Live 12 Lite is a lightweight version of Ableton Live 12 – with all the essential workflows, instruments and effects – that’s included with a number of apps and hardware products.

Live Key Features
16 scenes
2 Send and return tracks
8 Mono audio output channels
8 mono audio input channels
Unique Session View for quick, intuitive composition, flexible performance and improvisation
Nondestructive editing with unlimited undo
Multitrack recording up to 32-bit/192 kHz
Powerful MIDI sequencing of software and hardware instruments
Advanced warping and real-time time-stretching
8 audio and MIDI tracks
Group tracks

Use multiple levels of groups to mix with greater flexibility and manage detailed arrangements more easily.

VST2, VST3 and Audio Unit v2 and v3 support
Time signature changes
Comping New in Live 12 Lite

Record multiple takes of a performance, then combine the best ones.

Multiple automation lanes
MIDI Polyphonic Expression Add bends, slides and pressure for each individual note in a chord, add subtle expression variations, morph between chords and create evolving sonic textures more easily.
Track Freeze
Capture MIDI Recall your best ideas after you’ve played them – Capture MIDI can turn what you played into MIDI clips, without having to think about recording.
Tempo Following Live listens to and adjusts its tempo based on incoming audio in real time, making it a dynamic part of the band instead of the tempo source that everyone has to follow.
Automatic plug-in delay compensation
MIDI remote control instant mapping
MIDI output to hardware synths
MIDI Clock/sync
Multicore/multiprocessor support
WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC file support
Ableton Link A technology that keeps instances of Live and a growing collection of iOS apps in time over a wireless network.
Note Compatibility

Start musical ideas in iOS app Note, then send them to Live using Ableton Cloud.

Instrument Racks Combine multiple instruments and effects into a single device, allowing for split and layered sounds with customized Macro controls
MIDI Effect Racks Combine MIDI effects into a single device, allowing for customized MIDI processing chains with simple Macro controls
Drum Rack An instrument for layering samples, synths and effects in a classic 16-pad grid
Complex warp modes Advanced algorithms for stretching audio, ideal for working with mixed audio or full tracks.
Groove Pool and extract groove

A set of templates that lets you adjust the timing and “feel” of sequences or make your own by extracting timing from existing audio material.

Tuning Systems New in Live 12

Explore tuning systems with the curated set included in the core library, or any scala file

Keys and Scales New in Live 12

Sync MIDI effects, select device parameters and MIDI Tools to the scale of the playing Clip

Screen Reader Support New in Live 12

Allows visually impaired musicians access to core workflows in Live using Screen Readers or other assistive technology.

Sound Similarity / Browsing New in Live 12

Live shows you sounds in your library similar to a sound you select.

User Tagging New in Live 12

Tag your own sounds and find them later by either filtering for the tags you want or via keyword search in Live.

Custom Browser Labels New in Live 12

Save your search results and active filters to a custom label in the sidebar. This view can be a tag filter or a search that you want easily accessible.

Browsing History New in Live 12

Go back and forward through your browsing history

Factory tags New in Live 12

All included Packs in every edition of Live are now completely tagged.

Software Instruments
Drum Rack An instrument for layering samples, synths and effects in a classic 16-pad grid.
Impulse A drum sampler with complex modulation capabilities.
Instrument Rack Combine multiple instruments and effects into a single device, allowing for split and layered sounds with customized Macro controls.
Simpler An easy-to-use but powerful sampler with classic synthesis parameters.
Drift

A characterful MPE-capable synth capable of a wide variety of sounds from every era of modern music. For all Live Editions.

Packs
Beat Tools Now In Live 12 Lite, Intro, Standard

With more than 120 Drum and Instrument Racks, over 180 loops for slicing, tweakable effects chains and more, Beat Tools has all the sounds you need for hands-on beatmaking – especially with Push.

Build and Drop Now In Live 12 Lite, Intro, Standard

Build and Drop is loaded with ecstatic leads, enveloping bass, slamming drums and a range of rises, sirens and sounds effects. A creative toolbox for building the irresistible anticipation and release this music uses to keep the party going.

Audio Effects
Audio Effect Rack Combine audio effects into a single device, allowing for the creation of simplified Macro controls for complex effects chains.
Auto Filter Classic analog filter emulation with an envelope follower and LFO.
Beat Repeat Creative beat mangling with controlled or randomized repetitions of an incoming signal.
Channel EQ A flexible and simple EQ with curves and gain ranges suitable for a variety of audio material.
Chorus-Ensemble

Create thickening, flanging and vibrato effects. Ensemble is a new algorithm inspired by a thick 3-delay line chorus used in the 70s for string machines.

Compressor Dynamics processing to add punch and loudness.
Delay A simple delay with Ping pong behavior, filter modulation and the ability to infinitely repeat the input signal.
EQ Three Three-band EQ with kill switches, modeled on classic DJ mixers.
Erosion Adds “digital”-sounding artifacts and noise to audio signals.
Limiter

Sets an absolute output limit, suitable for mastering. Now with a smoother release curve to reduce distortion, improved metering, a Mid/Side routing mode, and more.

Phaser-Flanger

Phaser-Flanger has a new, lusher sound with increased frequency and modulation ranges.

Redux

Redux adds a wider range of sounds from vintage digital gear including harsh distortion, digital and aliasing artifacts, as well as warm and saturated 8-bit textures.

Reverb Simulates the acoustics of real or imaginary rooms.
Saturator

Waveshaping distortion for adding dirt, punch and warmth. 12.1 introduces a new Bass Shaper curve, ideal for low-end processing, and a more focused user interface.

Tuner Tuner shows the incoming pitch and its distance from the nearest semitone, helping you quickly get instruments in tune.
Utility Multipurpose tool for adjusting gain, phase, stereo width and more.
MIDI Effects
Arpeggiator Updated for Live 12

Takes individual notes from a held chord and plays them as a rhythmical pattern.

Chord Updated for Live 12

Adds up to six additional pitches to incoming MIDI notes to create chords.

MIDI Effect Rack Combine MIDI effects into a single device, allowing for customized MIDI processing chains with simple Macro controls
MIDI Monitor Monitor your MIDI data stream.
MPE Control Adjust Live’s response to MPE information from your MPE controller.
Note Length Updated for Live 12

Alters the length of incoming MIDI notes or triggers notes via Note Off.

Pitch Updated for Live 12

Transposes MIDI notes by a specified amount.

Random Updated for Live 12

Applies chance-based random transposition to MIDI notes.

Scale Updated for Live 12

Remaps incoming MIDI notes to different outgoing MIDI notes.

Velocity Randomizes or compresses MIDI note velocity.
Modulators
Expression Control Updated for Live 12

A control device for pairing MIDI parameters such as velocity, modwheel, pitchbend, aftertouch, and keytrack with any parameter in your Live Set

Includes Live’s core library of sounds and presets

Racks

  • 659 Instrument Racks, incl. 54 dedicated MPE presets
  • 126 Drum Racks
  • 140 Audio Effect Racks

MIDI Clips

  • 106 Drum MIDI Clips
  • 242 Tonal MIDI Clips

Presets

  • 129 Instrument Presets
  • 269 Audio Effect Presets
  • 95 MIDI Effect Presets

Templates

  • 4 Templates (8-Track Recording, Demo & Sketch, Podcast)

Samples

  • 244 Loops
  • 2220 Drum Hits
  • 845 Multisamples, FX and other one-shots