Whether it’s better to work in- or out-of-the-box – i.e. with software plugins or physical hardware – has long been one of the great debates among electronic music makers. Predictably, despite what advocates of one approach or the other might say, the real answer is that whatever way of working suits you best is the one to go for.
In 2023, however, the line between the two is increasingly blurring. Gear like this issue’s cover star – Ableton’s newly standalone-capable Push – as well as Apple’s brand new iOS version of Logic Pro, are taking the traditional DAW workflow away from the studio, offering new ways to be creative that don’t mean being bound to your laptop screen.
