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AKAI

Akai Professional APC20 Compact Ableton Controller

  • Based on 38 reviews
Condition: Used - Very Good
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Availability: Only 2 left in stock, order soon!
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Arrives May 24 – May 31
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Features

  • Designed in partnership with Ableton, mapped for Live, and fully customizable
  • Clip Launch matrix with multicolor lighting displays current clip status
  • No mapping required; every button and fader is pre-mapped
  • Bidirectional hardware/software communication for visual feedback on APC20
  • Comes with Ableton Live Akai Professional APC Edition software

Description

Ableton Live software is a powerful, flexible environment for creating, performing, and producing music. This unique software demands an equally unique control instrument. Akai Professional and Ableton are proud to present the APC20 compact professional Ableton Live performance controller. The APC20 transforms your Ableton Live experience from constructing tracks on a computer to fluid, musical creation. The second model in the APC series, the APC20 offers a smaller footprint than the APC40, enabling musicians to more easily create a personalized setup with multiple APCs, effects controllers, and other devices. The APC20 is the link between human and computer that perfectly balances analytical parameter control with creative expression. Whether you are an electronic music artist and Live is your canvas, a DJ using Live to mix or remix tracks, or a more traditional musician using Live on stage or in the studio, you will find the APC20 to the intuitive, powerful instrument that directly links your inspiration with Ableton Live. INSTANT PERFORMANCE Because Akai Professional and Ableton designed the APC20 specifically for Ableton Live, you don’t need to map its controls to talk to the software. Just connect your laptop to the APC20 via USB and you're ready to make magic. The APC20 is plug and play, so you don't need to install drivers. First-time setup is literally three steps: load the included Ableton Live software, plug in and power up your APC20, and select the APC20 as Ableton Live's controller. That's it. No mapping, no setup, no hassles. The APC20 comes pre-mapped for instant use with Ableton Live software, so if you're new to it, you'll find using the APC20 to be easy to get around on. And if you’re an experienced Live user, you'll be happy to note that you can custom-map every single button and fader on the APC20 to completely customize the controls for the way you like to work. VISUAL FEEDBACK The APC20 talks directly to Ableton Live, and Live talks directly to the APC20. This bidirectional communication makes the APC20 an advanced controller in that it can receive feedback from the software and display it on its Clip Launch matrix. The Clip Matrix gives you an instant view of clip status: what's loaded, what's playing, and what's being recorded. Each state displays in the grid in a different color so you can get a quick picture of clip state. You can shift your clip focus and get an overview of the clips you have loaded for your set. PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION Ableton selected Akai Professional as its partner in developing the APC20 because of Akai Pro's leadership position in great-feeling controllers that are rock solid, rugged, and precise. From the legendary MPC series that changed the way music is made to the industry-standard MPD and MPK controllers, Akai Professional is revered by musicians, DJs, and producers everywhere for creating the feel that powers their creativity. The APC20 is built with a rugged, metal chassis and slip-proof rubber detailing. There’s no flimsy plastic here. Faders are solid and precise for pinpoint performance. CREATIVE CONTROL The APC20 comes with Ableton Live Akai Professional APC Edition software, which is fully functional for performance and production. Owners of the standalone edition of Ableton Live 8 can also work seamlessly with the APC20. Live 8 has full support for the APC20. The APC20 also enables special clip-status views and feedback that only the APC20's matrix can display. The matrix is not limited to only 40 clips: you can scroll and shift, enabling you to access, control, and perform with an unlimited number of cells. The APC20 has nine faders, which you can assign to volume control, pan, sends, and a choice of three user-mapped modes. You have even more control power with special controls including Tap Tempo, Tempo Nudge, record enables, and solo/cues. A new User Mode enables you to use the Clip Launch buttons to control instruments and the Drum Rack. Designed in partnership with Ableton, the APC20 is the ideal controller for performers who like to perform in a small amount of space for maximum portability. It’s also perfect for players who want to combine multiple controllers in their setup thanks to its small footprint. Don’t settle for cheap, plastic imitations. From the company whose name is synonymous with the word production, the APC20 is the serious choice. Power Supply: DV 12V 2.0A pin-positive, auto-switching (100-240V, 50-60Hz) Communication: USB-MIDI with proprietary hardware/software handshake Inputs: USB Weight: 3.8 lbs Dimensions: 29.5cm x 33.3cm x 5.7cm (WxDxH) 11.61" x 13.11" x 2.24" (measured to the highest point, which is the CUE knob) MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Mac: G4 / Intel recommended, OS X 10.3.9 / 10.4+ recommended PC: 1.5GHz, Windows XP or Vista, Windows-compatible sound card / ASIO driver support recommended 512MB RAM / 1GB recommended, QuickTime 6.5 or higher, DVD-ROM drive, USB port

Brand: AKAI


Connectivity Technology: USB


Special Feature: The professional Akai APC20 is a unique performance controller for your Ableton Live Software. Akai and Ableton have designed the APC20 enabling musicians to more easily create a personalized setup with multiple APCs, effects controllers, and other devices. The APC20 transforms your Ableton Live experience from constructing tracks on a computer to fluid, musical creation. Ableton Live software is a powerful, flexible environment for creating, performing and producing music. The Akai APC20 is the See more


