Audio Production Features:  

Where to begin? Ableton Live's production and editing (not to mention performance) tools and features are among the most simple and intuitive to be found in any music production software program. There is a casual quality, a looseness to all production and editing features that gives them an experimental quality. And really, audio production is more a matter of experimenting than anything, which makes Ableton Live an even more appealing program.

Though paragraphs could be spent describing the quality or effectiveness of certain features (short version: quality, high; effectiveness, very), much of their strength is derived from Ableton Live's interface and workflow, both of which are highly flexible and can be customized to suit the needs and stylings of every user, new or experienced, performer or producer.

A lot of words could be spent describing all of Ableton Live's powerful and unique features. For the sake of brevity, however, it will be narrowed down to a few (among many) of the standouts.

Elastic Audio Engine

DJ-ing has evolved beyond the traditional "two turntables and microphone." Now, in addition to expanded support of new audio delivery formats and software-based controls, DJs now have many intuitive loop-making, beat-matching and mixing features at their disposal, which, in the case of Albeton Live, are far better than any analog controller.

With the Ableton Live's Elastic Audio Engine, DJs and producers have a palette for endless experimentation. Mix as many track elements and effects as you want. Ableton Live can handle it, even keeping it in sync the entire time. Perfect for fixes, remixes and mash-ups, the Elastic Audio Engine is as good as it gets for producers, artists and DJs with a creative, experimental bend, as well for those that simply want to "bring the noise" without the program stuttering to a halt.

Ableton Looper

Nothing is more common in modern music production than the loop. Sure, it has gone by countless names in previous musical epochs, but the loop is the keystone, cornerstone and foundation of virtually all music being produced today. As production has moved from hardware to software, looping samples and tracks has become easier while becoming, simultaneously, more difficult and easier: easier to execute; more difficult to execute well. With Ableton Live, looping retains the sound and feel of analog looping, even letting producers and program users do so remotely using a control. The difference, however, lies in its intuitive beat-matching, tempo-nudge and other elements that allow for real-time synchronization.

"It's the Beat!"

As Simian Mobile Disco's track of the same name exclaims, few audio production features are as important to producers, artists and DJs as those used to sequence music and construct beats. Few music production programs understand this as much as Ableton Live, which offers 128 pads for creating and constructing beats. Moreover, each of the 128 pads has its own device effect chain for instruments and effects. Producers can even drop effects onto the Drum Rack that will affect all pads, or just a few selected pads, further increasing its flexibility and real-time functionality.

As for sequencing music, Ableton Live again passes with flying colors. Ableton Live's slicing feature allows producers to replace, reshuffle and re-record track elements, samples and even entire events, and do so with visually-defined grooves on the Drum Rack that take the guess work out of this oftentimes-tedious affair. Moreover, with drag-and-drop functionality both freestyle experimentation and precise editing are made impressively painless. Replace instruments, customize a pad or kit, forget about matching time or manually defining new elements--with Ableton Live, all are done automatically.