Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

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buckman
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Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by buckman » Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:52 am

Had thoughts of an APC but would prefer an all in one unit with pads and keyboard etc..

Does anyone use or have an Akai MPK49? I currently use a M-Audio Radium49 but think i need a change with pads etc

I never really use the session view but would like to get into it just triggering clips, so maybe the APC is a bit overkill as im not after a full blown Abe controller..

Could I use the MPK pads to trigger scenes in an APC way on the session view, and are the knobs sliders of good quality?

Any thoughts ?

Thanks :lol:

Bleep Blop Ima Robot
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by Bleep Blop Ima Robot » Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:59 am

with the mpk pads you could just midi map the scene launch to a pad, how i did it on my mpk25 until i got my apc40.
::Mac Book Pro 2.4 GHz 4 GB:: ::Ableton Suite 8:: ::NI Massive:: ::NI Maschine:: ::NI FM8:: ::NI Audio 4 DJ:: .::.Akai APC40.::. .::.LaunchPad.::. .::.Nocturn 49.::. .::.Akai MPK25.::. .::.BCR2000.::. ::KRK R5's::
::M30 Reverb:: ::SampleMoog::

buckman
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by buckman » Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:08 am

Thats excatly what i was thinking, does it work ok?

toph
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by toph » Sat Nov 28, 2009 1:44 pm

Hi,

I use both in the studio (APC and MPK49). If you just want to fire scenes or clips with the pads and a "hard" mapping for clips and scenes is ok, then the MPK will work for you.

But if you also want to use the pads for programming drum-parts, then you should know, that the small pads on the MPK aren't very nice to trigger. A Korg nanoPad for example works much better here for me. There is a thread of modifying the pads of MPK/MPD here on the forum what works quite well (for me too), but you'll loose your warranty then.

Another point are the controller-capabilities: The APC is much more flexible in that point too.

An issue on mine (and others) APCs is, that there is a high frequent hiss coming directly from the unit (not in the audio signal). If you use it live, that's not a problem, but in the studio it can eat your nerves, when you are one of the (few?) people who listen to what they do at low volumes.

C.

buckman
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by buckman » Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:15 pm

Thanks Toph

So thats an issue with APC's and not MPKs?

I was thinking of the MPK cus its all in one, knobs, sliders, pads, and keys! but liked the look of the APC or any trigger device to launch clips which i suppose i can do with the MPK pads

toph
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by toph » Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:26 pm

To be true: If I had to make a decision today, it probably would be a Launchpad / Remote49 SL MKII combi. Looks more comfortable to me, but surely is more expensive than APC or MPK each. The Remotes have the much better integrated (more flexible) controller-scripts into ableton to my opinion.

C.

Tarekith
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by Tarekith » Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:41 pm

Go with a MPK and APC combo, then you get the best of both!
Tarekith
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citizenchris099
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by citizenchris099 » Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:00 pm

I rock an MPK25 & Launchpad and couldn't be happier.

rpc9943
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by rpc9943 » Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:23 pm

i use the nativekontrol pack for live, i can easily mute, arm, etc with a flick of a pad. very very useful. there also is this, which just came out, a freaking amazing step seq for live... unbelievably sweet, at least for me. i can now make beats on the fly for a live improv show...

http://beatwise.proboards.com/index.cgi ... 416&page=1
http://theconsolationproject.bandcamp.com
Influenced by The Cure, Smiths, early Verve, My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead, Red House Painters, Cocteau Twins, The Church.

The Carpet Cleaner
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by The Carpet Cleaner » Sat Nov 28, 2009 5:18 pm

Every day I use my APC with nativekontrol scripts, plus a basic midi keyboard for midi instruments (PC-50), and everyday I tell my gf that I love my APC more than her !
with the nativekontrol add-on, you can do a lot without touching the mouse.

Bleep Blop Ima Robot
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Re: Akai MPK as APC alternative and Abelton controller?

Post by Bleep Blop Ima Robot » Sun Nov 29, 2009 4:54 am

Tarekith wrote:Go with a MPK and APC combo, then you get the best of both!
couldnt agree more, love this set up
::Mac Book Pro 2.4 GHz 4 GB:: ::Ableton Suite 8:: ::NI Massive:: ::NI Maschine:: ::NI FM8:: ::NI Audio 4 DJ:: .::.Akai APC40.::. .::.LaunchPad.::. .::.Nocturn 49.::. .::.Akai MPK25.::. .::.BCR2000.::. ::KRK R5's::
::M30 Reverb:: ::SampleMoog::

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