Ableton Live 8 DAW Software Review: Latest Version of the Popular Loop-Based Digital Audio Workstation

Since it inception, Ableton Live has carved out a niche in the digital audio workstation software world.

Back in the early 2000s, Live was made popular by DJs and live musicians looking for simple but professional loop-based music creation software for composing tracks for live performance.

The simple graphic interface and lack of traditional DAW features attracted many DJs but made it a hard-sell for Pro Tools or Logic users. However, once these users realized how smoothly Live worked as a ReWire client alongside other traditional DAWs (such as Pro Tools), the true potential of the Live DAW became apparent to a much larger audience.

The eighth and latest version of Live continues the onward and upward trend for Ableton's once-humble loop-based DAW.

What's New in Ableton Live 8?

Unlike the latest releases of Pro Tools or Apple Logic Pro, the user interface in Live has not undergone a major facelift. On the contrary, it is the collection of behind-the-scenes improvements that has made Live 8 such a significant update.

There are three versions of the Live software. Live LE is the inexpensive entry-level version with only the basic feature set and sound content. The other two versions (Live and Live Suite) are exactly the same except that the more expensive Live Suite includes a massive sound library and robust selection of virtual instruments.

Revamped Audio Warping in Ableton Live 8

The audio file warp engine has undergone some massive changes in the new version of Live. Automatic transient detection is now a possibility. Furthermore, Live 8 users can attach markers directly to waveforms rather than to Live's time ruler.

Essentially, Live 8 can quantize and manipulate audio similar to MIDI data – all directly within the Live 8 DAW. Although some extreme settings may tax older CPUs, the new audio warping feature sounds smoother and more transparent than on previous versions of Live.

New Plug-Ins Additions to Ableton Live 8

Live 8 comes with six new effects plug-ins. Enhanced dynamics have been address with the addition of a mulitband compressor and a limiter. Ableton has also added a new Overdrive and a ring modulator to its plug-in arsenal.

But for many Live 8 users, the most appealing plug-in additions are the Vocoder and a cool phrase looper simply called Looper.

'Traditional' DAW Features New to Live 8

While Live has always excelled at loop-based composition, features common to traditional linear DAW programs have been slow to appear in Live. But with Live 8 Ableton has clearly made an effort to address some of the most important 'traditional' features absent in previous versions.

For example, users can now create basic audio crossfades in the Arrangement View. As well, Ableton has finally made it possible to group audio tracks together.

Further Developments by the Ableton Live Team

Besides the improvements to the Live DAW environment and feature set, Ableton has introduced some other interesting Live-related projects.

The Live DAW Continues to Improve

Artists and producers who are more interested in music creation and live performance than traditional linear recording/mixing will often find benefits to working in Ableton Live. The folks at Ableton realize this and consequently allow users new and old to download a demo version of Live 8 for free (the 14-day free trial version is available for download from the Ableton website).

From humble beginnings, it is quite clear that Ableton Live has evolved into a powerful and professional digital audio workstation. Version 8 is another significant upgrade for this popular loop-based DAW.

Sep 2, 2009 6:18 PM

Guest :

It is nice software for on the fly creating, but doesn't come close to the full on DAW options presented in Digital Performer. I consider this great software for writing and putting ideas down but as for replacing DP 6 or Logic Pro, there just doesn't seem to be the editing capabilities onboard that these great sequencers have had since the beginning. For writing this is a 10 out of 10. As a main studio DAW, this work is best left to one of the aforementioned, well established big guys that have made this their business.If you use either of these or Pro Tools, Ableton seems to work backwards in respect to building a mixing/ editing window, which might throw you a bit in the beginning. DJ's will find this software irreplaceable as you can do a lot of cool things on the fly. Multi track musicians with complex mixes may lean to Digital Performer or Pro Tools as the end all, simply for the editing capabilities. I personally love the software, but it is not cheap. A full Suite will run you over $1,000.00 US which is a hefty price tag, but there are lesser versions that run without all of the bells and whistles that run rock solid and glitch free from my experience. I'm personally still wondering whether to take the plunge from the Lite version, but those that have used this for awhile are probably quite impressed with the latest additions and innovations. I will run out the trial and decide later, but this is nice , dependable software, conceived for those that want to write and initiate new ideas more than those intent on full on music production. Also, I don't know about a PC but it is rock solid on a Mac. 10 out of 10 for me!