General
Still the most-used DAW package around, whether you're an EDM producer or a self-recording musician, Ableton Live has already reached its 12th incarnation. While you could spend a couple of hundred quid on the full-sized Suite edition, if you're just starting to learn the craft of music production, the much cheaper, stripped back Intro edition might be a better choice. While this is the entry-level package, it still kits you out with all the essentials, Intro can run an array of freely available VSTs - which basically amounts to a mountain of virtual instruments.
What's New in Ableton Live 12 ?
As aptly named as ever, since this software has been designed for exactly what it says: Live. Alongside the standard-issue recording functions and workflows, you get access to an array of tools designed for live music-making, or in Ableton-speak, clips can be created and triggered on the fly using an Ableton controller - whether you're playing with audio data or a MIDI arpeggeator - a solid bonus for creative DJs and musicians alike. This is exactly the Ableton Live draw: electronic music that's actually interactive and anything but static.
Version 12 Additions
Other general version 12 updates include full support for screen readers, which is brilliant news for users with visual impairments. And, since searching for a sound was always a bit of a hassle, a smart search function that brings up sounds that come close to what you're already working with is a real time-saving tweak, as well as other great features like User Tagging, which even extends to the included Packs. And that's on top of the options to save search results and access your search history, so you can always find just the right things, whether you're in the studio or mid-set.
