I’m starting to create a MIDI mapping of the APC 40 in Traktor and wanted to share the layout key I made. It displays all of the MIDI note and CC values and the respective channels for each button.
I was going to try and use the APC40 in combination with the Vestax VCI-100, but unfortunately there are many duplicate notes and CCs. This means functionality out-of-the-box may be compromised, but there is probably a workaround using Bome’s MIDI Translator, MAX, or just waiting till Max for Live comes out.
Otherwise, I may come up with a complete mapping just using the APC40 for fun. It probably won’t be as intuitive as using the VCI-100, but it may result in an interesting take on using Traktor. A little more of a monome feel. After all, I was able to break sports records and rescue a princess only using a directional pad and two buttons. Anyone using a monome to control Traktor? What are some ideas people would like to see implemented in a mapping?
Is there any way to get the Leds around the knobs to sync up with the knob position in Traktor? It seems only the top left knobs in each knob bank do this…
As mentioned earlier, I’d still like to know the LED schema on this as well, but it doesn’t look like Akai has released that information. I guess someone will have to intercept the notes it receives from Ableton to light it up with Bomes or something to see what lights up which color on a button and how.
Here’s a video of the APC40 with Traktor Pro and a .tsi…although I’ll tell u, unless u are using an external mixer, this map will probably not be so perfect for u. