Back to navigation


Unlock Next-gen Performance Potential for Ableton Live





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





When the MPC60 launched in 1988, Akai Professional blazed the trail for a unique way to get hands-on with your sound, and the indelible groove created by finger drumming cemented a distinct, immediately recognizable style of beat crafting and sampling. The APC series of instruments married this model with Ableton Live’s hybrid studio/live-performance architecture to elevate the creative potential of the software suite, and the APC64 is the modern musician’s answer to Ableton Live-driven performance. An 8-by-8, RGB-backlit, 64-pad matrix includes both velocity sensitivity and polyphonic aftertouch, while a surrounding constellation of multi-mode buttons comprises detailed, comprehensive navigation and performance tools. Sweetwater production pros agree that the newly included, fully assignable touch strips are a game changer for expressivity, boasting continuous control and complete customization with FX, V.I.s, dynamics, and anything else within the virtual production suite. Furthermore, a powerful internal sequencer, onboard Gate/CV jacks, and flexible TRS-MIDI connectivity not only provide simultaneous interfacing with external instruments, but allow you to go completely DAW-less without sacrificing performance potential.





Related Videos: APC64 Pad Performance Controller for Ableton Live





NOW PLAYING:


Akai Professional APC64: Next-gen Control for Ableton & Beyond





APC64 Ableton Live Controller | Touch the Future | Akai Professional





APC64 Hardware Controller for Ableton Live | Akai Professional





APC64 Hardware Overview with Taetro | Akai Professional





How to Shop for a MIDI Controller Online


Reach out and seize your sound





There is no shortage of ways to use Ableton Live for your artistic endeavors. Whether you’re queuing tracks and clips, indulging MPC-style sampling, or sculpting soundscapes across FX and virtual instruments, the APC64 is a next-gen evolution in studio and live-performance possibilities. Each of its 64 performance pads is capable of polyphonic aftertouch with fine-tunable velocity sensitivity. At the same time, a 16-note polyphony on each track expands the melodic harmonizing opportunities found in the Notes and Chords modes. All eight touch strips boast continuous operation, maximizing expressive potential through attenuating any parameter within FX, virtual instruments, and even externally connected instruments. Conversely, you can use them for managing your mix, from filter cutoff values and modulation to entire tracks and FX sends. Moreover, Probability and Mutate functions are hard-wired for instantly injecting all matters of variety to inspire unexpected creative directions, ready to be immediately captured by the built-in 8-track, 32-step sequencer.





Intuitive interfacing for streamlined sonics





The APC64’s straightforward interface expertly allows for a world of performance, composition, and expression without cluttering your view or over-complicating your sound, thanks to seamless DAW control, ergonomically arranged buttons, and dedicated transport controls. The RGB-backlit performance pads can mirror Clip and Track views in your workflow to painlessly manage your tracks. Meanwhile, a vivid display screen and accompanying rotary encoder provide real-time visual feedback, in addition to supplementing navigation for onboard and DAW-based parameters. Scene launch buttons, panning controls, and a litany of secondary functions ensure you can get as deep as you need with your DAW in any setting. For even greater personalization, the included APC Project Editor Software lets you design custom layouts, presets, and control schemes that can stored and recalled as needed, providing a versatile tool kit for instantly moving between sets, styles, stages, and studios.





Dive in, plug out, and connect on your terms





A slew of bundled software runs the gauntlet of soft synths, vintage-style effects, emulations of iconic keyboards, vocal processing, and drum samples, drawing from the likes of CR2 Records, Air Instruments, and Sonivox, meaning the APC64 instantly expands creative possibilities in both the physical and virtual realms. What’s more, eight onboard Gate/CV jacks and a 1-in/2-out TRS-MIDI mini-jack interface allow you to deploy the APC64’s powerful performance suite across drum machines, Eurorack modules, keyboards, synths, and any compatible external instruments for simultaneous operation, or completely DAW-less composition. That’s right: the continuously operable touch strips, polyphonic aftertouch, and velocity-sensitive articulation of the APC64 can reach far beyond the confines of a single aural terrain.





Akai Professional APC64 Pad Performance Controller for Ableton Live Features:


8 x 8 performance matrix features 64 pads masterfully optimized to control samples, clips, tracks, and virtually any live performance or studio tool within the Ableton Live architecture


RGB-backlit pads provide paired-down visual parallels to color-coded in-DAW clips for focused operation with minimal screen time


Performance pads are outfitted with velocity sensitivity and polyphonic aftertouch to ensure nuanced, versatile performance composition in any setting


8 touch strips feature continuous operation, assignable to any virtual value to expand expressivity across FX and instruments, or manage mixes, track volume, sends, and more


Robust melodic possibilities include the onboard Chord mode, built-in sequencer, and polyphonic playback to reimagine your musical palette and inspire new approaches


Per-track swing, length and time divisions, and 16-note polyphony guarantee detailed yet effortless control of your sound and DAW


Dedicated transport controls play/stop/record buttons, and extensive secondary functionality expertly blend an ergonomic, intuitive interface with streamlined navigation


Direct activation and management of velocity, Probability, and Mutate functions provide instant experimentation and explosive variety


Built-in step-sequencer features eight tracks and a 32-step length for powerful rhythmic and melodic recording and composition, with or without your DAW


Full-color LCD screen and complementing rotary encoder provide real-time visual feedback with substantial additional navigation


Versatile connectivity suite includes USB bus power, 8 Gate/CV jacks, one 1/8-inch TRS-MIDI input, and two 1/8-inch TRS-MIDI outputs


Gate/CV and MIDI control means full APC64 creativity with external synths, drum machines, Eurorack devices, and more with simultaneous or fully DAW-less operation


APC Project Editor Software lets you build and customize your preset layouts to be painlessly saved and recalled as needed for seamless multi-environment use


Includes plug-ins, V.I.s, effects, and drum samples for immediate artistic exploration straight out of the box


Air Instruments: Tubesynth, Electric, Either, Vocal Tuner, Half Speed, and Flavor


Sonivox: Essential Keyboard Collection


CR2 Records: Sampletools 1GB pack of drum samples/loops