It was five years ago today. Back then, apart from a handful of Lemur users, no one would have thought of sliding their fingers along glass to work with live music.
How times have changed. Today, touchAble has turned five years old. And it’s still the deepest, most complete touch controller for Ableton Live (or any other desktop software, for that matter). And you see it everywhere, accordingly. It’s a staple of studios, and also frequently spotted in high-profile gigs.
To celebrate, the developers are releasing a small but significant 3.1 release, and a really big sale.
In version 3.1, a bunch of little details for the users:
- The keyboard has a modulation wheel.
- You can vary the font size.
- New follow modes have been added.
- 13 new templates in the optional Live Device Template Pack cover Max for Live devices.
- Compatible with the coming LaunchSync 2 by Isotonik, which syncs up various grid controllers as you move them around.
– plus fixes / performance improvements.
And there’s a special sale.
On iPad, the app is just US$4.99 for the next couple of hours, then $12.99 through midnight the 25th of October.
Or, take 50% off the iPhone Mini version, the Bundle of both, and the in-app purchase of the Live Device Template Pack.
Now, momentous as this is, we can also wonder what’s next. Is the fact that touchAble is so darned good reason enough to think Ableton will stay out of the game? Will the way control works change in future versions of Live? (We know Ableton is holding a bit even (“Loop”) here in Berlin at the end of the month, though Ableton hasn’t said whether or not that will include any product news.) Also, with Microsoft’s Surface line finally looking sexy, you have to wonder if native touch support in software like Live will come, or whether we’ll see a version of touchAble on Windows. (I’d be happy with even the latter scenario.)
I’ll leave you to speculate on that. In the meantime, touchAble is an exceptional tool – and with the steady flow of new iPad models, picking up a fast, bright lower-end or used model means the iPad is a pretty insanely good buy for control.
Awesome, thanks for the heads up on the sale. 🙂 I had been thinking about picking this up for a while and this sealed the deal.
Awesome, thanks for the heads up on the sale. 🙂 I had been thinking about picking this up for a while and this sealed the deal.
Awesome, thanks for the heads up on the sale. 🙂 I had been thinking about picking this up for a while and this sealed the deal.
Good deal. Been eyeing this for a while and after deciding to go iPad Pro over a Slate Raven MTi2 this looks like it will be a good way to go. Scored the $4.99 deal but looks like the rack devices are still showing up at $21.99 in the US App Store btw. I’ll check back.
hey we just can’t send the picture within the app showing the regular price, so don’t worry you’ll pay $10.99 🙂
Got it. Worked out. Thanks.
the IAP still shows as 21,99 on the internal app store but is actually priced at 10.99 – the actual amount is shown in the last popup from apple before you finally confirm the purchase.
Am I getting it right that Touchable gives me general editors for Midi, Mixer, Session and Stuff and a template editor and I could either build the effects and instrument device controllers myself or get the IAP pack with everything laid out for me?
And does touchable give me timeline view?
AFAIK Ableton don’t give access to timeline. So there is no controllers that could access timeline features. That’s quite sad as i use 95% timeline vs. clip view. Even when i play live with Live.
Great additions, but I do feel once Ableton joins the ranks of PreSonus & Bitwig by supporting touch natively, Touchable will become a relic of the past.
Not necessarily – not once you look at the way that touchAble implements those features. There are certain advantages to having a dedicated controller.
And don’t forget some other advantages here:
1. Not everyone (heh, so far, hardly *anyone*) is buying a dedicated touch laptop.
2. Having something running on an iPad or iPhone means portability. So you can set the controls on an instrument, on a music stand, walk around during sound check, etc.
3. touchAble has specialized template editor support.
4. With sync for grids, this becomes an excellent remote control for tangible controllers like Push.
We sure hope that will take a little while longer 😉
Maybe in the distant future. Current live is totally un-compatible with touch so i doubt it will support touch in coming years. Maybe after Push 3?
I do think Ableton will be treading VERY carefully in regards to implementing touch in the next version of Live as not to hit sales of a potential Push 2.
In my mind however, Push, Maschine etc. are all hardware compromises for control.
I liken it to the cynicism of some towards the iPhone on it’s initial release yet touchscreen phones are now ubiquitous.
BitWig are pushing new ground with their latest update and early adopters like Surface Pro Audio have demonstrated it’s potential.
