The Most Common Questions About Ableton Live 11
We get a lot of questions both from users as well as friends in the production world who are curious about Ableton in general since it is our main DAW and we make sample packs specifically for Ableton.
And of course any time Ableton decides to release new updates or a major version, there is tons of chatter in the production community about all the cool new things that the latest version can do.
So, we decided to put together a guide that answers all the most common questions we get about the software, as well as some of the latest and greatest features that were released with Live 11, including the most recent 11.3 update which happens to include an entirely new instrument for us to experiment with.
Let's start with the basic questions.
What exactly is this software and what makes it have such a strong following?
What is Ableton Live 11?
Ableton Live is a DAW software that was originally released in 2001. It is currently on version 11. Over the years, the Ableton team has improved it with each release to make it more competitive with other more established DAWs like Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, and others.
The thing that makes Ableton different is it has a traditional arrangement view like most DAWs as well as what they call the Session view.
The Session view was designed for live performance of electronic music at a time when bringing a laptop on stage was a very bold maneuver. It effectively introduced a non-linear way of working in a DAW that has uses in the studio as well as on stage.
Since Ableton takes such a different approach to what a DAW can be, other elements of the software are dramatically different than what most other DAWs feature.
A good example of this is the user interface. Most modern DAWs have very crowded UIs with lots of buttons and menus that go several levels deep. They're generally pretty crowded at best and a clunky mess at worst.
Ableton Live is instead designed with a very minimal user UI and it is easy to hide the elements you don't need at the moment with keyboard shortcuts. We're convinced this alone is a big part of Ableton's cult following. It looks like a DAW designed by aliens in the best possible way and the joke is that it kind of was.
What comes with Ableton Live 11?
Ableton Live is deep software with a lot of secrets, but the short answer is this: pretty much everything you need to make music!
A full license of Live 11 includes software instruments, a powerful Sampler, a substantial library of sounds that includes a brass quartet, string quartet, and curated collections, as well as an entire suite of quality audio effects.
Live 11 is also very easy to configure with live instruments and the hardware you may already have.
Perhaps the most powerful features of Ableton Live is that a full license includes Max for Live. This is a version of the programming environment Max/MSP that is bundled inside Live.
You can use Max to build entirely new features and plugins for Live if you're willing to roll up your sleeves and do some programming.
What is new in Ableton 11.3?
In a nutshell, some new toys, MPE everything, and full integration with Push 3.
Live 11.3 includes some powerful new features. The most notable one is they have released an entirely new synth device for all versions of Live, including Live Lite. It is called Drift.
You can now also play more of your automation data in and have Live's native synths react to it! Analog, Collision, Electric and Tension all now support MPE. If you have a controller that with MPE support, you can modulate these synths in a variety of new ways.
The MPE device itself inside like has also been cleaned up on the UI side and has a lower CPU usage than before.
They have also have updated their core library with more content that supports MPE.
Additionally, the Auto-warp featured has been refined and is now more accurate.
What is a new standout feature in Ableton Live 11.3?
We think the new Drift synth is the most exciting part of the Live 11.3 update.
Having MPE support in more places is a lot of fun, but the new Drift synth sounds fantastic and we find it very easy to use.
This doesn't apply to everybody, but we also think the new Push 3 integration is a big deal. If you have an Ableton Push controller with a processor, you have a hardware version of Ableton now! You have the option of using the Push with a computer as people would traditionally or you can use it in standalone mode like an MPC.
The Push 3 can be upgraded as technology improves (this is a beautiful thing, we love future-proofed technology) and really helps Ableton stand out from the other DAWs that are more "in the box".
What new features were introduced in Ableton Live 11?
Ableton Live 11 was a major upgrade from version 10.
Here is an overview of the major additions to the software.
Comping
Comping is a similar feature to what is available in Logic Pro. Instead of recording different takes to new audio tracks, you can record to "take lanes" embedded in an audio track that you comp together into a complete take using the pencil tool.
Also, easier track editing is available with linked track editing. You can simultaneously edit two or more tracks.
