Push 3 Standalone as Multitrack Recorder?

The Lounge Other Gear
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Hey out there, Elektronauts. Is anyone out there using Push 3 Standalone as a multitrack recorder?

I’m interested in using it for this purpose, but am unsure of its ability to do so.

Like so many others, I spend all day working on my phone / computer and am trying to find a way to record / compose / write at least somewhat separately from my laptop. I’m fine with the idea of a hybrid workflow, just don’t want that to be my only option and also don’t want to buy two to three different pieces of eqpt to switch back and forth from. If that ends up being the way to go, that’s fine. I’m just wondering if Push 3 might make a really good solution here.

My workflow generally involves beginning with a programmed beat, adding either a bassline or melodic passage, going back and recording acoustic drums (typically through 2-4 microphones), then adding vocals. Sometimes I mix the electronic and acoustic drums, sometimes I use either for specific sections, etc.

Occasionally I’ll start with a synth line or arpeggiated sequence. Either way, I now have a grid to work within that feels better / more inspiring than working to a click track. And then I have the ability to switch between or mix in sequenced segments and elements with the mic recorded tracks.

I’ve looked into the Tascam Models, Zoom Livetraks, etc., and they all just feel a little clunky to me.

I’m not an Ableton power user or anything, but I know my way around it a little bit.

Questions:

  1. Did Ableton ever implement a way to get to Arrangement view in Push 3?

  2. If not, would it be feasible to record long audio tracks into clips and work that way? Is there a prohibitive maximum length for a clip? I’m thinking of breaking it up just as you might when using all electronic instruments / midi files, having each clip row as a different section of the song, but would also love the ability to just use it straight up as I would use a multitrack recorder. And the. Have the option of layering programmed instruments on top of that.

  3. With an audio interface now implemented is it possible via ADAT to record multiple incoming tracks to multiple incoming channels? For live drums or other multi-mic’ed instruments?

I really just want to away from the laptop for the writing and recording portions of the process. I’m happy to edit on a laptop or with a laptop and another device, etc.

Almost all standalone recorder solutions that I’ve looked have at least one limitation that I’m just not super happy about in terms of either workflow, sound quality / signal strength, etc.

I fully recognize that the Push 3 costs a hell of a lot more than a zoom or tascam board, but if it did everything that I needed it to do minus providing mic pre’s (I’m looking to use no -stock mic pre’s anyway) I think that it might be worth the cost and having to let go of some other gear for.

What are your thoughts, Elektronauts? Is anyone out there using Push 3 in this way?

Am I being an idiot for even considering this?

Thanks!

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Yes
Yes
Yes.

Prob best to see if you can try one really, think that’s the only way to gauge the proper workflow you want. But yes it works the same way as ableton on the desktop application, so if you can arm all your track channels and record multitracks that way it will work. You can shift+rec and it will technically record in the background to arrangement view, but there’s no UI arrangement support on push, that’s really more a way to capture your jams to arrangement. But you could treat push as a multitrack recorder, it just happens to also prepare a daw template ready to get going and build your track rather than a field recorder of random labelled wav files. Like I say, see if you can borrow one or at least buy direct from ableton with their return policy to check it really does what you want.

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Thanks for that response. There’s actually a used one near me for a very reasonable price that I’ll go check out today.

If it’s able to record more than a single track at once via the interface / adat, I wouldn’t really need access to the arrangement view until later in the process.

It just seems like it might be a really nice flexible recording workflow for me that would allow me to use external preamps and work the way I want to work until it’s time to get more detailed and work inside the box.

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Ableton Push 3 Manual | Ableton.

just switch exclusive arm off in prefs and you can arm and record as many tracks as you wish into session, just hit new to record new individual takes as new clips.

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  1. No, Push 3 Standalone does not have arrangement view.
  2. Yes, you can record longer takes into clip view. This would work well to use it as a multitrack recorder. I think clips are great for this, because it is easy to just start a new clip for a new take or section of a song. And once you understand the workflow, you can create your own default template so things will be pretty much set up when you turn it on.
  3. Yes, I you can record up to 8 tracks at once over ADAT.

I also agree that it’s one of those machines you won’t know until you use it. Just invest some time into learning the machine and workflow. I would suggest just spending a few days going through the manual, they will walk you through a lot of the basic functions. And later, once you have a grip on things, go through the firmware release notes, as that will show you all of the features added. I don’t think the main manual is updated with the firmware updated features.

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