When wanting to minimize mouse/keyboard action in Ableton wen using it on stage : are there any good alternatives to the Ableton Push (1 or 2) ?

I read negative reviews on the push regarding:

- Mouse/keyboard are quicker in a studio setting <- I'm a live looper; stage performance is key for me

- It's big and heavy, so I can't just "throw it into a backback" <- I need to take the car to transport all of my other gear anyway, so I'd prolly get a flightcase for it.

- You can't use it with other DAWs <- I don't want different DAWs; on stage I can only feasibly use one at a time (preferably the same one for the whole set)

Very open to any insights you may have that speak for or against any controller you use (or have used) successfully (or not so much) in live stage performances.

Gratefully yours

IZ

Hello, I am a beginner MIDI guy. I want to buy a midi controller(keyboard type, like the one in the picture) for my ableton live. I'm planning to make some game music with it. Budget is (usd) $200 ~ $300 I'm new to MIDI, so I can't decide which keys would fir for my use.

And these are my extra questions..

1. For making game music, are 25 or 37 keys are enough for it?

2. I heard that Novation Launchkey mk3 is the best for ableton users. Is this right?

3. For my use, which keys are better? 25? 37? 49? 61?

I'm a TOTAL beginner, wanting to have a creative new hobby including music production, DJ, synthesizers, etc. I may take piano lessons as well.

I don't have any hardware. Do you think I need a hardware controller for Ableton? Ideally, I like the workflow of Simon Posford (Shpongle, Hallucinogen, Younger Brother). He uses a huge mixing board, which apparently costs > $100,000. This seems a *little* excessive as a first purchase. But my understanding is that he essentially starts with the equivalent of a huge Session view with lots of pre-loaded sounds in different channels, that he then layers together. Obviously, this is eventually put into a formal arrangement.

Is there an Ableton controller that can mimic this workflow? Perhaps Push 3, APC64 and APCmini mk2? Other options I haven't considered? Or would it be better to just get a synthesizer, to practice keyboard skills, and do all of the controlling just with a mouse on Ableton?

I'm interested in anyone's thoughts, regardless of skill level. You basically can't be as much of a beginner as I am. Any opinions greatly appreciated.

I suppose my MAX budget is $5000 for this entire project. That includes studio monitors, a subwoofer (can that be connected via the Push3 audio interface?), an Ableton license, whatever controller/synth/keyboards I end up with, and critically, lessons on how to do all of this. I don't need or want to spend this much.

EDIT: I like the advice someone below gave... I think I'm going to wait to buy any controller, until it's clear I have a specific need. I bought Ableton Suite, but that's it so far. I'm about to order some headphones, and I may stick with just that for now. Then I'm going to spend my money on lessons. I have been watching lots of free content, but I may try one of the paid packages of lessons like Seed to Stage.

Could people comment on their favorite controllers have used for life whether it's creating a mixing beats or DJing or performing live?