Ableton Forum

I know we have covered midi controllers in here before but you have the opportunity for one midi controller this holiday season, which one do you want and why?

APC 40
LaunchPad
Ohm 64
UC-33

Im bent out of shape, leaning towards APC 40 for its knobs, love the price point on launch pad (no knobs)
love the build quality on OHM 64 but more complex mapping (seems like you need max) and expensive.
Last but not least Nathan Fake gets decent use out of UC-33, need i say more.


Comments anyone?

If ya don't already have something with knobs, get an APC40.

I've got a UC-33, not the UC-33e version either (regrettably) and it is a pretty darned nice piece of work. If you can get one cheaply, it's worth a look. Programming it is kind of a pain imo, but finding one good patch and then just using midi learn as you need it is probably the best way forward. I'm fairly primitive though.

Would trade it out for an APC-40... The Launchpad pricepoint looks so tempting. In either case I can't afford to get controller AND m4l right now, so I feel I'm building in limitations. And therefore will probably just get a new car stereo to replace the 15 year old factory junk in the ancient car I just re-inherited.

I have both an APC40 and a Launchpad and recommend both.They are both awesome devices. The Launchpad is probably better for those on a budget, but the APC40 is hard to go past.

The Behringer BCF2000 is also a great budget-friendly choice.

APC40 would be my vote too, you get a little bit of everything with that, knobs, faders, scene launch etc. Plus, the knobs and faders are good quality too.

apc40 = yum. play with everything and see what you like. But im recommending the apc also

apc40 ftw

i bought a launchpad this weekend cause it's in my budget for the month. after i took it home and started playing i realized that the APC40 would've been a better investment for me. i have a behringer bcf-2000 and a nanokontrol already, so hopefully i will get by. i am kind of kidding about getting by because there was a time when all these $200 controllers was a dream and nothing more.

so, eventually i will get an APC40 but i am going to hang on to the launchpad because it's so thin and portable, which is refreshing cause i have been lugging around the huge xponent all year. unfortunately, i have to lug the bcf around now it looks like

i could foresee the launchpad being more usable over time cause it's so minimalist, especially since i have big interests in live looping.

i'm going to try to not think about if i made the right purchase too hard cause the launchpad was so god damn cheap - i feel really lucky now.

apc 40 here also
like said before, you get a little bit of everything.

im confused, santa is charging you for a present?

if i was asking santa for a midi controller i would ask for a lemur

DIY controller

zalo wrote:im confused, santa is charging you for a present?

if i was asking santa for a midi controller i would ask for a lemur

to bad santa doesnt exist and someone has to pay for that beast.

If you have space on your desk and a Budget to fulfill APC40 Price (459 Euros) and still no controller in house go for it, I have tested it in a shop. Great.. but takes more space than my BCF2K so...
Alternatively you can go for a BCF2K and a Launchpad (189 Euros + 179 Euros = 368) and you
get motorized faders that are IMHO very useful when mixing and a bigger launchpad grid (8x8) and some nice capabilities. The 'old' style coupling of BCF2K and BCR2K can still be an option for a lower price but again it depends on what you have to do.
The APC40 is the 'All-in-one-you-can't-go-wrong' path, while others might offer more flexibility (leave BCF @home and take Launchpad with you)

- Hope it helps
- Best
- Pasha

Bleep Blop Ima Robot wrote:

zalo wrote:im confused, santa is charging you for a present?

if i was asking santa for a midi controller i would ask for a lemur

to bad santa doesnt exist and someone has to pay for that beast.

my world is crashing down around me!!!!!!!!

but honestly, i think its worth every penny

with M4L now, i am 100% away from the laptop, it sits in the back of the stage with the synths and the sound card

i get complete feedback on a single touch screen

if i do buy another controller that isnt a second lemur (a second one is tempting) it would be a BCR2000

How much hassle it it to lug the APC about ? Im really tempted but concerned about this zie. Can you get any carry cases/bags for that badboy ?