MPE
MPE allows you to use a whole range of new expression controls and physical MIDI controllers that allow for interesting bends and slides between pitch, velocity, and controller values.
New Devices
Hybrid Reverb
A new reverb device that combines convolution reverb with an algorithmic reverb.
Spectral Resonator
A playable spectral effect for creating new kinds of resonances.
Spectral Time
A time based delay effect that performs spectral analysis on an incoming audio signal.
PitchLoop89
A new way of adding modulation effects that goes far beyond the chorus ensemble plugin.
The Inspired by Nature Series by Dillan Bastan
These max for live plugins are literally inspired by structures in nature to stimulate your creativity.
Native Tempo Follower
Using external microphones, you can setup Live to follow the tempo of a performer. This usually is intended to work with a drummer by placing mics on the bass drum, snare, or hi hat of the drum kit.
Upgraded Macro Controls
Value Randomization
You can hit the random button to randomize the values of you macro controls.
Macro Snapshots
If you want to save several very different macro states, you can store them as a Macro snapshot, then snap to them by hitting a button.
Support for Up To 16 Macros
You can now add up to 16 macro controls instead of the previous limit of 8 macro controls.
Probability Controls
In most DAWs, the piano roll is fixed and plays back the same data every time. Live has introduced probability controls to MIDI clips.
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You can set the probability of whether or not a note in your MIDI clips will occur or not.
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You can also set MIDI note velocity ranges in a probabilistic way. In other words, a note or group of notes can be programmed to occur within a range of MIDI velocities. For example, you can tell a group of hi hat notes to trigger between 80-100 velocity. The actual velocity values will be a little different each time.
Improved Follow Actions
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Can be linked to clip length.
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Can be programmed to jump to specific clips.
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More intuitive controls
New Sound Packs
There is an Upright Piano, a string quartet, and a brass quartet made in collaboration with Spitfire Audio.
Live 11 also includes new curated sound packs such as Voice box, Mood Reel, and Drone Lab that each are organized around a central theme.
Voice Box
As you might expect, this collection is full of vocal samples, instruments built around the voice, as well as effects racks designed specifically with vocal processing in mind.
Mood Reel
Mood reel is a collection the fuses organic and synthetic elements using modern music production techniques. This creates an interesting narrative because the sound quality is very high, but you can't always identify exactly what you are listening to.
Drone Lab
Drone lab is exactly what it sounds like. A collection of tonal and texture based samples, as well as instruments, multi-samples, effects racks and devices designed for sustained sonic experimentation.
Drones can serve as a bed for other instruments to dance on top of, something to sidechain your drums to, be the basis for other instruments you build, or simply be the entire composition that gets processed and sent out to your master track.
Many Other Small Optimizations
Many of Live's plugin interfaces, menus, template options, and metering have been improved to be more accurate and easier to use.
Is Ableton Live 11 free?
No. There is a free version called Ableton Live Lite that is included with certain MIDI controllers, but it is very limited. You can use a maximum of 8 tracks and it does not include most of the major plugins.
The Intro, Standard, and Suite versions of Ableton are all paid products.
Will Ableton Live 11 be free?
Ableton has not said anything to suggest the Live suite will be free. They have however released a very inexpensive smartphone app called Note that is the very affordable cost of $6.
Why is Ableton 11 so expensive?
People will pay a premium for Ableton Live 11 over other DAWs because it can do things that most other DAWs can't do.
The arrangement view and session view, high quality stock plugins (like the new convolution reverb and hybrid reverb), a very streamlined user interface, and easy interfacing with physical hardware are all reasons people choose to use Ableton.
In Live 11 specifically, there are major improvements to sound quality, new support for midi polyphonic expression (MPE), macro variations, macro snapshots, entirely new tools like the spectral time plugin or spectral resonator, and a whole suite of other optimizations that make it even more powerful.
Where Can I Download A Cracked Copy of Ableton?
Don't do this. The biggest reason you shouldn't download cracked software that will personally affect you is these cracked software is a good way to get viruses on your computer.
