Ableton Live vs MuTools MuLab

You can add curves to automation. Additionally, Ableton lets users duplicate certain automations quickly.

The Ableton DAW offers a great sampling experience, which can be approached in many different ways. Audio can be directly chopped, quantized, warped, and even chopped into MIDI clips. Ableton's built in sampler also allows clean pitching along with useful loop functions.

Ableton's session view gives a much quicker, more flexible way of experimenting with ideas than a typical linear interface. In session view, each instrument part is a separate entity that can be mixed and matched with other parts without having to rearrange anything. Any and every effect is consolidated into one clean looking interface.

It allows users to experiment with effects and other manipulations very quickly. Because of this, Ableton is known as one of the most creative DAWs out there.

While all DAWs are capable of playing music live, Ableton Live is the most DJ friendly DAW out there as it allows mixing and mashing various MIDI or audio clips together in real-time while still making sure that they're in sync.

Ableton's new EQ includes an integrated spectrum analyzer so users can see exactly which frequencies need to be adjusted. Additionally, this EQ cuts by 48 db. Up until Ableton Live 9, the EQ only cut by 12 db.

The browser lets users choose from live Sets, tracks, clips, devices, presets, samples, etc. There is also an auto-play function for audio clips that enables users to browse samples quickly. The search function is also handy, but only for clips that are labeled appropriately.

Starting with Live 9, users can see session and arrangement views at the same time with dual monitor support.

15 software instruments, 55 audio effects and 17 midi effects.

With Max for Live, users can create custom synthesizers, audio effects, sequencers, samplers, and more. Max for Live is a feature that is available starting with Live 9 Suite.

After some training this daw can be used for doing anything. There are basically no limits.

Not everyone realizes this, but anything can be done in multiple ways in Live. Multiple ways of playing samples, multiple ways of slicing samples, multiple ways of sequencing MIDI, etc.

Not only can the time stretching can be done in real-time, there are about a dozen of TC/E algorithms to choose from.

Skeuomorphism is described as retaining antiquated aesthetic features on an updated version of a device. For DAWs, this happens when an interface is littered with analog nobs, wires, and other things that are reminiscent of older technology. While this can be considered a stylistic choice for some DAWs, it tends to block progress towards better practices in music production.

Many MIDI controllers have been developed for the exclusive purpose of being used with Ableton. Some popular Live controllers include Push, APC40, and Launchpad.

The amount of well-versed tutorials and guides online can help you master Live in a few hours. Secret tips and tricks are also widespread. Forums are filled to the brim with support for any issue you can think of.

Maybe not on certain systems, but when used in an normal system it's very stable.

VST3s now run smoothly in Ableton 10.1 and up. However, be careful when loading in CPU-heavy plugins.

In Live V10, you can trigger MIDI notes without having to do so from the start.

You can make your own skin/themes online and use it in "preferences" tab!

Audio to midi, scales on piano roll, etc.

With a simple plugin, Ableton allows the user to pick from a wide variety of scales when triggering notes.

You can easily warp audio with many different modes and resolutions, and change individual warp markers.

MuLab includes MUX Modular, a modular synth and effect engine, that can be used to create and edito own synths and effects patches.

MuLab is available in a free version and the full version is highly affordable at only 69 euro all in.

Can be installed and run on a portable device such as a USB stick.

Having a variety of integrated synths, samplers and effects removes the need for new user to search for and buy extra VST plug-ins in order to make sound.

MuLab has a clean, minimalistic interface that uses highly distinct icons sparingly making it easy to overview. Much of the functionality can be found in right-click menus.

In addition to having generally low resource consumption, MuLab is capable of taking advantage of multi-core CPUs and relieving the strain on machines even further that way.

Works on OSX and Windows.

MuLab includes oscillators with 300 selected waveforms and support for user waveforms.