What is Move?
Instant comparisons are often made when a new product is released. Ableton's Move may initially yield comments such as ‘it's a mini-Push.’ Visually, that is a fair assumption; the design ethic is very much in line with Ableton's flagship Push instrument, but the essence here is in the name itself: Move.
Adopting the now-common descriptor ‘standalone’, Move is a self-contained musical sketchpad with a tactile workflow. With a battery and built-in speaker, it allows music-makers to capture ideas away from traditional setups. The built-in microphone enables instant recording of voices, instruments, or environmental sounds, directly into a playable sample instrument or as an individual Drum Rack pad. This ability to record and instantly play ‘found sounds’ could now be considered essential for modern music-makers. By streamlining a previously complex process, Move offers instant accessibility for sound design and sequencing – one of its greatest strengths.
Hands on!
The 32 back-lit, touch-sensitive pads and 9 rotary encoders provide ample control. The pads adapt to set selection, instrument notes, or drum inputs.
To encourage instant creation, a random bank of instruments loads when starting a new set, eliminating time wasted searching for sounds. The idea is simple: get your ideas down first and refine them later. As Ableton's website states, ‘Create faster than you overthink’ – a sentiment most music-makers can relate to!
I wish I had recorded that
One feature that I'm sure will resonate with many educators is the inclusion of a ‘Capture’ button. Think of this as a ‘retrospective record’ feature. The music-maker can play, jam, or explore a musical idea, and instead of going to hit record (the dreaded ‘red light’) and repeat the process, they use Capture to recall what was literally just played. This feature has been transported across from its heavily featured sibling, Ableton Live software, and it really does bring a whole new workflow ethos, capturing what could have been a lost moment or ‘the one’ special phrase or beat.
Move also integrates step-sequencing for both drums and melodic content. The 16-step buttons at the bottom visually represent the selected bar, allowing for quick, beat-grid-style note input similar to DAW workflows. This method aligns well with the instant gratification that many young music-makers would expect from a device of this nature. Notes can be quickly added or removed, keeping the composer in a state of flow.
Connectivity
Move features a built-in microphone for quick sound recording, sufficient for its intended purpose. A 3.5mm stereo mini-jack Line-In allows higher-quality recordings from external sources. The built-in speaker is functional but not designed for high-volume playback. However, with a battery life of up to four hours, it enables truly wireless music creation. Higher-quality audio output is available via the 3.5mm Line-Out for headphones or speakers. A MIDI keyboard can also be connected to the USB port on the rear of the unit.
The unit can be used also as a controller for Ableton Live. Connecting via a USB C cable (supplied) further leans towards the ‘mini-Push’ idea.
Setup and updates happen over wifi, and Move integrates with Ableton's Cloud for seamless transfer of musical ideas to Ableton Note (iOS app) or Ableton Live.
In the classroom
Ableton Move certainly has multiple plus points for musical creation in a classroom environment. In addition to the above mentioned technical aspects and workflow, the sounds provided are curated with the modern ‘beat maker’ in mind. Cutting-edge and emerging artists have supplied sound sets that really will resonate with younger music-makers.
Its portability and size are more akin to a classroom instrument than the much larger Ableton Push. In addition, Move's features and workflow align well with the expectations of young musicians, while also providing enough flexibility for teachers to integrate alongside a comprehensive modern music curriculum.
Summary
If you are already familiar with Ableton Live and Push, you will be at home with the terminology and some aspects of the creation workflow. Alternatively, if Move is your first foray into Ableton hardware, then it should be a gentle learning curve into what is possible and how to create something that sparks real joy.
Ableton provides some very clear over-the-shoulder videos and getting-started guides on their website that, after watching, will help you navigate the device in minutes, not hours.
Ableton Move
£399.00
Link to Simon Lyon's video Ableton Move – Look around and Workflow Tips
