PLAY LIVE EASY AS APC
By Graeme Hague
24 March 2014
Akai Professional is continuing its strong focus on live controllers for Ableton Live. The latest APC series (Ableton Performance Controllers) were revealed at Musikmesse, the APC40 mkII, APC Key25 and APC Mini. Each device offers its own take on performing with Ableton – keys or matrix pads, whichever works best for you –with the largest and most comprehensively featured APC40 mkII the only one of the three that comes with all five of the add-on software bundles one of which is, of course, Ableton Live Lite. The APC Key 25 is being touted as the only Ableton controller that actually has keys – 25 of ‘em, obviously. The APC Mini provides a compact design and still includes a lot of control, although the ability to play the smaller pads and faders might be a challenge for fat-fingered folk (we’re waiting to get our own hands on one to see). All three of these APC devices are class-compliant and happily run from a USB buss without a power supply. We’ve been given SSP (Suggested Sell Price) for Oz of $599 (APC40 mkII), $199 (APC Key 25) and $169 (APC Mini) with an expected arrival of stock in July. Full info on each including a chart of what software is bundled with each is at www.akaipro.com
Note: Pictures below are not to scale.
Australian Distributor: Electric Factory (ELFA) www.elfa.com.au
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