“touchscreen phones are now ubiquitous”
Yes, it’s great for when you want to feel like you are using a 1990s ATM or office information kiosk…
Good deal. Been eyeing this for a while and after deciding to go iPad Pro over a Slate Raven MTi2 this looks like it will be a good way to go. Scored the $4.99 deal but looks like the rack devices are still showing up at $21.99 in the US App Store btw. I’ll check back.
hey we just can’t send the picture within the app showing the regular price, so don’t worry you’ll pay $10.99 🙂
Got it. Worked out. Thanks.
the IAP still shows as 21,99 on the internal app store but is actually priced at 10.99 – the actual amount is shown in the last popup from apple before you finally confirm the purchase.
Am I getting it right that Touchable gives me general editors for Midi, Mixer, Session and Stuff and a template editor and I could either build the effects and instrument device controllers myself or get the IAP pack with everything laid out for me?
And does touchable give me timeline view?
AFAIK Ableton don’t give access to timeline. So there is no controllers that could access timeline features. That’s quite sad as i use 95% timeline vs. clip view. Even when i play live with Live.
Great additions, but I do feel once Ableton joins the ranks of PreSonus & Bitwig by supporting touch natively, Touchable will become a relic of the past.
Not necessarily – not once you look at the way that touchAble implements those features. There are certain advantages to having a dedicated controller.
And don’t forget some other advantages here:
1. Not everyone (heh, so far, hardly *anyone*) is buying a dedicated touch laptop.
2. Having something running on an iPad or iPhone means portability. So you can set the controls on an instrument, on a music stand, walk around during sound check, etc.
3. touchAble has specialized template editor support.
4. With sync for grids, this becomes an excellent remote control for tangible controllers like Push.
We sure hope that will take a little while longer 😉
Maybe in the distant future. Current live is totally un-compatible with touch so i doubt it will support touch in coming years. Maybe after Push 3?
I do think Ableton will be treading VERY carefully in regards to implementing touch in the next version of Live as not to hit sales of a potential Push 2.
In my mind however, Push, Maschine etc. are all hardware compromises for control.
I liken it to the cynicism of some towards the iPhone on it’s initial release yet touchscreen phones are now ubiquitous.
BitWig are pushing new ground with their latest update and early adopters like Surface Pro Audio have demonstrated it’s potential.
“touchscreen phones are now ubiquitous”
Yes, it’s great for when you want to feel like you are using a 1990s ATM or office information kiosk…
Good deal. Been eyeing this for a while and after deciding to go iPad Pro over a Slate Raven MTi2 this looks like it will be a good way to go. Scored the $4.99 deal but looks like the rack devices are still showing up at $21.99 in the US App Store btw. I’ll check back.
hey we just can’t send the picture within the app showing the regular price, so don’t worry you’ll pay $10.99 🙂
Got it. Worked out. Thanks.
the IAP still shows as 21,99 on the internal app store but is actually priced at 10.99 – the actual amount is shown in the last popup from apple before you finally confirm the purchase.
Am I getting it right that Touchable gives me general editors for Midi, Mixer, Session and Stuff and a template editor and I could either build the effects and instrument device controllers myself or get the IAP pack with everything laid out for me?
And does touchable give me timeline view?
AFAIK Ableton don’t give access to timeline. So there is no controllers that could access timeline features. That’s quite sad as i use 95% timeline vs. clip view. Even when i play live with Live.
Great additions, but I do feel once Ableton joins the ranks of PreSonus & Bitwig by supporting touch natively, Touchable will become a relic of the past.
Not necessarily – not once you look at the way that touchAble implements those features. There are certain advantages to having a dedicated controller.
And don’t forget some other advantages here:
1. Not everyone (heh, so far, hardly *anyone*) is buying a dedicated touch laptop.
2. Having something running on an iPad or iPhone means portability. So you can set the controls on an instrument, on a music stand, walk around during sound check, etc.
3. touchAble has specialized template editor support.
4. With sync for grids, this becomes an excellent remote control for tangible controllers like Push.
We sure hope that will take a little while longer 😉
Maybe in the distant future. Current live is totally un-compatible with touch so i doubt it will support touch in coming years. Maybe after Push 3?
I do think Ableton will be treading VERY carefully in regards to implementing touch in the next version of Live as not to hit sales of a potential Push 2.
