Well it was about a year coming but Ableton finally announced Live 6

Unfortunately I JUST missed out on the Beta Testing this time around but hopefully next time. I plan to upgrade in Sept as soon as it’s released though.

Here’s a brief summary of the Live 6 features:

• Multiprocessor (Dual Core) Support
• Deep Freeze Function, gives you the ability to edit Frozen tracks
• New Instruments, Effects & Sample Packs
• Quicktime Support
• The Ability to drag Videos into the Arrangement View & edit them LIVE

New and Improved Devices add to Live’s palette of creative tools.

• EQ Eight has replaced EQ Four, with improvements that turn it into both a sound-shaping and a mastering tool.
• Add analog richness with the warm distortion of Dynamic Tube. Like many of Live’s effects, it can be used for subtle coloration or drastic sonic manipulation.
• Saturator has been improved with the addition of a true analog saturation curve, a user-definable waveshaper, and an optional second output saturator stage.
• Automate and “play” incoming MIDI notes with Note Length. This MIDI effect can generate new notes when incoming notes are released, emulating the release behavior of instruments like the piano or the harpsichord.
• Operator has been augmented with a set of 24 dB filter modes, as well as new FM algorithms, giving users more sonic possibilities than ever.

This now means that not only is Live going to give Logic a run for their money but they are also opening things wide up for VJ’s to really flourish.Introduction of a brand new Software Sampler, cunningly named “Sampler” this will give users more control over samples, more creativity when it comes to sound design & generally many more options that were missing from previous samplers.

SO what would I like to see in Live 7? Well where do I start:

• Better Softsynths, Think Logic’s ES Series
• Real Sidechaining
• Curves on Automation instead of just Lines.
• Sample Sorting by Key

So what’s it gonna cost? Existing Live 5 Users can Upgrade for 90 Euros or $119, a brand new downloadable version will be 469 Euros or $499 for more info vist the Live 6 Pricing