Ableton Live is free, but not in the way most people think.

There is a free trial.

There is also Ableton Live Lite, which some beginners already have sitting unused in an account somewhere because it came bundled with a MIDI controller, audio interface, or plugin they bought.

But the full v...

Installing plugins in Ableton Live 12 is easier than you think. Whether you’re using VSTs or Audio Units (AU), this guide will walk you through every step to get your instruments and effects running smoothly.

Key Takeaways

• Ableton Live supports VST2, VST3, and AU (Mac only) plugins

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If you've been weighing up Ableton Live or Push 3, you've probably seen the hardware and thought,

"I want that."

Then you've wondered whether you need Ableton Live first, or whether the Push does everything on its own.

Maybe you already have Live and you're not sure what the Push actually a...

Ableton Live 12.4 is now available, and it is a free update for Live 12 users.

And honestly, this is one of the more interesting Ableton updates I have seen in a while.

Not because it adds some flashy AI generator.

Not because it gives us another hundred presets.

But because it shows where...

Ableton Live Intro vs Lite: Which Is Better for Beginners?

If you're getting into music production and you've decided Ableton is the DAW for you, the Ableton Live Intro vs Lite question trips a lot of people up before you've even bought anything.

Do you go for Ableton Live Intro at £69, o...

I've had the Adam Audio D3Vs on my desk for 2 weeks.

I've been testing them in a small room with minimal acoustic treatment, and honestly, the results have surprised me.

Let me tell you about the first moment I plugged them in, because it's what sold me on them.

That First Listen

I p...

I've had the Novation Launch Control XL MK3 on my desk for over 2 weeks, putting it through its paces and I have been pleasantly surprised. There are 3 features on this controller that make it genuinely interesting, and one change that you absolutely need to know about before you buy. 

Before w...

Is Ableton Hard to Learn? (Honest Answer from a Working Educator)

I get asked this question constantly. At every university I teach at, including ICMP, BIMM, NHAM, and Thinkspace Education Online, it's always the same. Performance students, creative artists, people who've never opened a DA...

How to Use Link Audio in Ableton Live (Does It Actually Work?)

How to Fix Modular Synth Latency in Ableton Live (Use This CV Tools Trick)

Struggling with modular latency in Ableton? Use the External Audio Effect device after CV Instrument to fix it. This guide shows how to keep your modular synth in perfect sync with Ableton Live, whether you're using Eu...

How to Record Hardware Synths in Ableton Live (Latency Free)

The best way to record hardware synths in Ableton Live latency‑free is to combine correct audio and MIDI routing with Ableton’s External Instrument device. When set up properly, your hardware synth behaves like a native instrument —...

These MAX FOR LIVE Devices Will CHANGE How You MIX

The affordable Monomono M4L devices let you instantly add body, character and width to your mixes, and they work standalone on the Ableton Push 3. They sound really good, and here's why.

Why it matters: You know that feeling when you dra...