Model Name: APC20 Compact Ableton Live Pad Clip Launching Controller


Product Dimensions: 11.61"D x 13.11"W x 2.2"H


Material Type: Plastic, Metal


Item Weight: 2 Pounds


Item Dimensions D x W x H: 11.61"D x 13.11"W x 2.2"H


Manufacturer: Akai


Global Trade Identification Number: 17


Included Components: with case


UPC: 886830848414 825213002517


Brand Name: AKAI


Model Name: APC20 Compact Ableton Live Pad Clip Launching Controller


Model Number: APC20


Style: Compact


Color: Blk/Sliver


Platform: Windows 7, Windows


Human Interface Input: Buttons


Total USB Ports: 1


Control Method: Touch


Mixer Channel Quantity: 9


Supported Software: Ableton Live


Connector Type: USB


Hardware Connectivity: USB


Control Type: Ableton Live control surface


Connectivity Technology: USB


Additional Features: The professional Akai APC20 is a unique performance controller for your Ableton Live Software. Akai and Ableton have designed the APC20 enabling musicians to more easily create a personalized setup with multiple APCs, effects controllers, and other devices. The APC20 transforms your Ableton Live experience from constructing tracks on a computer to fluid, musical creation. Ableton Live software is a powerful, flexible environment for creating, performing and producing music. The Akai APC20 is the


Compatible Devices: Laptop


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: May 24 – May 31

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Similar Products

Top Amazon Reviews

    • Great product, blows the Launchpad out of the water!
Comparing Launchpad to the Akai? Don't hesitate, get the Akai. I returned the launchpad I had for the APC 20. Tech support at Novation (makers of the Launchpad) is terrible, their drivers have many known bugs, and the product is cheap feeling. The Akai's build is MUCH better than novation, not cheap plastic, this thing is made of rubberized metal. Also, the knobs and faders feel just great, and are really necessary to control Ableton properly. No drivers to install, the Akai worked on my machine out of the box. The ONLY negative thing is that this isn't bus powered. However, because it isn't it doesn't give your computers power supply a major drain and the LED's are clear and consistent, not buggy and flickering. Also, the launchpad is really disorienting - it is really hard to figure out what controls what, and going to different screens requires constant use of the shift button on the pad. Even though it looks cool, its functionality is poor. Because of the layout of the APC, its visually much simpler to work with Ableton as it corresponds exactly to the clip view. My story? I had bought a Lauchpad, and had critical problems with driver compatability. Tech support at Novation simply doesn't respond to my repeated emails, didn't return my 2 calls, and the Launchpad ended up crashing my system so many times my XP file was corrupt and I lost a computer. Novation could care less, still took 3-4 days to write back, and so I sent it back to Amazon before it was unreturnable and got the AKAI instead. Totally glad I got rid of that launchpad, this machine is really professional and the launchpad is a toy. Besides, Akai's reputation for tech support gives me confidence that if I do run into problems, I wont be up a creek. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2011 by Peter John
    • plug and play wicked fun
I researched several Ableton controllers before I ended up getting APC20. The Launchpad looked like a good time and seemed like it would be better for launching clips seeing as you get more launch buttons. However, once I played around with it some it felt sort of cheaply made and it had much less options for controls. I also own a Korg PadKontrol. It's pretty cool as well but at this point I only use it for effect controls. The APC is better for launching clips and I really like the layout of the APC. It's easy to use and is pretty much plug and play. Having the sliders is great. They're perfect for using the midi assign. As in, if you don't need to change the volume of a certain track then it's slider is easily midi assignable to control effect parameters or pretty much anything else you want within Ableton. I do wish it had more launch buttons but after a bit you get used to the up/down left/right navigation to access more clips on the pad. It's perfect for starters or anyone already familiar with Ableton. If you're able though, go ahead and get the APC40; it has way more knobs for midi assigning which opens up infinite more possibilities. None the less, this thing is awesome. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2012 by endlight
    • Little Support. Impossible Set Up. Hard to Learn.
I've searched for six hours now trying to get this thing to work. The instructions are a joke. The forums are a joke. Customer Support is a joke. The tutorial videos are worse than a joke - they are pure cruelty. They say "you can do this" over and over but never say HOW to do it. I am extremely disappointed in Ableton and Akai. I have no idea why so many people say good things about them. My experience so far has been the complete opposite of anything I've read or what anyone anywhere has said about them. The only reason I didn't give this one star was because the quality of build; but I don't see what good that is if the whole thing doesn't work like it should. Maybe Maschine is better - but I heard there's no time stretching so don't see the point in that - but this is really frustrating especially when every support forum says plug and play but this is more like plug and pain. Grrrrr. Much more of this and it's going back! UPDATE: I was able to locate a support number, it was pretty hard to find. The number is 401-658-4032 if anyone else is going thorough the same thing as me. For some reason it is Numarks's support line, but the guy seemed to feel my pain. He emailed me a 500 page pdf Ableton manual and said it was true that the documentation that comes with this unit is seriously lacking. I wanted a walk through to try to get drum sounds to trigger in the Note Mode, but he said it would be easier to just send me the documents and for me to look on page 466. Yeah, easier for you! lol Still haven't gotten Note Mode to work, going on day three now. The sounds are PHAT just the learning curve is like straight up vertical. Added one star, raising from 2 to 3 since a human being can actually be reached in the USA, but figuring this out just ain't my kind of genius. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2012 by CHB
    • awsome....for ableton live
this is probably the best ablton controller i have used to date, it dose a great job of giving you quick and easy control of all the commonly used features of the software. i would have loved to see a few more knobs on it, and definitely a CON not having velocity sensitivity on the MANY launch pads (saying as there is a "note" mode on this thing that allows you to "play" your vst or built in instruments for live.......) all in all i would say if your looking for a GREAT way to play and mix your live sets..... get this thing, or its bigger brother..... but if your looking to "play" your vst's or the instruments in live.... you are better off getting the AWESOME akai mkp25 or one of ITS bigger brothers. so really, if your more of an ableton live "performer" get this.... if your and ableton live producer.....get one of the mpk series of controllers. finally, if this apc20 would have had velocity sensitive pads.... i would have given it a 5 star rating. ***** ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2011 by eL GuajiRo

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