APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Kouben · Post by **Kouben** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:20 pm

Hi guys,

I have only recently bought Live (due to free update to 9), and i was wondering what controller of these two are the better.
I have been djing prior to ableton using only technics and tractor.
However the music i produce now i would love to do live mixes of all my songs.
I currently have a maschine for production and i know you can use this as a controller, however i feel a purpose built controller will be more ideal.

I am also looking to bundle one of the controllers with a midi fighter 3d.

Anyway, which one of these two controllers is better and why?

Kouben

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:13 pm

If you currently looking, I would say wait for PUSH and sell Machine.

Other than that, I would get the APC40.
The buttons feel better, the knobs feel better, the wallet feels better, and it's easy to configure with Traktor.

login · Post by **login** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:21 pm

Yes, sell maschine and save for Push, no point in having two expensuive controllers.

Kouben · Post by **Kouben** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:43 pm

login wrote:Yes, sell maschine and save for Push, no point in having two expensuive controllers.

I have seen push... i dont think i will use it, it looks like its there more for production.
I use logic for production mainly.

I have heard good things about apc40

Cheers for both the replies

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:03 pm

It's not the controller thats special, it's the remote scripts.
Granted Push has and LED screen, and the APC40 has faders, making each somewhat unique.

So on that note, what is it about the APC40 that you find attractive?
If it's the layout, faders, knobs, 5x8 matrix, price, then go for it.

For me Push is far more attractive based on the amount of pads, velocity sensitivity, and multi colored LED's. If I want faders I could simply add another controller that was just faders.
Adding whats missing from the APC40 is pretty much adding PUSH.

the bottom line is all controllers are customizable in very much the same manner.
some just have more options than others under the hood.

Kouben · Post by **Kouben** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:53 pm

JuanSOLO wrote:It's not the controller thats special, it's the remote scripts.
Granted Push has and LED screen, and the APC40 has faders, making each somewhat unique.

So on that note, what is it about the APC40 that you find attractive?
If it's the layout, faders, knobs, 5x8 matrix, price, then go for it.

For me Push is far more attractive based on the amount of pads, velocity sensitivity, and multi colored LED's. If I want faders I could simply add another controller that was just faders.
Adding whats missing from the APC40 is pretty much adding PUSH.

the bottom line is all controllers are customizable in very much the same manner.
some just have more options than others under the hood.

Good point.
I think the thing that is attracting me to the apc40 is that i have heard many good things about it.
The impression i got with the push was that is was for producing, i yet to see it in action as a dj controller... however as i have only just started using ableton, the features that i unlock, the more i will understand the true functions of the push controller.
I think the fact that i have a maschine too, that puts me off the push as its kinda the same thing.

I will look into it alot more before i make a decision

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:28 pm

With Maschine you only get ALL of the cool features within Maschine itself.
Small example, "delete notes"
Delete notes does not translate to something like DrumRack.

So in a since think of Push as giving you all of the Maschine tricks in Ableton Live natively, with the exception of editing waveforms/samples on the LCD.
plus an 8x8 matrix, and then some!

This is mearly my prediction for the APC40 in the future,
over time you will see a few remote scripts or M4L devices that get you some PUSH features in Live.
Things like,
Scrolling and loading from the browser,
Maybe some cool step sequencer action.
However these will most likely be tailored to the user that created them, so chances are you will always feel like it should be a bit different.
ALSO, the APC40 is relatively simple, it only does what the controls are labeled as.
There are minimal shift+ features and a few things most users dont even use, like PAN.
So anything that people create for the APC40, starts to feel cramped.
To customize the APC40 for Live requires M4L, remote scripting or 3rd party app's like Bomes. It takes a lot of learning curve and there are somethings that are just damn near impossible.
APC40 with Traktor, ultra easy if you understand custom mapping in Traktor, and pretty much anything is easily accessible, i.e Track Control Knobs.

To me the APC40 was a good start and inspired a lot in the controller market.
But it was just a start.
The APC40 is not some rugged build quality that people make it out to be.
Tons of users report failing faders and sticky buttons after a year of use.
Anyone whos opened one up would probably be surprised how cheap it really is.
Personally I think the APC40 has a really F'd up layout ergonomically.
5x8 matrix seems odd
Matrix to the Left, Knobs to the right, weird
detail view button, pointless
metronome button, pointless
crossfader, cheap cheap cheap.
The most useful thing the APC40 offers is the device control knobs and "blue handing" Ableton should create a controller of just that with about 16 tiny buttons. underneath the knobs to map to device title bars.

For DJing, the OHM seems much more suited layout wise
WAY overpriced for what you get, I mean phenomenally overpriced.

I realize there is a need not to break the bank, yet aquire a quality controller.
On that note, hold off on any purchases until at least 2 months after PUSH is released.
I predict a flood of new controllers designed for Ableton Live will come out, that emulate PUSH features and cost way less.
For me I am very curious to see what Novation have in store.
When the APC40 came out, everyone dropped $400+ and 2 months later the Launchpad came out. A Korg NanoKontrol, + Launchpad, OR Launchpad + Novation Zero offer much more than an APC40 at half or about the same price.

login · Post by **login** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:17 pm

Livid instruments it's not overpriced, it's just the manufacturing costs in the US.

PUSH is overpriced, since it's probably built in china and big operation. I can bet it will be 400 for the end of 2013 or the beggining of 2014.

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:57 pm

login wrote:Livid instruments it's not overpriced, it's just the manufacturing costs in the US.

proper point
eyes opened
gonna have to think about that for a while.

Kouben · Post by **Kouben** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:53 pm

JuanSOLO wrote:
login wrote:Livid instruments it's not overpriced, it's just the manufacturing costs in the US.
proper point
eyes opened
gonna have to think about that for a while.

im really unsure of what to do now...

i have just ordered a midi fighter 3d... they look sick... ill give it a go with maschine... see what happens.

ideally i want to be able to live sets like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mx4F0gKYQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZkC30NLvzs

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:17 pm

I still wouldn't buy anything Livid, I see the build quality and I'd rather build it myself, or buy something cheaper.

Thats just me though.

login · Post by **login** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:14 pm

JuanSOLO wrote:I still wouldn't buy anything Livid, I see the build quality and I'd rather build it myself, or buy something cheaper.

Thats just me though.

for me is more the lack of scripts for easy integration and velocity sensitive pads. And the price.

Kouben · Post by **Kouben** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:44 am

login wrote:
JuanSOLO wrote:I still wouldn't buy anything Livid, I see the build quality and I'd rather build it myself, or buy something cheaper.

Thats just me though.

for me is more the lack of scripts for easy integration and velocity sensitive pads. And the price.

i am just really unsure, now. its good getting all this feedback... i had my mind set on an apc40... but looking deep into there are many bad reviews

JuanSOLO · Post by **JuanSOLO** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:02 am

Dont over think it, if you can find an APC40 for 200 bucks, get one.
If a fader goes bad, or a replacement fader,
even a total goof can replace one of those faders.

SlvrDragon50 · Post by **SlvrDragon50** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:40 am

I have an APC40 and love it. I don't really find much use for it for production (I'm just starting though), but I think the ability to switch between production and DJing with templates in Ableton is awfully convenient.

I impulse bought the APC40, but they're on sale over at DJ Tech Tools for decent prices used. It's not gonna be your last controller so you can always buy another one down the road.

APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB

Re: APC 40 v Livid OHM RGB