Today is the official release date for Ableton’s Max for Live. The video above explains what you get with Max for live. For more info on Max for live read this post & watch these videos.

Pricing

Finally the last bit of news and possibly the most important. How much will it cost?

Well Max for live pricing depends on what software you own…

Ableton Live owners

• Without Max/msp = $299/249 euros
• With Max/msp = $99/79 euros

Max/msp owners get a few offers on buying Max for Live and Ableton Live 8 together.

• Abelton Live suite 8 + Max for Live = $699/549 euros
• Ableton Live 8 + Max for Live = $449/349 euros

If you’ve brought Max for Live or been using the beta let us know what you think in the forum.

Zander

Max for Live, Software Ableton live, Max for Live, released, Software, Video

Excerpt of Novation Launchpad programmers reference

Launchpad Programmers reference

Along with the first shipment of launchpads going out, Novation released the programmers reference, a document that shows exactly how the Launchpad works with midi.

12 pages of a programmers dream as the PDF really explains the detailed inner workings of the Launchpad. Not only that but they have gone out of their way to put it in easy to understand terms. The release of this document is sure to set developers a light with ideas of creating open source apps and software. You can download the PDF from their site. Some interesting notes are that the Launchpad uses a slightly slower USB connection to transfer data.

Learn from your competitors mistakes

I must admit I get the feeling Novation are learning from Akai’s mistakes as Akai didn’t release any midi documentation or give away any hints as to how the APC40 handles midi. Akai didn’t even release a driver, you don’t need one but the APC40 and windows users are having a few niggling problems that a dedicated driver would fix, the launchpad has it’s own driver

Akai holding back has not stopped open source apps such as the monomulatorbeing released but it does slow development down. So this is a call for Akai to release the midi information. That said they will only tell you to wait for Max for live to come out and then buy it to completely manipulate the APC40. These are luxuries not everyone can afford.

Conclusion

With this release I’m expecting to see some open source apps and software popping up very soon. Probably some max/msp patches too. Seems like Novation are trying to align themselves with the open source community and maybe  trying to make the launchpad a poor mans monome. For now it’s too early to tell but the future is looking bright for the launchpad and the button matrix controller as a whole.

Zander

Midi controllers, Software, hardware docs, download, Launchpad, matrix controller, Max/msp, Midi controllers, Novation, programmers, reference, released

Novation Launchpad

Well it’s official the first batch of the Novation Luanchpad shipped and it’s now available to buy. Good luck trying to find it though as I bet a lot of pre orders were taken. If you can find one they will set you back £150, very good price considering the APC40 is £370. It’s Christmas soon too, well played Novation.

Along with the officail release came a whole host of surprises.

Excited?

You should be.

Zander

Midi controllers, hardware Launchpad, Novation, released, ships