Ableton Live 8 and Ableton Suite 8 (http://www.ableton.com), updates
of the real-time music creation applications, are out now. Two new
instruments, Collision and Latin Percussion are also available -- and
both are included in Ableton Suite 8.

Live 8 and Suite 8 add new techniques, effects and workflow
improvements. These include a new groove engine, revamped warping
techniques, live looping, five new effects (including the Ableton
Vocoder), crossfades in the Arrangement View, group tracks and a
reworked MIDI editor.

Ableton Suite 8 includes all that, plus a sound library and a variety
of instruments, including a wide range of synths, a sampler, electric
and acoustic drums (new: Latin percussion), mallets (new: Collision),
numerous sampled instruments and a new Operator.

The boxed version of Ableton Suite 8 costs US$849 and includes
Ableton Live 8, sound library, 10 Ableton instruments including
Session Drums and Essential Instrument Collection 2, and a printed
manual. The downloadable version costs $699 and includes Ableton Live
8, sound library, and eight Ableton instruments)

The boxed version of Ableton Live 8 costs $549 and includes the
Essential Instrument Collection 2 and a printed manual. The
downloadable version costs $449.

Upgrades to Suite 8/Live 8 vary in price, depending on the Ableton
products you already own. Collision is $159, and Latin Percussion is
$99.