All user reviews for the Akai Professional APC40

I use it for 4 months.
This is my first control surface.

What I like: ultra-easy to use with Live. As is dedicated to the gear, plug in usb and hey presto, everything works live. It is a treat.
What I like least: not much except the rather imposing size, but something for nothing!

The value for money is good, but not crazy either. It tickles when even € 400, but the opportunities are enormous and justify the price, as well as finishing, really good quality.

I remake that choice without hesitation. There is a before and after APC when using Live. Whether for play or compo live set, this is really a huge plus to have knobs to turn to manage the effects and pads for launching clips, as opposed to ch ... with the mouse or the touchpad of the computer. It allows to search for sounds and hacks in which one side would have happened without this bug.

I bought this controller without knowing me use LIVE. In February 2011.

After having followed the training Ableton Live 8 a few months after, so I could see what the capabilities of the controller. Some will say "it's still a controller" but it allows the user to creativity, a spontaneity during Live that are most valued.

I still suggest the combination with APC 20 for additional control.

Very good investment.

Seamless integration with Ableton Live, ergonomic, easy to assign the knobs yourself with ableton live

seeking for a dedicated controller for Ableton with pads, not velocity sensitive, the knobs, faders, assignable to all desire, it's perfect

Surt by searching the web there are even small software programs that can transform it into step sequencer etc ....

the flat, there is a certain price, almost € 400 nine, when he came out there was not much competitor, since there is a novation launch pad, coupled with a behringer for faders and knobs it is the same, it is even more difficult now with the release of the new PUSH goes with ableton live 9, then there clears the APC 40

Used it still may be worth the time, but I do not nine would resume today, because of the competition that brings more opportunities, and adding a bit to the fans ableton live there that the PUSH From what I could see on the net offers enormous possibilities in a single controller

I use the APC40 for 2 years and I have nothing "negative" to say about this product.
it is reliable, compact and ergonomic.
it is clearly oriented composition and live, but can be completely re-mapped to MIDI mix traktor kind.
the product is plug-and-play, no tuning required.
navigation with the CPA does not allow for exclusive use ableton patch although improving the workability in the software exists on the ableton site.

I had the opportunity to use the novation launchpad and I think the CPA is clearly above the rest.
hindsight and experience, I will remake choice without hesitation!

I use it for more than 300h and 50h of live components. I use it pretty quickly after the compo.
I use all the time buttons volume, mute, solo, and transportation.
All buttons on the bottom are super practical.
Matrix clip is especially live.
The pads are pleasant ways, can do better. The knobs are great for cons, with a very good resistance. The crossfader is also top. The transport buttons are hard as it takes to avoid the balls.

Productivity tool in the studio, live indispensable tool in live music loops programmed configuration. Compared to Push, PCA is rather a tool to support and is highly complementary. Who live knows the importance of having a mixer at your fingertips in case of slippage .
I do not like his design on the other hand, and dreams of removing unnecessary edges of plastic.

How long have you been using?

I Racu on Christmas Eve.

Had tried many other models before buying

APC 20 that there are few effects knobs, I preferred a mdèle reference for all users of the APC 20 Ableton with it is just perfect for a Mive simple, but APC 40 has an interface which is directly connected to a USB

What is so special that you like most.

effects knobs that can control the knobs from VST Instruments and Effects in Ableton, can grind ls knobs Freeware VST effects.

what feature do you like the least.

no, for different reasons, because there is no downside.

value for money.

enough in Music Shop in Strasbourg, my father paid € 400

If you are an Ableton Live user then you need to go out and buy the AKAI Professional APC 40 as soon as you can, it is a USB based controller that has a total of 109 different buttons! 9 different faders and a cross fader and it is compatible with Macs and PC’s. This is the best performance controller for Ableton Live by far in to me.

The APC 40 is made to use with performing, if you need hands on control over Ableton Live then you must have the APC40, there is also an APC 20 which is about 100 dollars cheaper but it is missing some pretty key functions. On the APC 40 there are a total of 40 clip triggers a cross fader, tap temp and 16 knobs. The APC40 is easy to set up and its plug and play so if you are a live performer you will have no problem showing up, plugging in and start rocking the house effortlessly. Because this is made for Ableton Live the set up process could not be quicker, it basically does all the work for your when installing.

Outside of all of the cool features of the APC 40, there is a huge issue with it. The problem is that it is not well built at all. The knobs are very cheap and will break off if you use it a lot and travel with it a lot. I don’t see this unit lasting someone who uses it a lot and travels with it, more than 6 months without it falling apart. If you do lose a knob or two it will not make the APC40 stop working but it will or could affect your performance and most definitely the look of the APC40 with missing knobs. Also the “nudge” button isn’t well but. Seems like if you put a little to much stress on it changing tempo’s then eventually it will come off and not hold up for you.

The APC 40 is a must have but use it with caution and don’t be surprised if you take it somewhere to perform and come home with missing knobs and buttons.

I do not have anything more to add that the word used in my title, this controller has been developed for a specific software, unlike other MIDI controllers that they should be assigned several apps, the APC40 it dedicated to Ableton LIVE and it's just ... great!

In the more he is made of materials of good quality, the crossfader is very flexible (like a mixer), the faders are sturdy with a 60 mm stroke, potentiometers (unlimited travel!) Are also super strong well inked and they are all accompanied by LED level (useful when playing in dark places!) when the various buttons, SIR!

Come on, the only small weakness, it might be that all a can be a bit much ... plastics, metal knobs and faders on the tables as VESTAX example might have been yet made the machine more "noble" but hey, the frame is metal and the unit works great.

In short, super bike!