Keep in mind that Lite version barely has any instruments so you'll have to either use 3rd-party plugins or rely on sampling.

A few month ago I decided to start fresh and removed all pirated DAWs, plugins, purchased Lite version and started learning it in and out. I was surprised how far you can go with just sampling. It was so much fun discovering new sample packs, chopping and remixing songs, trying to make tonal instruments out of weird noises. I've also realized how many popular songs use sampling (for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU5Dn-WaElI). So yeah, setting creative constraints is important ;)

I'm at the point when I'm super at home using Ableton and ready to spend more money on Suit, but holding hopes for black Friday discounts.

Also, shameless plug https://soundcloud.com/myprivateparadise

I am more of a traditional instrument(guitar) guy yet sampling does intrigue me a lot.

Might probably fool around in Ableton Live to get a feel for it :)

Defiantly! As a guitar player you can also use it for live looping.

Doesn't Lite limit you to 16 tracks? That gets over quickly once you start producing serious music.

The Push + Live Suit bundle is good value imo.

Though you should ask what you're going to use it for. I use it mostly as an arranger and honestly, I could have done the same better in Studio One.

Tell that to the Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix... but yeah I kinda agree ;-)

Amazing how they worked around with 4 tracks back in the day. Iirc, even Bohemia Rhapsody was recorded on 16 tracks and they had to essentially record, bump everything to a single track, record again.

The Push is a game changer. It really makes Ableton feel like an instrument rather than a DAW. My current setup is an 88 key MIDI controller (Arturia Keylab) with the Push sitting on top of it. For jams/playing for relaxation I don't have to look at my screen at all.

How is the Keylab? I was in the market for a new keyboard and was eyeing Akai MPK249, but the Keylab looks to be more customizable

I love the Keylab. I mostly got it for the keybed which is best in class for that price point. The DAW controls are a nice added bonus, but the piano feel is great.

And here I'm trying to scale down on tracks and my last song I made had 6 tracks. Usually have about 50 tracks on average.

It's amazing how limitation can help creativity.

I find that percussion and transition elements (risers, crashes, sub drops) make the bulk of my tracks. But then I also don't like using drum racks

> installment plan for users who are outside the US

Why? Ableton is a German company.

That's a fair point, but I expect one could replace 'Outside the US' with 'Outside the G7' and the idea would still have merit. There are a lot of people in this world that simply don't have purchasing power anywhere near what is available to the everyman in any one of those countries and it's not inconceivable that a decent number of them would like to compose music in the way Live enables.

I think the Lite version is pretty affordable and often comes bundled with some cheapish audio hardware. That said, max4live is only bundled within the suite version afaik

They just pirate it.

US customers have Sweetwater installment plans.

Gotcha. Makes sense!

Huh, I remember the Lite version being sold at a cheap price, but looks like it's no longer standalone. If you have any musician friends, you can ask if they have spare keys, or to keep you in mind you one when they buy new hardware that may have a bundled key. It comes bundled with so many things, I'm sure I've trashed at least 5 Live Lite keys over time.

Live Lite doesn't have max tho

Oh yeah, definitely get Suite if you're specifically interested in Max, but I got the impression OP was just generally interested in trying Ableton.

I use Live Lite as I've been to cheap to upgrade my 9 Suite up. The plugin and synth limitations are easily offset by 3rd party plugs either free or sale snags. Lite will give you the feel of Live and have you creating at a very low cost, people give away Lite licenses and they follow the upgrade cycle lite 9 to live 10, etc.

Think about investing in a small midi controller which has the lite/intro? version bundled. So you can feel the software and later decide if you’d invest more or not. Ableton in this case would be without charge for you and you get to keep the controller.

Splice has Studio One in those "rent-to-own" plans if you are interested. I'm an Ableton user, but I got Serum that way

I've got a Lite key if you want to give it a shot. I have Suite already so I won't use it.

I have a spare Lite key if anyone wants it

Could I have it please? I had one years ago that I've lost.