If you wanted to distribute some kind of malware to as many computers as possible, cracking a popular and expensive piece of software, then posting links on Reddit is a great way to distribute it. And this is exactly what happens.
Instead, we recommend you start with one of the cheaper versions of Ableton like Intro or Standard, then you can upgrade to the full version later.
What's included in Ableton Live 11 intro?
You can see a full comparison here to understand what Live Intro has.
However, the biggest limitation we see that you will likely run into first is the track limit. Intro is limited to 16 audio tracks or 16 scenes in the session view. Live Standard and Suite both allow for Unlimited track editing.
Is it worth it to buy Ableton?
Ableton has a very generous free trial period to decide for yourself.
However, we also recommend you ask yourself how serious you are about music production and performing because you want to consider the cost per use over the lifetime of the software license.
If you pay the full price of $750 for Ableton Suite, open it once then give up it's obviously not worth it. You just paid $750 for one use
If you use it instead for 6 months pretty heavily, then never again, this is a cheaper cost per use but still might not be worth it.
However, lets say you buy Live Suite on sale for $600 use it for 5 years nearly every day and have to pay an upgrade fee for $200 at some point. The total cost is $800, but we would say that is worth because you've spent thousands of hours in Ableton so your cost per use is almost nothing.
How much does it cost to use Ableton?
Ableton (thankfully!) has not decided to impose a subscription model on it's users like a lot of companies. You buy a license for a flat fee of $99, $349, or $749 for Live Intro, Standard, or Suite (respectively)
Is Ableton a good DAW?
Ableton Live is one of the best DAWs out there in our opinion. The stock plugins are good and out of the DAWs we use, it has the cleanest user interface. As much as we like DAWs like Logic and Reaper (we also use these often) they're much harder to deal with when you want to move very quickly.
Ableton also has some features which are completely absent or not as well done in other DAWs. These are features like
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Session view
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Instrument racks
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Easy re-sampling of two or more tracks
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track linking and linked track editing
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easy to map macro controls and macro variations
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sane default keyboard shortcuts for MIDI editing
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Velocity probability and Note Probability inside MIDI clips
Also some of the new features include plugins that we now cannot live without for sound design. These plugins include:
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Wavetable synth
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Spectral Time
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Spectral Resonator
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Hybrid Reverb
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The instrument rack improvements
Lastly, don't forget that Ableton Suite also includes Max for Live which is incredibly powerful. Say you have an idea for a plugin or new feature Ableton doesn't already have. Fire up Max for Live and built it.
Is Ableton a good DAW for beginners?
Maybe. It depends on your personality. One of the people involved at Glitch Magic just bought Ableton on impulse and was obsessed enough to spend the next 5 years mastering it.
But it's deep software. For certain people, getting a full copy of Ableton Suite will be overwhelming because there is just so much to use inside it.
You don't need to necessarily start in Ableton either. Whatever you learn in other DAWs carries over easily. These days when we build sample packs and do sound design, we like to bounce between Ableton, Logic Pro, and Reaper pretty seamlessly.
How to get Ableton for free?
The only path we know of to potentially get Ableton Live for free that is legal and won't risk the security of your computer is to get an artist endorsement of some kind from the company. We would imagine this is much more difficult to do in 2023 and beyond than in the early days of the company.
How long is the Ableton live 11 Free Trial?
You can try Ableton Live 11 for a full 90 days. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, Ableton increased this. Previously the free trial was only 30 days.
Now, you get 3 months to try an unrestricted version of Live and decide if the software is worth it for you.
Which is better Ableton or FL Studio?
We have a whole article on which DAWs are the best for beginner producers. Looking at Ableton Live and FL Studio specifically, it depends on what you need a DAW to do.
FL Studio is better for composing with just a mouse in the piano roll. It has lots of helpful functions that with make this part easier. Overall, it's an extremely powerful DAW that's probably a little underrated in a lot of music circles. However, FL is also more of a studio tool that stays in the studio.
Ableton is different because it was built as a Live performance tool that slowly was built out into a full featured DAW. We find it easier to connect external hardware to Ableton as well.
