Ableton Note is a music-making app for iOS. It is the first mobile music app that I've actually enjoyed using. It feels like Ableton Live and yet also feels completely new. ![[Pasted image 20231209083924.png]] "Cancel all my appointments!" That's what I shouted when I saw the launch of [Ableton Note](https://www.ableton.com/en/note/?ref=garrensmith.com). I've been a long-time user of [Ableton Live](https://www.ableton.com/en/live/?ref=garrensmith.com), the music production software for desktops and laptops. Ableton Live is so fun to use, allowing me to create lots of different types of music. From live instruments, more classical-sounding music, to full electronic beats, Ableton does it all. I released an [Album](https://redcometza.bandcamp.com/album/intent?ref=garrensmith.com) and it was all recorded in Ableton. I also made [two great kids' tracks](https://rockingtheplayroom.bandcamp.com/?ref=garrensmith.com) with [Shelley](https://www.shelleytonkinsmith.com/?ref=garrensmith.com). But the problem I've had with Ableton is that I don't always want to be sitting at my computer when I want to make music. For example, when I'm on holiday, I avoid taking my laptop, but I would still like to spend time making music. With Note, this all changes. Ableton Note is a music-making app for iOS. It is the first mobile music app that I've actually enjoyed using. It feels like Ableton Live and yet also feels completely new. With Note, you can create awesome drum beats, bass and synth sounds and then sample anything to add really unique sounds to your track. The interface to do all of this is really intuitive and quite flexible. I really like how easy it is to quantise recorded midi. This really takes the pressure off when recording ideas. Ableton Note also integrates with Ableton Live via Ableton Cloud (that is a lot of the word "Ableton" in one sentence). I haven't tried this out yet. But from the examples, it looks good. One thing that really stands out for me is the positioning of the Note. As the marketing page says it's an app for "forming ideas." This makes so much sense and puts the app in the sweet spot of the music production process. It doesn't try to be everything, but rather the place where I can come up with ideas on the go, play around, and later finish them off in Ableton Live. I can really get behind that workflow. Ableton Note has a lot of potential and I'm excited to see really dive into it and see where Ableton is heading with this. For a really comprehensive review of the features check out [CDM's review](https://cdm.link/2022/10/heres-what-to-know-about-note-abletons-mobile-musical-sketchpad-for-ios/?ref=garrensmith.com). Happy beat making... 🎹