AKAI APC64 Review // Pros and cons vs APC40 MK2, Push, LaunchPad and others // APC 64 tutorial

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My music:

► Cool Holographic scopes?
The scopes I use aren't real - I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle.

Gear in this video beside the APC:
► Waldorf Blofeld
► Meris Mercury X
► Moog Sirin
► Intellijel Palette case
► Plum 1U Roved
► OXI Coral
► 4ms Tapographic delay
► 90 degree cables are Tendrils and the blinky ones are Halo by Andrew Huang and myVolts

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:40 Overview
2:05 Grid modes
4:30 Fader modes
6:30 Seq mode
8:40 Buttons
9:35 Screen
10:35 Build
11:00 I/O
11:50 Note mode
12:45 Chord mode
13:20 Drum modes
14:00 Ableton Live
14:30 Live rec
15:15 Quantization
16:05 Automation
17:00 Step seq
17:45 Seq settings
18:40 Modifiers
20:10 Seq live rec
21:45 Performance
22:15 Important tips
22:25 Poly AT v MPE
23:00 Device params
23:50 More buttons!
25:20 Device lock?
25:55 Seq + Live
26:40 Note repeats?
26:55 Latency
27:30 Pros and cons
32:15 Outro

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NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links to stores like Amazon, Sweetwater, Thomann and others. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.

[partyboeller]

At first glance, it is ticking all the tiny screen and weird-layout boxes…

[BackspinZX]

I am very fascinated by this as an affordable hardware standalone sequencer, honestly.

I know many people will find it an inferior Ableton controller to the Push series, but $400 US for a hardware sequencer with 8 controllable CCs per track with 8 tracks is pretty nuts, TBQH

[Centomila]

- "Mom i want the Ableton Push!"
- "We have the Ableton Push at home"

Joke aside, thanks for your service. Love your channel!

[MarctheDarc]

Now I regret not getting an APC40 mk2 (have a mk1, but you know). They've ruined all the things where it was better than a Push or Launchpad.
Having to switch between mutes, solos, stops etc. is a major pain in a live performance. Same goes for levels, pans, device control etc. Losing the crossfader is pretty damn annoying, it could be setup in so many cool ways for instant performance awesomeness. This is all lost now, reduced to the dregs of mediocrity.
APC40 would do all of this, 1:1, without annoying inbetween steps. It was perfect for performing in a number of ways. And far superior to all the other controllers for a majority of workflows. The only thing it was really missing was a note-mode, and this was easily remedied with any key- or pad controller. And could easily have been added to a new one, without removing all the cool things. By comparison having any 2 other controllers, even be it 2 Push, will not afford you the same immediate performance and/or mix control as a single APC40.
I've tried performing with my Push, it's cumbersome, not nearly as intuitive, and makes a lot of transitions and effects impossible to do live.

This is just another Push/Launchpad, with poorly placed touch faders, and nothing to actually warrant its existence. It's got nothing unique about it. Nothing that boosts its workflow. And it's very clear they only focused on how it looks, not on how it works.
Sure the note modes and 8 sequencer tracks are cool. But considering most of the functions seem lesser than the Launchpad Pro, paying a 50% mark up for some poorly placed touch faders, isn't exactly gonna entice anybody. If all the features were atleast up to Novations level, the 4 extra sequencer tracks would make it a viable choice, albeit one with many competitors.
They ruined a product was the only choice for a number of workflows, to make one that's fighting (and probably losing) for middle of the pack in a crowded field.

Thanks for the detailed video, as always very useful and well done.

[darrentatemusic]

Damn. From an Ableton user perspective all we needed was a fixed length button on the MK2; not more menu diving and shift-clicking to get to key live mixing functions. The (small) screen is a welcome addition though.

[johnathantyrer]

Sold my push 2 and can’t afford the push 3 so just got this, after a couple of hours I can see its potential and at this price point seems unbeatable, thanks for another superb tutorial

[crypticallegory]

Everyone hates touch strips right? Let’s give them 8 of them!

[JustinKahrs]

so pumped to see a blofeld used in a video in 2023

[drindy]

Definitely excited to dive in to your deep dive into this piece of gear! Thank you in advance for your efforts in sharing this information. You good sir, are a legend!!!
🔥🤘🧡👍🔥

[e]

love the tiny screen. I'm always having to reference things when editing settings on my Launchpad X

[NicleT]

As always, the best in depth review in town! Thanks

[blaster]

Love the RGB cables, so smart to visualize the impulses realtime

[MultiMam]

The APC has the best endlesss encoders i ever have experienced. And the only 1 encoder they added is on the worst possible location. I can live with touch strips for faders but removing 16 high quality endlesss encoders with feedback is just a bad design decision. It could have been a amazing symmetrical design.

[petrpazyna]

wow, finally novation launchpad pro mk4!

[Grantgc]

i like the duality of the device and being able to send your created sequences/melodies through to ableton, thats pretty neat and compelling

[digitaldiezel]

I like it! I support this, but I roll with the FORCE. Force 2 is going to really knock our socks off!!

[richardcfrost]

Great overview, as usual. Feels like I can replace my Keystep Pro, Push 2 and Roli Lighted and Keyboard Blocks. Especially since I don't really play keyboards.

[dajac]

Disable "Delay Compensation". Amazing! I was about to toss out Live for Cubase because the latency was killing me. Thank you, Loopop!

[uwu-nyaa]

people in these comments are very salty. thanks loopop for the goated review as always. The Push 3 is absurdly expensive for me and buying a 64 pad workhorse sequencer used (Push 2) gives me trepidation. Honestly this product seems perfect for a market that looked at the price tag on the Push 3 and said "yikes" but still want to be able to do live sequencing and stuff. I just wish the touch strips were replaced with 16 digital encoders for my massive 16-macro instrument racks (and touch strips kinda suck).

[cougarman]

Whoa, I didn’t know a black Meris LVX existed!