Setting Up Push 3 (standalone)
For the latest updates to Push features, visit the Push with Live 12 release notes.
This guide outlines how to get started with Push 3 as a standalone instrument. To use Push 3 without connecting it to a computer, you need a Push 3 (standalone) unit with a processor.
- Push 3 can also be connected to your computer to control Live.
- Learn more about Push 3 features in the Ableton Push 3 Manual.
Powering Push
Hardware Setup
Software Update
Authorizing Live
Standalone Mode and Control Mode
Resetting Push
Powering Push
Assemble the included power supply and connect it to Push before plugging it into power.
- Turn Push on by briefly pressing the yellow button on the back, then wait until the Push logo is displayed and the pad LED animation has finished.
- To turn Push 3 off, hold the yellow button on the back of the unit for several seconds.
Battery tips
Before using Push 3 (standalone) without the power supply, allow the battery to charge.
- While running on battery power, monitor the battery charge level by pressing Setup → Status.
- To initialize the battery level meter, fully charge the battery, then discharge it to 0%.
Learn more about Push 3 Battery Tips and Troubleshooting.
Hardware Setup
After Push starts up, the screen will display Welcome to Push. Press Next to continue. The following screens will lead you through the next steps:
- Connecting headphones or speakers and adjusting volume. To connect monitors, connect your left speaker to Output 1, and your right speaker to Output 2.
- Pad expression
- Jog wheel functions
- Demo Set and QR code with link to more info at ableton.com/my-push
Software Update
Before using Push for the first time, update the device’s software to the latest version, as follows:
- Connect Push to Wi-Fi, following the steps here: Push 3 Wi-Fi and Ethernet Connections.
- Once connected to Wi-Fi, press the Software tab, using the right-most button below the display.
- Follow the display prompts to install the latest software.
Note: If connecting to Wi-Fi fails, please check your Wi-Fi and internet connections. To connect to the internet without Wi-Fi, see Push 3 Wi-Fi and Ethernet Connections.
Authorizing Live
Push comes pre-loaded with Live 12 Intro, and you can make music with Push out of the box without the need to authorize. If you own a license for Live 11 or later (Intro, Standard, or Suite), you can authorize your Live license on Push to unlock additional features and content, and get access to all the Packs included in your license. Here are the steps to authorize:
- Press Setup → Software → Authorize. Push will display the URL http://push.local/authorize. The URL contains an additional number if more than one Push is connected to the same network.
- Enter the entire URL (including http://) into a browser on a computer or phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network as Push.
- When prompted in the web browser, enter the six-digit code displayed on Push.
- After entering the code, you’ll be redirected to Ableton.com to sign into your User Account. If you own more than one Live license, select the one you want to authorize on Push.
- When authorizing Live Standard or Suite, Push may need to be restarted to complete the authorization. To power off Push, hold the yellow power button for several seconds.
Once authorized, the updated Live license and associated User Account are shown in the Setup → Software tab. You can then access all included Live features and Packs. Learn more about Packs on Push (standalone).
Note: To authorize a different Live license at any time, once again follow the steps above.
Standalone Mode and Control Mode
When Push 3 is turned on for the first time, it will start in Standalone Mode, and you can get started making music right away. You can then transfer your Set to your computer and use Push in Control Mode while refining your work in Live. Learn more about transferring Sets and continuity between Push and your computer in the Push manual.
To switch modes, from the Setup menu, select the Status tab to view the current mode. Then use the upper display buttons to select Standalone or Control Live.
Learn more about setting Up Push 3 to control Live.
Resetting Push
For instructions to reset Push, see How to Reset Push 3 (standalone).