Just fair warning when it comes to Akai. This by an almost lifelong Akai user! (yes, I'm that old)
Here is how Akai hardware is released. I currently own a S5000 and a MPC1000 but have owned many pieces of Akai gear over the years.
Numbers below are estimated and used only as examples.
1. Initial release of the APC 40:
Software: Akai will promise 20 features. 5 will work, 5 will be buggy, 5 will crash the device, 5 will never, ever be delivered.
Hardware: Akai will deliver a shoddy product at first. 25% of users will report no problems, 25% of users will report many problems, 25% will report the device has broken knobs, sliders etc. 25% will be DOA and won't work out of the box.
Akai's Historical reaction: What problems? There are no problems.
Examples: Akai S5000/S6000, MPC 4000, MPC 1000
2. One year later:
Software: Of the 20 Features: 10 will now work, 5 will still be buggy - 1 of the five buggy features will be a deal breaker for most users, 5 features promised will not be delivered - ever.
Hardware: 40% of users will report no problems, 20% of users will report many problems, 20% will report the device has broken knobs, sliders etc. 20% will be DOA and won't work out of the box.
Akai's historical reaction: Everything is fine now, even though nothing was ever wrong!
Examples: Akai S5000/S6000, MPC 4000, MPC 1000
3. Two years later:
Software: Of the 20 Features: 13 will now work, 2 will will still be buggy - 1 of the 2 buggy features will be a deal breaker for most users, 5 features promised will not be delivered - ever.
Hardware: 70% of users will report no problems, 10% of users will report many problems, 10% will report the device has broken knobs, sliders etc. 10% will be DOA and won't work out of the box.
Note: At this point Akai will offer an "Upgrade" kit for the people who bought the first release of the product. It's actually just a bug fix. Don't worry though, it will only cost $200.00.
Akai's historical reaction: Everything is fine now (again), even though nothing was ever wrong (again)! You should buy the upgrade, it's great.
Examples: Akai S5000/S6000, MPC 4000, MPC 1000
3. Three years later: (no change whatsoever)
Software: Of the 20 Features: 13 will now work, 2 will will still be buggy - 1 of the 2 buggy features will be a deal breaker for most users, 5 features promised will not be delivered - ever.
Hardware: 70% of users will report no problems, 10% of users will report many problems, 10% will report the device has broken knobs, sliders etc. 10% will be DOA and won't work out of the box.
Note: At this point a new APC 40 v.2 will come out. Likely in original Ableton Green. It will have the $200.00 upgrade/ bug fix included. It will be cheaper than the original APC 40.
The Green APC 40 v.2 will still be missing features promised 3 years ago.
Akai's historical reaction: Everything is fine now (again), even though nothing was ever wrong (again)! You should buy the upgrade, it's great. And only $200.00 or better yet dump the APC v.1 on ebay and buy the cool new Green one!
Examples: Akai S5000/S6000, MPC 4000, MPC 1000
4. 4 years later:
APC 50 will be released. It will work great. No one will care. Something better has come along. APC 40's will be working fine with 90% percent of all promised features working. The APC 40 v.1 will be considered a classic and demand more money on the used market. One of the "bugs" turns out to be a really cool "feature" that only APC 40 v.1 owners will understand and care about. The APC v.2 can be bought used for $50 but can only be used with Ableton Live 7-10. The APC v.1 has a hacked OS that makes it usable with all versions of Live.
Kind of trollish post but I'm sure other "Akai" users on the board will agree!
