PC: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8; multicore processor; 2 GB RAM; Windows compatible sound card (ASIO driver support recommended), QuickTime recommended. APC40 mkII also comes equipped with an array of assignable faders and knobs: nine reinforced faders and eight channel control knobs are arranged in-line with each channel for an intuitive layout and smarter workflow. Hybrid 3, by AIR Music Tech, is a virtual synthesizer for electronic musicians, DJs, sound designers, and music producers who love to get their hands dirty.

If you're looking to get the most out of your Apc 40 Mk2, our Ableton Midi Script Creator tool ' Control Surface Studio' is exactly what you need! You can also color code your clips with the RGB lighting for advanced visual organization, and use the Shift button and directional arrows to manipulate the scope of the 5x8 grid. I'm running 2x DS1s to extend control over 16 channels and your Remotify app has enabled me to tailor the functionality and workflow in a way that I couldn't achieve otherwise. On balance, the benefits offered by the RGB pads do outweigh the issue of clarity; it’s a massive leap forward from the old 3 colour system, but you should keep it in mind if you perform at a lot of daytime events. Constructed from high-quality polycarbonate material, our cover provides exceptional durability, ensuring the longevity of your APC40 MK2.That’s quite a step up from the original, which required a fairly hefty wall-wart at all times, and makes the Mk2 a much more portable solution. Our Decksaver cover offers comprehensive safeguarding against a range of potential hazards, including dust, spills, and accidental impacts. It’s a touch narrower, around 3 inches shorter front to back, and, as it has a completely flat profile, not as tall overall, by around an inch.

Ableton Live has changed the landscape for music production, sampling and audio editing since its introduction in 2001.For live performance and arrangement, in addition to the essential clip and scene launching, you now have a dedicated A/B button on each track for routing to the crossfader. The buttons in the Device Control section now do more useful things for performance, and you get a Lock button for when you want to tie the controls to a particular instrument or effect, no matter what else the surface is doing.

RGB lighting provides visual feedback and displays three clip statuses—loaded, playing, and recording—so you can intelligently perform without looking at your computer. Up until now they’ve been limited by tri–colour buttons, but the upcoming Launchpad Pro boasts multi–colour pads and velocity sensitivity, nipping at the heels of Push for less money than the APC40.One feature which has always seemed to be a missing link in the APC range is a lack of motorised faders. The channel rotary encoders have moved from the right–hand side of the panel and taken their proper place in line with the tracks. Launched in 2009, the APC40 (followed by its more compact sibling, the APC20) was, along with the Novation Launchpad, the first dedicated, plug-and-play Ableton Live controller to hit the mainstream market. Both feature 3 colour LED clip launch pads, rather than RGB, but those pads are just big enough to be usable.

But of course the touchscreen cannot match the tactility and predictability of dedicated pads, pots and faders. This collection comes packed with an endless variety of channel strips, DJ and live sound effects, glitch racks, amp racks, modulators, filters, beat processors, and noise boxes. Over 80 audio FX plugins are included so you can maninuplate your sound however you wish while VST/AU compatibility allows you to really expand your sound.

Channels can be assigned to the crossfader, either side, on the fly, and there’s a button for Session Record, a new feature which appeared in Live 9. The Apc 40 Mk2 offers a complimentary copy of Ableton Live Lite, but its features are limited in comparison to Ableton Live Standard or Suite. This is incredibly affordable, but does come with some sacrifices: the build quality is lower, and the launch buttons are only tri–colour (Yellow, Green, Red), like the original APC.