ableton's website describes Meld as capable of creating "textural soundscapes" and Roar as delivering "dynamic saturation".2 Sound on Sound even calls Roar "filthy yet precise". That sounds right up my lo-fi alley – grit with soul.
While I appreciate the traditional Arrangement Window in Logic, I'm also intrigued by the potential of Session View. The idea of stacking clips, looping a break, dropping a bassline, and just playing around with ideas in a non-linear fashion is definitely appealing. Recording capabilities seem solid too – Live 12 has finally added multi-track comping (something Logic has had for ages), though Logic's Flex Time still feels snappier for my guitar takes. Perhaps Push 3 could change that. Ableton's site calls it "like an instrument," and MusicTech raves about its "pad response". Tapping out a shuffled snare or chopping a sample without endless mouse clicks sounds incredibly appealing, even if the Maschine's pads ultimately couldn't save it from its software woes.
My current setup is pretty streamlined: Strat into the Vox, my trusty pedalboard (Centavo, TS9, Big Muff and T.C. Prophet), a Volt-2 interface feeding into Logic, and my DT990pros for those late-night mixing sessions. Where would Live 12 fit in? Standard's $449 price tag feels manageable, while Suite's $749 would require more serious consideration. I could see myself running my old ELKA OMB-5 through Meld, chopping samples in Simpler (which Ableton describes as "intuitive"), and layering beats with the Push. I did stumble upon some early reports of Live 12 having CPU hiccups (Musicians on a Mission), but latest patches have likely smoothed things out. Mixing is another area where I hesitate. Logic's mixer is my comfort zone; Live's Session mixer, even with the touted updates, might feel alien.
So, what's really pulling me towards Ableton?
Easier Beatmaking (Maybe?)
The combination of Session View and those new MIDI tools could potentially bypass the sometimes slow build-up I experience in Logic. Think calls it "groove on tap," perfect for quickly flipping a sample and finding the right vibe. Ableton's site promises "endless exploration," and that idea is definitely selling me.
Push
A quick Google search reveals a lot of love for Push among lo-fi producers for its sample chopping and drumming capabilities – a more direct approach than the Maschine's software entanglement. Ableton calls it "playful chaos," and that hands-on element could be exactly what I'm missing.
New Stuff
Roar, Meld, micro-tuning – these are sonic territories Logic's library doesn't currently touch. The demo clips on Ableton's site showcasing Roar crunching drums have definitely grabbed my attention. The potential to warp a simple loop into something warm and wonderfully weird is hard to ignore.
But what's holding me back?
Maschine Flashback
The hardware route didn't quite deliver the promised workflow nirvana before. Think warns that the shift to Live could stall my progress while I navigate a new learning curve. Ableton's marketing makes it look seamless, but I've been burned before.
Wallet Sting
$449-$749 for the software, plus another $799 for the Push? That's a significant financial hit. My beloved Vox and Centavo pedal were considerably gentler on my bank account. Logic's $200 one-time fee feels like a distant memory.
Logic's Grip
When it comes to mixing, Flex Time, and the intuitive Sampler, Logic ties my beats up neatly. Live seems more focused on the initial spark of creation rather than the final polish.
The truth is, I don't need to switch. Logic is perfectly capable. I can sample, chop, layer, and bounce tracks without any major complaints. The Maschine experience taught me that hardware can overpromise, and my Keystation is perfectly adequate for triggering samples. But Ableton's website has planted a seed of doubt, a whisper of a more intuitive, more immediate way of making music. Session View feels like jamming a beat live, not meticulously plotting it out. I've seen lo-fi beatmakers online describe it as "sketching vibes in real time," contrasting it with Logic's more "step-by-step" approach.
The Push 3 offers the tantalizing possibility of dodging the pitfalls of the Maschine – less extra software reliance, more tactile feel. But I'm not desperate. It's just this persistent itch. Could Live unlock a freer flow in my beatmaking, or am I simply chasing a sonic mirage? Live 12 certainly has its charms – quick, raw, and seemingly built for sample enthusiasts like me who appreciate lo-fi textures and live manipulation. And Push 3 is the ultimate tease – standalone, pad-driven, no laptop required for those initial creative bursts. Ableton's marketing calls it "instant ideas," and the beatmakers on Reddit and YouTube seem to love its flow, describing it as less polished but more alive than Logic.
I'm definitely not abandoning Logic – it's still my trusted workhorse. But Live's pull is undeniable. I've decided to take the plunge and grab the 30-day Suite trial that Ableton is generously offering. If it feels right, maybe I'll start saving for Live 12 Standard and the Push – that $1248 combined cost is steep after the Maschine misstep, but that "playful chaos" vibe is incredibly tempting. And if it turns out to be another letdown? Well, Logic will still be there, waiting patiently, and I can always try to recoup some of the cost by selling the Push.
Have any of you wrestled with a similar DAW dilemma? Has Live 12 or the Push 3 caught your eye? Drop me a line – I'm still trying to sort all of this out in my head. Catch you later.
