Ableton Live 9.7 is in public beta and promises big improvements

Ableton has announced Live 9.7 is in public beta, an update that hopes to bring big improvements for Push beatmakers.

As Ableton continues to fine-tune Push as an instrument for music-making and performance, version 9.7 will give you more sample manipulation options, a new drum layout and a collection of other on-screen workflow improvements means slicing, recording and programming beats is getting better than ever with Push.

The new version is currently in public beta and will be released later this year. Live 9.7 will be free for all owners of Live 9, but if you can't wait that long then join the Ableton beta community and test out Live 9.7 beta now.

Additions like the new slicing features and drum layout will work on the first version of Push too. The update brings other new functions to the original unit, plus improvements to how Link works with Looper and tap tempo. For more details on what's new in Live 9.7, head on over to the Ableton website.

Ableton Live 9.7 features

  • New slicing functions - chop samples by beat divisions or regions, as well as manually or by transients.
  • New drum layout - with 16 set velocity levels for playing and programming more dynamic beats.
  • Hands-on audio routing - select and record ins and outs directly from Push for sampling external or internal audio without disrupting your flow.
  • Visual feedback for tighter recordings - new display info shows clip phase and count-in so you can start and finish clip recordings more accurately.
  • Hands-on color customisation - color pads, tracks and clips using Push to make your performance easier.
  • Better playability - pad sensitivity adapts to what you play, whether it's drums or sustained chords.
Simon Arblaster
Video Producer & Reviews Editor

I take care of the reviews on MusicRadar and Future Music magazine, though can sometimes be spotted in front of a camera talking little sense in the presence of real musicians. For the past 30 years, I have been unable to decide on which instrument to master, so haven't bothered. Currently, a lover of all things high-gain in the guitar stakes and never one to resist churning out sub-standard funky breaks, the likes of which you'll never hear.