Ableton Forum

Up until now, I have used Live either as a traditional DAW or for live looping with guitar/bass etc...

Recently I've watched a few YouTube videos of folks using Live in it's original concept, i.e. live DJing, mashing loops, remixing etc. It's all brand new to me, and looks like a lot of fun.

I already have a MIDI keyboard (EMU XBoard) which I've used to play synths etc, but I figure I also need a control surface or two!

I want to start fairly small, so I'm been looking at: M-Audio Trigger Finger, Korg PadKontrol, AKAI MPD24 in particular.

I've read some reviews and watched some videos, but I could really do with advice on which would be best for use with Live.

The Akai appeals because of its dedicated transport controls, 6 faders and 8 knobs... but it's the most expensive. The Trigger Finger looks a bit cheap and I've ready that the software ain't great. The Korg is in the middle, price-wise, looks great and comes highly-recommended, but lacks the faders etc of the other two.

Any suggestions?

read the hundreds of other threads on various forums that answer the exact same question!?!

You didn't mention anything about drumming, why do you need pads? Get the BCF2000 or the BCR2000.

nowtime wrote:You didn't mention anything about drumming, why do you need pads? Get the BCF2000 or the BCR2000.

Actually I have a greater need for pads than I do knobs and faders. I want to play drum machines, fire off samples, toggle loops and play basslines etc. I am thinking that the 6 faders and 8 knobs on the MPD24, along with the 16 CD knobs on my XBoard, will be enough for a few years at least.

The APC40 - mmm, very tasty! But at £400 this is WAY out of my budget (notice the thread title...).

With hindsight, I should have bought a MIDI keyboard with built in pads etc in the first place, I guess.

Rave wrote:

AlexMC wrote:

nowtime wrote:You didn't mention anything about drumming, why do you need pads? Get the BCF2000 or the BCR2000.

Actually I have a greater need for pads than I do knobs and faders. I want to play drum machines, fire off samples, toggle loops and play basslines etc. I am thinking that the 6 faders and 8 knobs on the MPD24, along with the 16 CD knobs on my XBoard, will be enough for a few years at least.

The APC40 - mmm, very tasty! But at £400 this is WAY out of my budget (notice the thread title...).

With hindsight, I should have bought a MIDI keyboard with built in pads etc in the first place, I guess.

Budget is subjective

Good point!

The Novation ReMOTE 49 SL would have been a better choice, back in the day. Mmm... I wonder, should I sell my XBoard and start over?

if you can... absolutely!

Hmm... I see that the Korg padKontrol has a pedal input which I could conceivably use for looping etc. And the flam/roll XY pad would be useful. But no faders!

But then... in the Sound On Sound review for the MPD24, it states "the MIDI sockets act as a simple one-in/one-out MIDI interface," which would be cool as I don't have a MIDI interface, and this would free up the USB socket that my XBoard is connected to.

Not sure which features are more important to me...

I am always very indecisive when it comes to big purchases.

padKontrol also has a midi in port if you wanted to go that route to attach the xboard.

the padkontrol is very good for the money,

McQ714 wrote:padKontrol also has a midi in port if you wanted to go that route to attach the xboard.

So, in theory, I could buy a pedal for the XBoard, connect the XBoard to either the PadKontrol or MPD24 and use this to trigger samples etc?

Hmm.

I think I'm going to discount the padKontrol due to its lack of knobs and faders, which are pretty important to me... as much as the XY pad and big soft pads appeal.

Leaving the Trigger Finger, the Akai MPD24... OR the possibility of selling my XBoard and going for something like the MPK49 with everything built-in.

BCR2k (£70) + AKAI LPD8 (£50)

Run the BCR2K in Mackie Emu Mode, is nice.

....And pre-order the AKAI for delivery this september.

buh-jet!

AlexMC wrote:

McQ714 wrote:padKontrol also has a midi in port if you wanted to go that route to attach the xboard.

So, in theory, I could buy a pedal for the XBoard, connect the XBoard to either the PadKontrol or MPD24 and use this to trigger samples etc?

Hmm.

I think I'm going to discount the padKontrol due to its lack of knobs and faders, which are pretty important to me... as much as the XY pad and big soft pads appeal.

Leaving the Trigger Finger, the Akai MPD24... OR the possibility of selling my XBoard and going for something like the MPK49 with everything built-in.

the padKONTROL has the best pads, hands down... only other choice would be the akai's with way less good pads, but faders, if they are really that important... the trigger finger is a hit and miss and looses in most cases the pads after a while... and you need fingers like drum sticks to trigger them in the first place... fail!

if i would be you, i would go padKONTROL, the editor is top as well and gives you a hell lot of flexibility, once you warp your had around the possibilities... and if you are on OSX, then Farmpad is the killer... one more advantage for traveling with the padKONTROL towards the Akais is the lower weight...

i use the midi on my padkontrol for another pad device, works like a charm and i also use the foot switch input, for, well a foot switch for triggering scenes, looper, whatever... and Farmpad...

save for the apc40..it's worth the wait

I get a lot from a padkontrol / nanokontrol combination - the python script on cdm really extends the nanokontrol's functionality.

evolwizard wrote:save for the apc40..it's worth the wait

Thta is FAR too much for me. I am 'curious' rather than 'expert' or 'enthusiast'.

It's like suggesting that a newly-qualified driver buy a Porsche, as 'it's what he'll want eventually'!