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Ableton Live 7

Ableton Software is excited to announce a range of new products to be released before the end of 2007: Ableton Live 7, several new add-on instruments and Ableton Suite, a product that combines Live 7 with a choice selection of instruments in one comprehensive, discounted package.

With this version Ableton has renewed the core of Live and added several new instruments and audio tools. Here what’s new:

The enhanced audio engine improves fidelity with 64-bit mix summing, POW-r dithering, optimized sample-rate conversion and other advances.
The new Compressor device integrates three compression models, one of which is based on a feedback design commonly found in the most praised vintage compressors.
Fully integrated side-chaining capability is available for the new Compressor, as well as Gate and Auto Filter.
High-Quality mode has been added to Operator, Dynamic Tube and Saturator for anti-aliased processing and reduction of typical “digital” artifacts.
EQ Eight now supports an improved user interface and a 64 bit mode for increased accuracy and fidelity.
Live 7 introduces the Spectrum analyzer that provides real-time visual feedback for any audio signals within Live . Spectrum’s analysis window can be enlarged for more detail and shows note names as well as frequency and amplitude.
The MIDI engine has been reworked to minimize timing error (jitter) of recorded MIDI.
Hardware integration has been streamlined - hardware synthesizers and effects can now be inserted into device chains just like software plug-ins.
Live 7 introduces Smart Priming, a new resource-saving sample playback technology allows users of large sample libraries, such as Ableton’s new sampled instruments or third-party libraries imported via Sampler, to run an impressive number of instruments at the same time.
New audio and MIDI fact sheets explain exactly how signals are (or are not) being modified when using specific features in Live and provide tips for achieving the highest quality results.

Live 7 brings the features most frequently requested by their users:

Time signature In the Arrangement View, time signature changes are represented by markers at the top of the scrub area. Changes can be inserted in the Arrangement timeline and tied to Session scenes.

In the Session View, scene names can trigger time signature changes in addition to tempo changes. When launching scenes in the Session View, time signature changes can be recorded into the Arrangement.
Video Export - Warped and unwarped video can be exported to files.
Easier Automation - Multiple automation lanes per track can be displayed and edited at the same time.
A new “tempo nudge” function makes it easier to synchronize to live musicians or DJs. This feature can be mapped to any MIDI controller.
REX files can be dragged, dropped and played just like WAV or AIFF files.
Many Other Important Improvements - Live, Operator and Sampler have received many small improvements and additions based on users’ requests.

Ableton Live 7 is introducing the new Drum Rack
The new “Drum Rack” streamlines beat production via an easy drag-and-drop interface and brings endless creative possibilities.
Easy Interface - A familiar drum pad interface allows dragging and dropping of samples, instruments and effects. Every pad can have its own Sampler, Simpler, Operator, or any other virtual instrument or plug-in, and its own individual effects chain. A Drum Rack can have its own sends, returns and submixes. Every pad can be shown as a mixer channel in the Session View. Each drum can be dragged out of its Rack for isolated pattern control and editing.
Slice and Dice - The slicing feature fills a Drum Rack with the individual hits from REX or audio loops. The original sequence is represented as a MIDI clip, making it easy to replace, reshuffle or re-record the events and process them individually.

Availability: All announced products will be released within Q4, after extensive testing. A public beta version is now available.

Pricing for full version of Ableton LIVE 7

Download version: EUR 419/USD 499
Boxed version, includes the Essential Instrument Collection 2 (EIC 2): EUR 499/USD 599

Pricing for upgrades from LIVE 6

Download version: EUR 99/USD 119
Boxed version: EUR 129/USD 159 (for owners of EIC 1, a free upgrade to EIC 2 is included)

Pricing for upgrades from other versions including Live LE and Live Lite
Pricing varies depending on which version you upgrade from. For users of any version of Live including Live Lite and Live LE, there will be attractively priced introductory offers for Live 7 and various combinations of instruments. Please find your individual offers at www.ableton.com/live-7-upgrades

More info and demos: www.ableton.com