In my mind however, Push, Maschine etc. are all hardware compromises for control.
I liken it to the cynicism of some towards the iPhone on it’s initial release yet touchscreen phones are now ubiquitous.
BitWig are pushing new ground with their latest update and early adopters like Surface Pro Audio have demonstrated it’s potential.
“touchscreen phones are now ubiquitous”
Yes, it’s great for when you want to feel like you are using a 1990s ATM or office information kiosk…
what exactly does the template iap give you that you don’t get without it, no one seems to explain this clearly?
42 Live devices templates + 13 max for live devices templates (from maxforlive essential pack). In standard only 3 of them are available the rest is only faders page.
what exactly does the template iap give you that you don’t get without it, no one seems to explain this clearly?
42 Live devices templates + 13 max for live devices templates (from maxforlive essential pack). In standard only 3 of them are available the rest is only faders page.
what exactly does the template iap give you that you don’t get without it, no one seems to explain this clearly?
42 Live devices templates + 13 max for live devices templates (from maxforlive essential pack). In standard only 3 of them are available the rest is only faders page.
the sale only lasted a couple hours? i would’ve totally bought this at 4.99…
the sale only lasted a couple hours? i would’ve totally bought this at 4.99…
the sale only lasted a couple hours? i would’ve totally bought this at 4.99…
it’s really the only app i use everyday on my ipad when making music… awsome for gigs too… especially in conjunction with a thing with knobs and sliders… i use it with my Faderfox DJ2 and am very happy 🙂
it’s really the only app i use everyday on my ipad when making music… awsome for gigs too… especially in conjunction with a thing with knobs and sliders… i use it with my Faderfox DJ2 and am very happy 🙂
it’s really the only app i use everyday on my ipad when making music… awsome for gigs too… especially in conjunction with a thing with knobs and sliders… i use it with my Faderfox DJ2 and am very happy 🙂
Thanx!
Bought the iPad app, but didn’t see any bundle at any price. Would have bought iPad+mini bundle if there would have been one. It’s also sad that IAP’s can’t be bought from iTunes as i didn’t have my iPad around so missed the Device Template sale :/
-50% off are now available on all touchAble products including in-app purchase until sunday. Don’t believe the price shown if you try to buy the pack, it will announce 21.99 but you’ll pay $10.99. Bundle is $14.99.
Ok, thnx. I paid 10€ for the iPad app so 5€ for Mini is same as the bundle. Now iTunes shows Live pack price as 10.90€. Still don’t have my iPad around so can’t purchase it.
Mini don’t seem to be optimized for iPhone 6+ as everything is quite big on the screen.
I also have Lemur, but Lemur livetemplate have not been working well on my iPad1 lately. I bought Midimux so i can use USB cable with it.
Thanx!
Bought the iPad app, but didn’t see any bundle at any price. Would have bought iPad+mini bundle if there would have been one. It’s also sad that IAP’s can’t be bought from iTunes as i didn’t have my iPad around so missed the Device Template sale :/
-50% off are now available on all touchAble products including in-app purchase until sunday. Don’t believe the price shown if you try to buy the pack, it will announce 21.99 but you’ll pay $10.99. Bundle is $14.99.
Ok, thnx. I paid 10€ for the iPad app so 5€ for Mini is same as the bundle. Now iTunes shows Live pack price as 10.90€. Still don’t have my iPad around so can’t purchase it.
Mini don’t seem to be optimized for iPhone 6+ as everything is quite big on the screen.
I also have Lemur, but Lemur livetemplate have not been working well on my iPad1 lately. I bought Midimux so i can use USB cable with it.
Thanx!
Bought the iPad app, but didn’t see any bundle at any price. Would have bought iPad+mini bundle if there would have been one. It’s also sad that IAP’s can’t be bought from iTunes as i didn’t have my iPad around so missed the Device Template sale :/
-50% off are now available on all touchAble products including in-app purchase until sunday. Don’t believe the price shown if you try to buy the pack, it will announce 21.99 but you’ll pay $10.99. Bundle is $14.99.
Ok, thnx. I paid 10€ for the iPad app so 5€ for Mini is same as the bundle. Now iTunes shows Live pack price as 10.90€. Still don’t have my iPad around so can’t purchase it.
