Portable music creation tools aren’t new — if nothing else we can just use our smartphone or tablet and appropriate apps — so is Ableton’s new Move portable music-making instrument anything special?
The blurb about capturing your best ideas, finding new sounds, making fast creative decisions — they can be applied to many mobile devices. Having a built-in processor, speaker, microphone and battery — not groundbreaking.
Ableton claims its Move device features a simple workflow which allows inspiration to be captured straight away without messing with complex interfaces. The four track recorder can shape up as drum kit, sampler, or synth, and has a step sequencer for building ideas.
The mantra is all about finding and keeping inspiration. With every new set created, Move loads four random instrument presets. Either work with them or switch out for new sounds. It’s one way to increase the probability of a happy accident.
The Move has over 1500 samples, presets and drum hits from Ableton’s design team and collabs with BNYX, DECAP, L.Dre, Sound Oracle and more. Onboard sampling means you can also drop in your own captured audio. Built-in audio effects include reverb, delay and saturator.
Physical controls include nine touch-sensitive, endless rotary encoders, and 32 backlit pressure-sensitive pads.
Unsurprisingly, Ableton is pushing Live, with 12.1 Intro bundled. Move, used as a MIDI control surface, integrates tightly with Live’s interface and workflow. Move has wireless connection so Sets can be transferred to Live and Note using Ableton Cloud and Move Manager.
Available now for US$449.
Specifications
Main features
Standalone operation
Move’s compact size, vast library of sounds, rechargeable battery and built-in processor, speaker and microphone mean you can pick it up and make music anywhere.
Four flexible tracks
Use any or all of Move’s four tracks as a drum kit, sampler or synthesizer, and add up to two effects to each one.
Note Mode
Make beats with a 16-pad layout for drum performance and sequencing, or use the melodic layout to create melodies and chords across multiple octaves, and in dozens of keys and scales.
Session Mode
Use Move’s pads to create, edit and trigger clips, so you can mix and match musical ideas quickly.
16 pitches for drums*
16 Pitches lets you play your drums and one-shots melodically, using the 4×4 grid on the right side of Move’s pads to trigger a selected drum sound at different pitches and across multiple octaves.
Sampling and resampling
Sample your environment with Move’s microphone or 3.5 mm audio input, and use your recordings to make new beats and melodies. Or internally resample the main output of Move to remix your own track.
Parameter automation
Tweak the encoders to record or capture dynamic changes to your sounds in real time, and sequence parameter changes using per-step automation.
Step sequencer
A step sequencer with up to 16 bars lets you program beats and notes, apply quantization or groove to tighten your timing or add swing, edit velocities, nudge notes and automate parameters for each step.
Capture
If you played something you liked but weren’t recording, press the Capture button and Move will recall your performance. This also works for parameter automation.
Arpeggiator* and Repeat
Turn a chord into an automated sequence of individual notes with Arpeggiator, or use Repeat to trigger a series of rapidly repeating notes or beats with the press of a pad.
*Please update to Move 1.1 to use these and other key features.
Sound library and effects
Instruments
Move comes with three of the instruments that ship with Live – Drift, Wavetable and Drum Sampler – plus Melodic Sampler.
Audio effects
Add up to two effects to each individual Track and to the Main Track separately. Choose from Reverb, Delay, Saturator, Chorus-Ensemble, Phaser-Flanger, Redux, Channel EQ and Dynamics.
Core Library
Move has over 1500 sounds and presets, including drum hits, Instrument Racks, Audio Effect presets, one-shots and loops – with content from BNYX, DECAP, L.Dre, Taka Perry and Sound Oracle.
Instant sound selection
When you start a new Set, Move loads up four sounds for you to start playing with right away. See if they inspire you, or quickly audition and choose new sounds in the Browser.
Hardware features
32 pads with polyphonic aftertouch
Move’s velocity-sensitive, backlit silicone pads let you play chords, melodies and beats, select and play your samples, and launch clips. Thanks to polyphonic aftertouch you can get unique tones out of each note you play.
16 multifunctional buttons
Sequence notes and beats with Move’s 16 step buttons, and access secondary functions like Keys and Scales, quantization, groove and tempo.
9 touch-sensitive endless encoders
Move’s high-resolution rotary encoders let you tweak the sound of instruments, effects and samples. Useful controls come pre-mapped to the encoders so every adjustment results in a tangible change to your sound.
OLED screen and clickable wheel
Move’s compact OLED display (128×64 pixels) and touch-sensitive clickable wheel let you quickly browse through sounds and effects and quickly change Move’s settings.
Audio out and in
Send audio to speakers and headphones, and sample from an external source with Move’s 3.5 mm stereo ports.
Built-in speaker and microphone
Capture sounds with Move’s integrated microphone, and use the built-in speaker to make music without headphones or external speakers.
Built-in Wi-Fi
Connect to Wi-Fi to transfer your Sets to Live via Ableton Cloud, manage Sets and files with Move Manager, use Ableton Link, and get the latest software update.
Embedded processor
Move’s processor is a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 at 1.5 GHz with 2 GB of RAM and a custom OS optimized for music creation and performance.
64 GB internal storage
Move’s 64 GB internal SD card gives you plenty of space to store your own samples and sounds.
Connectivity
Ableton Cloud
Store your Move Sets on Ableton Cloud and continue where you left off in Live or Note.
Move Manager
Easily manage your Move Sets, files and samples with the web-based Move Manager.
Ableton Link
Keep multiple devices synced over a local network, so you can avoid the hassle of setting up and just focus on making music.
Control Ableton Live*
Move is the best-integrated compact and portable control surface for Ableton Live: launch clips, play melodies, sequence beats, tweak sounds and much more.
USB-A port
Send or receive MIDI from class-compliant controllers, synthesizers and other devices through Move’s USB-A port.
USB-C port**
Charge, connect to your computer, control Live and sample audio in Live via Move’s USB-C port.
*Please update to Move 1.1 to use these and other key features.
**Please note that Move will only properly charge with USB-C ports that output 7.5 W or more. On older laptops with USB-A ports, and on most USB hubs (both powered and unpowered), Move will slowly discharge.
Dimensions
313.5mm (W) x 146.3mm (H) x 34mm (D)
12.3″ (W) x 5.75″ (H) x 1.3″ (D)
