In case you thought Ableton was abandoning its major-Live-update-every-year tradition, think again. The first thing I saw on the Javits floor today was the beta version of the new Live 7. The new version includes an improved audio engine with 64-bit mix summing, POW-r dithering, optimized sample-rate conversion and more.

A new compressor effect integrates three compression models, and integrates a side-chain. The Gate and Auto Filter effects now also include side-chaining. The EQ Eight plug-in has an improved user interface and a 64-bit mode for increased accuracy. Also a new Spectrum analyzer provides visual feedback for any audio.

Live 7’s MIDI engine has been reworked to minimize jitter. Hardware synthesizers and effects can now be inserted into device chains just like software plug-ins. Live 7 comes as a download ($499) or a boxed version, which includes the Essential Instrument Collection 2 ($599).

Ableton has also introduced three new add-on instruments resulting from a collaboration with Applied Acoustics Systems (AAS). Tension is based on AAS String Studio VS-1; Electric is based on AAS Lounge Lizard EP-3 electric piano instrument; and Analog is based on AAS Ultra Analog VA-1. However, in Live, all those instruments retain the Live GUI and integration with the sequencer. Other new instruments include Session Drums, Drum Machines, Orchestral Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion; and Essential Instrument Collection 2.

Ableton Suite ($799 download; $999 box) is a combination of Live 7 plus a choice selection of Ableton instruments. The download version includes Sampler, Operator, Electric, Analog, Tension and Drum Machines. The boxed version adds Essential Instrument Collection 2 and Session Drums.

All of Ableton’s new releases are scheduled for Q4, after extensive testing and bugfixing. The first round of beta testing for Ableton Live 7 is starting today with a limited participant group. A public beta version of these products will be available soon.

Additional Prices:

Tension, Electric and Analog: $159 each.

Essential Instrument Collection 2: $119

Session Drums: $179

Drum Machines: $79

Orchestral Strings, Orchestral Brass and Orchestral Woodwinds: $249 each

Orchestral Percussion: $199

Orchestral Bundle (Orchestral Strings + Brass + Woodwinds + Percussion): $799

Upgrade prices can be found at www.ableton.com.

Just got back from the American Music & Sound booth and they’re brimming with lots of new goodies: Focusrite’s ISA 828 8-channel mic pre (now shipping) and the Liquid 4PRE, and Allen & Heath’s ZED-14 stereo mixer and iLive-80 control surface. In other news, Turbosound joins the AM&S family, effective now.