APC 40 FAQs, features and questions

[teestone]

I pre-ordered from MF and have not received any other backorder notification besides the initial notice when I first ordered the APC. I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[acidman]

UPDATE regarding Dollar vs Eur pricing

go here:

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php? ... 60#p910460

[Anderton]

I sure hope this doesn't seem like spam, but I received an early APC40 and have written a review about it for the Harmony Central Confidential newsletter that will ship next week. It's a free newsletter; you can subscribe by going to http://www.harmony-central.com and clicking on "Newsletter" in the left navigation bar.

I'll leave the details for the review, but I can share my initial impressions: The build quality is much better than I expected (the knobs are attached to the front panel with hex nuts, not just soldered to a board and protruding through a hole in the panel). The functions are very well thought out, and I was able to figure out pretty much everything without a manual - "intuitive" is an overused word, but the APC40 deserves it.

Originally, I thought that being limited to eight faders would be a deal-breaker - I use a Peavey PC1600 controller and depend on having 16 faders. However, you can gang up to six controllers if you want to control 48 channels. So, I guess I need to save up so I can buy two...

The physical interface is very much like Live's virtual interface. The Device Controls work extremely well with Ableton's plug-ins, and work reasonably well with VST effects from other companies although the results are hit-and-miss - some plug-ins work great, others have so many unassigned functions there's no real advantage to using the APC40. The Device Controls also work well with Ableton's MIDI effects and instruments, but I couldn't control VST instruments I tried from other companies.

One really cool feature is an easily replaceable crossfader - just unscrew two screws and connect a new one. Great feature. It's possible to replace the main faders as well, but that's a job for a tech, not a casual user.

Overall, I found the APC40 very easy to learn and use, and it really adds a dimension to Live that any Live aficionado would appreciate. I've always said that using Live without a physical controller is like driving a Porsche and not realizing you can get it out of second gear - the APC40 was obviously designed by people who "get" Live and "get" what a controller should do.

And that's the word from "the new face of Ableton" (an inside joke for long-time forumites, sorry)!

[Anderton]

One more thing...it doesn't surprise me that there aren't enough controllers to go around. Traditionally, controllers don't sell in huge numbers and with the economy the way it is, few companies want to get stuck with stock sitting around in a warehouse gathering dust. From what I understand Akai assumed that the APC40 would be successful, but maybe they didn't realize just how many Live users would love to have a controller like this. Once the word gets out from users who have an APC40, they better ramp up production because I think the word on the street is going to be very favorable.

[channelite]

My APC40 is in transit and should arrive May 30. I pre-ordered it from Sweetwater the day it was announced. All this time I was debating canceling the order, since I'm happy with the Axiom 25 and liked having a non cluttered desktop. I'm getting really excited now, glad I didn't cancel the order.

[commuter]

Got mine!!!!
yeahh!!!! it's christmas!!

The shop where i bought it, only got ONE..I called them a few days ago to know if they would get some..
they called me back this afternoon.. They told me they won't get more until July 31..
I'm very lucky i think.....

Now let's work on this live set...

[djlegere]

but I couldn't control VST instruments I tried from other companies.

In Live 8 they have this new feature where your external VST's and Instruments have a "Configure" button when you hit the arrow at the top (It used to just open up every parameter for MIDI assignment). Then each parameter you touch with your mouse on the VST is put into a slot. And you can rearrange the order.

What does this mean?

Well you can pick which 8 knobs you want from each VST effect and Instrument and what order you want them to be in. Then the 8 knobs on the APC auto map to them. Once again I have been blown away by Ableton. Still haven't figured out how to do this with ableton fx and instruments but I have just been using the macros anyway.

SO SICK!

[Anderton]

Great tip...thanks! I'll have to give it a try.

If this works I'll like the APC40 even more!!

[Cavisty]

http://apc40.com/

Click "APC40 Anatomy"

lolwut?

[8O]

http://apc40.com/

Click "APC40 Anatomy"

lolwut?

lolwut, indeed...

Putting the "Professional" in Akai Professional...

[contakt321]

http://apc40.com/

Click "APC40 Anatomy"

lolwut?

lolwut, indeed...

Putting the "Professional" in Akai Professional...

lol

[illsub1]

Akai responded to my twitter post concerning shortages and assured me they had TONS both in the warehouse and shipping as well. fingers crossed

[Thinktanx]

Akai responded to my twitter post concerning shortages and assured me they had TONS both in the warehouse and shipping as well. fingers crossed

Interesting.

[gusc]

Muahaha, awesome marketing move

Code: Select all

Domain Name.......... apc40.com
  Creation Date........ 2009-01-31
  Registration Date.... 2009-01-31
  Expiry Date.......... 2011-01-31
  Organisation Name.... Numark Industries, LLC.
  Organisation Address. 200 Scenic View Drive
  Organisation Address. Suite 200
  Organisation Address. Cumberland
  Organisation Address. 02864
  Organisation Address. RI
  Organisation Address. UNITED STATES

Admin Name........... Jean Alexandre
  Admin Address........ 200 Scenic View Drive
  Admin Address........
  Admin Address........ Cumberland
  Admin Address........ 02864
  Admin Address........ RI
  Admin Address........ UNITED STATES
  Admin Email.......... jalexandre@numark.com
  Admin Phone.......... 4016584031
  Admin Fax............

Tech Name............ Jean Alexandre
  Tech Address......... 200 Scenic View Drive
  Tech Address.........
  Tech Address......... Cumberland
  Tech Address......... 02864
  Tech Address......... RI
  Tech Address......... UNITED STATES
  Tech Email........... jalexandre@numark.com
  Tech Phone........... 4016584031
  Tech Fax.............
  Name Server.......... ns2.secure.net
  Name Server.......... ns1.secure.net

[Belkin]

Akai responded to my twitter post concerning shortages and assured me they had TONS both in the warehouse and shipping as well. fingers crossed

Interesting.

i think its normal because in allot of stores was presale and they can count how many items will be stored in one moment.