Akai MIDI controllers - APC40 or APC20?

sonofivan · Post by **sonofivan** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:11 pm

Hi

I have been considering buying one of Akai's MIDI controllers for use with Ableton Live.

Just wondering if anyone on here has experience with either, or better still both? The APC40 has lots of pots and a crossfader, APC20 does not. Is this all the extras that I would get for paying £330 for the APC40 instead of £150 FOR THE APC20, or are there other hidden advantages to the bigger model?

Cheers for any advice

drgoody · Post by **drgoody** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:43 pm

i Got the Akai APC 40 recently. It has really changed my practice in a very positive way already! I guess the differance is really in those pots. They allow you to have real time control of any parameter of your instruments and effects. However the great bit is have tactile control of your scenes sample one shots ect. If you have the bread I would go for the big one but I would wouldn@t I.

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:24 pm

I have had my APC40 since it came out. I do my best to use it to the fullest, with stuff like Hanz Pertov's APC_64_40 script, M4L, etc. However after I got it I grew tired of the strange ergonomic layout pretty fast. One of my faders went on the fritz, and some of the matrix pads seem to stick. I take really good care of my gear too. One of the things that drives me totally nuts is a 5x8 matrix, when I see all these 8x8's out there. But if your dead set on getting one, go for it, they are fun for little cost. However, I think there are WAY better options, or combinations of gear that suit the job much better. Granted you may spend a little more, or have to save up for the next piece of gear, but I would suggest making a better investment.

Livid OHM
Livid CODE
Novation ZeRO SL MKII
Novation Launchpad
MidiFighter
iPAD
Maschine

and so on....

reticent · Post by **reticent** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:27 pm

From what I've read, the APC40 is good if you use clips a lot in session view rather than arrangement view. It's all preference really, but I would get the 40 over the 20.

drgoody · Post by **drgoody** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:38 pm

Man fully functional Ableton on Ipad 5. Cant wait!!!

sonofivan · Post by **sonofivan** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:41 pm

thanks for your replies. i probably should have explained that i have an akai mpd 16 & a novation remote sl compact already, so i could use at least two of these together with he new controller and my macbook pro. if i combine the mpd 16 with the apc 20 for example, i will have lots of pots...

i'm on a tight budget and i'm starting to think the apc20 is the way to go. gonna use it for djing and playing live ectronic music, so the clip launching is a priority, and i have the pots on my mpd to control effects etc...

also, am i right in thinking that the 20 has note mode built in, but with the 40 you have to get some kind of add on? if so that's a bit weird - i think the 40 may be a bit overpriced compared to the 20! (more than double the retail price)

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:50 pm

sonofivan wrote:... am i right in thinking that the 20 has note mode built in, but with the 40 you have to get some kind of add on?

It's a free script created by Hanz Pertov, you can find it here http://remotescripts.blogspot.com/p/apc-64-40.html. It's simple to use and you'll get WAY more functionality out of your APC40 with it.

If all you want is the button Matrix get a Launchpad, better size, better matrix.

drgoody · Post by **drgoody** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:56 pm

thanks for this juan Solo. Excellent.

kanuck · Post by **kanuck** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:03 pm

apc40.. not sure how much more it is... but those extra features are definitely worth it.

dredd i knight · Post by **dredd i knight** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:50 am

launchpad all the way mate...
you've got pots and sliders already and for cheaper you get 24 extra clip launch slots...
It's a solid piece of kit, and it's simplicity is it's strength.
This is probably not what you want to hear tho, so if I were to have to choose between the 2 akai models I'g go for the 40, because it does more....

sonofivan · Post by **sonofivan** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:08 am

Yeah I have considered the launchpad, but I love akai's build quality... Hmmm, I'm a bit confused now! Was sold on a apc20 combined with my mpd16.. Maybe I'll have another look at the launchpad!

Thanks again everyone for your helpful points

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:29 am

If you're looking to DJ like you said I would suggest the 40. I have both and use the 40 for DJ sets and both in combination mode for production. Access to the Sends and the track faders are really useful for effects, EQ, etc for each track individually. Plus the 40 has a cross-fader, the global controls, and the navigation arrows that control the clip launch matrix.

Akai MIDI controllers - APC40 or APC20?

Akai MIDI controllers - APC40 or APC20?

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