Introduced today, Ableton Live Intro (Mac / Win; €99 Street) is the starter-version of Live that includes the most essential features of the digital audio workstation, at a significantly lower price.

Live Intro's spans a massive 7 GB of material ideal for just about any type of track or music-production project. The starter version offers sampled instruments, drum loops, beats and breaks, 200 audio and MIDI racks and effects, and 500 instruments and drum kits from the Ableton Live Suite library. Intro would be great for those who only want the basics and easy layouts of Live, or for those who just want to try it before they purchase Live itself. It comes with a Getting Started manual, integrated step-by-step tutorials, and practical song templates.

Use Live Intro to record 64 audio tracks in up to 32-bit, 192 kHz resolution, and record unlimited MIDI tracks. The software fully supports ReWire and offers instant mapping of MIDI hardware and controllers; MIDI Sync to other software; and full support for all VST and Audio Units instruments, effects, and plugins. Ableton expects to ship Live Intro very soon. If you are already an owner and user of Live 6 LE or Live 7 LE, you may get a free upgrade to Live Intro.

Current Live users should also check out Ableton's Web site for even more deals. To celebrate its ten years in business, Ableton will offer (through January 15, 2010) free Live Packs for Live 8 and Suite 8 users; and 20 percent off Live 8 and Suite 8, including upgrades, for everyone.