Photo credit: Dmitry Rodionov
The music production world is currently obsessed with a LEGO prototype of the Ableton Push, one of the industry’s most iconic hardware instruments. Since its 2013 debut, the Push has evolved through three generations.
Recently revealed prototypes have shed light on the surprisingly humble beginnings of this flagship instrument. Crafted by Ableton’s Head of Hardware, Jesse Terry, these early concepts were built using LEGO bricks, parts from existing controllers, and custom modifications. Australia’s Powerhouse Museum recently acquired one of only two surviving versions, highlighting the design team’s process of using these modular blocks to rapidly experiment with ergonomics and workflow before moving to final production.
Terry explained that LEGO’s modularity was crucial for testing various layouts with users. This experimental phase eventually led to the original Push, developed in partnership with Akai Professional. Today, the Push 3 stands as a cornerstone of modern music technology, featuring advanced expressive controls. The museum’s acquisition offers a rare glimpse into the creative, iterative design process behind one of electronic music’s most vital tools.
“The LEGO prototype went through many, many phases of moving buttons around, trying to figure out the right ergonomics and functions. It was playful and not permanent, and that’s what allowed us to go through so many iterations to get the right thing,” shared Terry. “I had a bin of old Legos at my parents’ house, so I grabbed them and glued them onto things. The bricks let me adjust extra buttons in a very fluid way, allowing us to work back and forth between Berlin and Philadelphia with these two prototypes.”
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