Tools, devices, tips and tricks to make Push a groovebox or performance tool

The Lounge Other Gear
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Hi folks, I’ve seen this mentioned in a few places so though I’d start a thread to see if we could collate ideas in one place.

While a big update from Ableton could stop this convo in its tracks, I’ve seen people post here a few times about creating groovebox templates and trying to mimick features of various hardware devices in their template. Specifically,I’ve noticed quite a few releases focussing on using the pads as an input, not just relying on the 8 macros.

So I wondered if you had any specififc templates, racks, tools or general approaches that help you perform a track when using Push?

Some interesting options that work on Push controller:

Composition

Expressive Chords: Turns Push into a playable chord pad. Native/Free.

Sequencing

Melodic Sequencer: Push’s own Melodic Sequencer is sometimes overlooked. It’s basic but it can be a lot of fun.

Sting: You all know this one, and with the Push integration it’s now a powerhouse. Free/PWYW.

ML-185 for Push: Another classic, rebooted for Push 3. Free.

Probability Pack Push Mod: Another reboot of an old generation of devices to utilise the pads on Push 3. Free.

Midiseq: Pad based sequencing with features like independent track lengths and play orders, but all controllable via the Push pads.

Seeds: A little complex in its own way, so it’s not as performative as something like a Circuit. But turning the pads into a selector for all the options in the sequencer is nice, and it’s generative.

Push Euclidean Mode: Mark Towers version of the Euclidean model, which uses the pads for choosing number of hits in a drum rack pad.

Ableton Rhythm Generator: Native to Push, this feels like it comes from a. similar place to Push Euclidean mode Native/Free.

Dyad: Dyad is an instrument of course, but is another brilliant use of the pads in Push.

Rhythmic Steps: This does have a Push takeover mode, though I’d argue it’s an acquired taste, it can be an interesting way to sequence. Native/Free.

Performance

Push’s Native XY Control: A great new way to modulate parameters in multiple directions. Native/Free.

Push Mute Mode: Classic pad muting as you’d expect on a groovebox, brought to your drum rack.

Many boxes like Circuit Rhythm, KO-2, MC101 have their own mutli FX pedal built in. I’ve seen a couple of pad based approaches where you can use the pads to momentarily trigger an effect. Punchline is simpler, Sidebrain’s is a bit deeper and more complex. Links below:

If you find any good ways of giving Push that immediate/fun/groovebox feel, let us know and I’ll update the list!

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Useful thread, thanks.

I use the stock Step Recorder device a lot, it is a very fast way to get a complex pattern down. The Push interface is very straightforward: play a note on the pads and the step sequencer advances by one step.

Sting by Iftah is great (and is now built into Live 12.3) and Sting 2 is even better.

The stock SQ sequencer can be pretty good once you get your head around the slightly clunky Push interface.

I think we’ll see a whole new generation of M4L devices coming out that take advantage of Push takeover mode, like Sting 2.

Push 3 is certainly beginning to kill my GAS for an Oxi One Mk2 (although I recognise that the Oxi has a bunch of stuff Push cannot do).

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And right on cue, now there is this… just popped up in my feed.

Looks amazing, instabuy for me.

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This is really good. They way they implemented it feels like a native feature— hold shift and press the pads you want to mute.

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Yep this is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking of. I know Ableton look at Push as an instrument not a groovebox, but so many grooveboxes make sequencers more playable that these features do feel like they could really help take Push to the next level. Thanks for sharing.

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Interesting if the t-1 still making sense for the Push 3S owners? I was tempting to get one, but looks like there are many software options to choose.

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Sorry, didn’t pick this up. Don’t have a T-1 but considered it. The T-1 looks like an excellent performance sequencer, though some of the newer devices perhaps can do some of what it can (Mark Towers Euclidean sequencer comes to mind.) The only thing to note here is that many of these features are independent devices. This means that getting that integrated feeling (controlling 16 channels from one device) is a bit more disjointed. So it’s pros and cons on that score.

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Just throwing MIDIseq into the mix as it’s another interesting Push takeover device.

Updating the main list as well with a couple more options.

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Watching this thread :slight_smile:

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adding this into the mix on this thread too…

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