So when you're choosing a DAW, we think you should ask yourself if you plan to use it only for production or if you need something that will also double as a live performance tool.
Is Ableton better than Logic Pro?
Both Ableton and Logic Pro have their advantages. We actually use both here at Glitch Magic.
For composing with large orchestral libraries and a lot of scoring tasks in general, we find Logic to be a little easier to deal with. However, the interface and keyboard shortcuts in Logic are kind of clunky. There's a lot going on and we like the more minimal arrangement in Ableton.
Also, while both can do incredibly powerful things with MIDI data, we like how Ableton deals with external gear better.
Setup tends to get more complicated in Logic because its pretty common that the feature you need is buried a few layers deep in a menu somewhere.
What is Ableton Live 11 good for?
We love Ableton Live 11 for music production and composition, especially when it relies heavily on a lot of time in the MIDI clip editor or we plan to eventually take the session on stage in a Live environment.
Also, the stock effects are very high quality and may be all you need for a long time.
What are the cons of Ableton Live?
We have a few places where Live could use some improvements.
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Adding some functions to automate common MIDI editing tasks would be helpful. For example, a function to stagger a selected group of notes in a chord.
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Sometimes we get cpu spikes when a session has a lot of latency due to 3rd party VST plugins.
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Ableton compensates all audio for latency, but does not compensate visual DAW elements for latency. Most of the time for making music, this is never a problem. However, when we have to score music to video, this can be a really big problem because everything is off a few milliseconds from the visuals. Other DAWs seem to handle this problem better.
Is Ableton 11 better than Ableton 10?
Yes, the Ableton team fixed a lot of things as well as added a lot of new features like plugins, MPE support and quality of life upgrades like improved macro controls, macro variations, and linked tracks.
Most importantly, the audio engine in live is now basically perfect. People have complained in the past about the audio quality and aliasing in certain situations. That appears to be completely fixed!
Is Ableton 11 worth the upgrade?
It certainly was for us. The improved audio quality is a big deal, but more importantly there's just a lot more cool stuff to play with and experiment with in Live 11 that we're excited about.
Ableton Live 11 has been out for a while now at this point and we still feel like we're just scratching the surface.
Can you upgrade from Ableton 10 to 11?
Yes! And you will be happy when you decide to do it. The new audio effects, soft synths, and ability to send MPE data are really cool.
Can Ableton 11 open Ableton 10 projects?
Yes! Ableton Live 11 is backwards compatible with Ableton Live 10.
You will be able to open old projects, but when you save, Ableton will prompt you to save a new version of the project for Live 11.
Is Ableton Live 11 Intro free?
No. However if you're considering Ableton Live Intro we suggest trying to obtain a copy of Ableton Live Lite.
Live Lite comes for free with a lot of entry level MIDI controllers and has similar features to Ableton Intro. It helps to ask around. In practice, we've noticed a lot of musicians have a copy of Live Lite sitting dormant somewhere because they bought a new MIDI controller, but never installed Lite because they already own the full version of Ableton.
Is Ableton Lite or Intro better?
They're really similar. We suggest trying to get a copy of Live Lite from a friend. Or if you buy a MIDI controller that includes it, you'll at least own a MIDI controller that will be helpful later on with a full version of Ableton Suite
Is Ableton 11 free if you have 10?
No, there will be an upgrade fee. How much that fee is depends on which level of Ableton your on. Most people are upgrading either a Suite or Standard license.
What Plugins and Sounds Are Included With Ableton Live 11?
The core Ableton Live library includes a new hybrid reverb, libraries sampled by Spitfire audio, a brass quartet, a string quartet, various sound effects, an upright piano, an updated chorus ensemble, a spectral time plugin, spectral resonator, and as of Live version 11.3 an entirely new synth called Drift.
Don't forget, your ability to control these libraries and synths is also vastly improved.
This is thanks to new macro controls that include macro snapshots as well as midi polyphonic expression or MPE control. If you have an MPE capable controller, this allows for all kinds of interesting bends, slides, and pressure. You can also automate these MPE parameters like any other parameter in Ableton.
