Push 2 : Mandatory to make full use of Live

I use Push 2 and Ableton Live to record electronic music with Frank Zappa vibes.

Before Push, I was often perplexed by the Live workflow, but kept using it because of the pleasantly weird music I ended up with. But it felt like the software was missing a huge part of its user interface.

What was missing was Push 2.

It is an integral part of the Live experience and is vital for success with using the software.

The unit feels solid. Just unpacking and holding it immediately informs you of it's high quality.

The buttons feel great.

The display is terrific and it shows you all the program's functions, more or less.

You can use Push 2 to program sounds or effects presets from scratch in Live devices without ever having to look at your computer screen.

Most products have their cons and the Push 2 has its share for sure. No show stoppers for me though. Your mileage may vary, but at the very least know this. If you're using Live without a dedicated controller, you're missing out. If you're going to get one, it should be Push 2 because it was designed from scratch in house.