Mini don’t seem to be optimized for iPhone 6+ as everything is quite big on the screen.
I also have Lemur, but Lemur livetemplate have not been working well on my iPad1 lately. I bought Midimux so i can use USB cable with it.
The last time I looked at this, Lemur with the use of Mu was the king of the mountain. I may even have TouchAble 2 back when the consensus was it fit too much into the interface. (Since then, my iPad 1 was no longer supported with updates and I haven’t replaced it.) Have things really changed that much to knock the Lemur out from that pull position? On top of that, I haven’t even set up my license for Pull http://www.xmonsta.com/product/pull-ipad-ableton-device-editor/ and put it through it’s paces.
Could someone push me into the Touchable camp? Or explain to me how iPads no longer freeze up after they’ve been around for a couple of years?
If I recall, I needed to draw the Liine somewhere. I’d still assert that some pages are just chintzy, namely any attempt to put drum pads and chromatic keyboards along the screen. (Hey, just so you know where I’m coming from.) I’ve stuck with those same standards when evaluating any of the apps Pete’s covered. It’s the iPad equivalent of setting your channel input in ableton to computer keyboard. Handy for ironing out a patch or signal flow, but a bit of a crutch or stand-in than something I’d habitually reach for in a performance setting.
The last time I looked at this, Lemur with the use of Mu was the king of the mountain. I may even have TouchAble 2 back when the consensus was it fit too much into the interface. (Since then, I lost track of iOS updates on my iPad 1, and I haven’t replaced it.) Have things really changed that much to knock the Lemur out from that pull position? On top of that, I haven’t even set up my license for Pull http://www.xmonsta.com/product/pull-ipad-ableton-device-editor/ and put it through it’s paces.
Could someone push me into the Touchable camp? I did attempt to find a comparison among the reviews. For starters, it’s humbling that at least up until now, Zerodebug have supported that old iPad 1! One reviewer discovered that it runs just as responsively on that retired model! (Or explain to me how iPads no longer freeze up after they’ve been around for a couple of years? An iPad 3 I was just writing this on needed another restart).
If I recall, I needed to draw the Liine somewhere. I’d still assert that some pages are just chintzy, namely any attempt to put drum pads and chromatic keyboards along the screen. (Hey, just so you know where I’m coming from. I’ve stuck with those same standards when evaluating any of the apps Pete’s covered.) It’s the iPad equivalent of setting your channel input in ableton to computer keyboard. Handy for ironing out a patch or signal flow, but a bit of a crutch or stand-in than something I’d habitually reach for in a performance setting.
The last time I looked at this, Lemur with the use of Mu was the king of the mountain. I may even have TouchAble 2 back when the consensus was it fit too much into the interface. (Since then, I lost track of iOS updates on my iPad 1, and I haven’t replaced it.) Have things really changed that much to knock the Lemur out from that pull position? On top of that, I haven’t even set up my license for Pull http://www.xmonsta.com/product/pull-ipad-ableton-device-editor/ and put it through it’s paces.
Could someone push me into the Touchable camp? I did attempt to find a comparison among the reviews. For starters, it’s humbling that at least up until now, Zerodebug have supported that old iPad 1! One reviewer discovered that it runs just as responsively on that retired model! (Or explain to me how iPads no longer freeze up after they’ve been around for a couple of years? An iPad 3 I was just writing this on needed another restart).
If I recall, I needed to draw the Liine somewhere. I’d still assert that some pages are just chintzy, namely any attempt to put drum pads and chromatic keyboards along the screen. (Hey, just so you know where I’m coming from. I’ve stuck with those same standards when evaluating any of the apps Pete’s covered.) It’s the iPad equivalent of setting your channel input in ableton to computer keyboard. Handy for ironing out a patch or signal flow, but a bit of a crutch or stand-in than something I’d habitually reach for in a performance setting.
I have tried various touch options, imo nothing beats ableton controlled with a launchpad running the launchpad95 script.
I have tried various touch options, imo nothing beats ableton controlled with a launchpad running the launchpad95 script.
I have tried various touch options, imo nothing beats ableton controlled with a launchpad running the launchpad95 script.
Only the US store?
worldwide
Only the US store?
worldwide
Only the US store?
worldwide
I think cndctr is better…
I think cndctr is better…
I think cndctr is better…