Co-developed by Ableton and Cycling '74, Max for Live ($299 MSRP) is a visual programming environment for making custom instruments, algorithmic composition tools, effects, and extensions within Ableton Live. When it steps beyond beta testing and is officially released, you'll be able to do the same creative device-making that you could do within Cycling '74 Max / MSP, but in the intuitive, more aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly environment of Live.

Devices made with Max for Live integrate into Live's workflow and user interface, so that you can manage Max devices just like Ableton devices and save presets or use automation and mapping. Max for Live also provides objects that allow you to access and modify the inner workings of Live. For example, you can modify the tracks, clips, notes, names and values, selection states, or anything else in Live. You can also access controller hardware via Live, creating new mappings that repurpose a hardware device.

Current Max owners, not just Live users, benefit from this release too. Max for Live provides the tools necessary for controlling Live from your Max environment. Max for Live, however, does not include a version of Live. Devices will keep playing in Live while they are being edited in Max.

Max for Live comes with a selection of Max devices and built-in Max objects that are ready to use for audio and MIDI processing, algorithmic composition, real-time performance and hardware control. The application also supports video synthesis and animation via "Jitter" objects.

Ableton Live 8 is required. Max for Live will be available on November 23, 2009. Max 5 owners may purchase it at the discounted price of $99.