Push 3 Users Thread

I posted a similar question in the Ableton Live thread related to comparing Bitwig to Live (considering the purchase of a Push 3 myself): https://www.elektronauts.com/t/ableton-live-11/141794/1828. I got some good responses there.

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I got this too - the email address seems legitimate, but it’s a fairly odd request. Is there harm to not responding? I got mine linked to my suite with no issues etc.

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Not the response I was hoping for when it’s clearly working for others :cry:

Sharing for awareness though.

Could those with controller versions confirm again please as I’m sure a few of you said it worked fine. Happy to take a PM rather than flood here again! Might just be in unfortunate with my specific unit and MacBook.

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I’ve sent it off anyway. I think it’s legit (though odd) but address seemed sound. No harm in it.

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That is very odd, I can power my unit (controller) with every usb-c cable I have. And I have like 6 different cables, some Apple, ugreen and theirs. All work fine.
Perhaps with the standalone version you lose the possibility to power it through USB? Anyway, when USB powered I get a horrible noise on the inputs, ground loop kind of noise. The noise disappears when I plug the DC adapter. I wonder if that would be helpful as well for the people that experienced a similar noise on the headphone out.

EDIT: I have a MacBook air M1 and a Mac mini also with M1, both can power the Push fine through USB.

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Good to know. I’d rather have usb power and noisy inputs than not have it at all!

Bizarre it works fine for some though! I’ve had no luck with any cables :joy:

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Yeah it would suck for me not being able to bus power it as I intend to mainly use it with the MacBook air without DC. I would keep trying with their support, I think the person who wrote you back is just mistaken. That’s why I was wondering if maybe with standalone you lose the option to bus power it…

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Seems to me that support person is mistaken. From the manual:

2.1 Connecting Push to a Computer

Turn on Push and use the USB-C cable to connect the hardware to your computer. The power supply does not need to be connected when Push is in Control Mode, however, you can plug it in to charge the hardware for later standalone use if needed.

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That’s worded a little oddly though and I suspect it’s standalone model focused so not counting on it for the controller version

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This makes little sense to me, and it contradicts the manual:

In terms of features, there is no difference between Push units with or without a processor, the only difference is that units with a processor can be used to make music without being connected to a computer.”

"For the sake of brevity, we will be referring to Push throughout this manual without making a distinction between standalone units and units without a processor unless explicitly necessary."

“Turn on Push and use the USB-C cable to connect the hardware to your computer. The power supply does not need to be connected when Push is in Control Mode, however, you can plug it in to charge the hardware for later standalone use if needed.”

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This sounds petty but it’s going to be a real buzzkill if you can’t power over USB. Mine should be coming tomorrow, that’s the first thing I’ll test (with an M1 Pro).

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I would think about it this way - if the controller only version wasn’t capable of USB power, then that it would mean it has a hardware difference with standalone. You should be able to upgrade the controller version to a standalone version at a later date by installing a CPU, SSD and battery, yeah? So how are you going to upgrade a USB port?

If that were true, then it would mean the USB port is potentially locked or something on controller only. Or it would mean there is no USB power and it only charges/needs the battery. Very confusing. I’m more inclined to believe the people posting in here that say their non-standalone versions do USB power.

Not petty at all in my opinion. Push 2 could be powered off USB, and that wasn’t even USB-C. Would be a downgrade.

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It can of course be powered over USB in controller mode. The support person is wrong.

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Silly question maybe but is there a way to get an oscilloscope? (And maybe spectrograph) to work in standalone mode on incoming audio?

Well, she’s not wrong in that my Push 3 can’t be powered over USB :joy:

I’ll wait and see what they come back with though. Clearly working for most people - though some reporting that it’s barely visible on bus power.

If support can’t bottom it out then I’m probably in a place where I’d rather return my unit, wait the two months and buy again when stock is back in just to confirm whether or not it’s my MacBook causing the issue. It probably is an important enough issue for me to not be able to let it slide.

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My push is bright when on bus power… At least bright enough.

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To be fair, I’ve read a few reports of folks saying it’s brighter than Push 1/2. Both of them were fine to me when I had them so I’d be happy with that sort of level.

consider using eq eight, which gives you a rough spectrumanalyzer

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I posted this in the dedicated Push audio interface thread, but thought folks here might be interested too.

So I tried hooking up Push 3 standalone to the 18i20 mk3 via ADAT in and out. Success! It works well. Most of my synths and hardware effects are already hooked up to the 18i20 via a connected line mixer and patchbay, and with just a bit of tweaking in Focusrite Control, I can now easily hook up the Push and access what I need by selecting audio channels directly on the Push. I can also send anything on the Push out through my hardware effects chain and beck in again over ADAT, all without needed a computer connected to the 18i20. I ended up needing to sacrifice the second headphone output - which shares a custom monitoring mix with analog outs 9 and 10 - to get it working the way I wanted without needing a DAW for the routing, but that’s worth it for me. All in all - very happy with the result.

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Interesting. Mine is only dimly lit. It’s hard to use during the day when bus powered. Looks fine with the power plugged in.

I’ve tried connecting it directly to my MBP USB C Ports and to various ports of the Caldigit TS4.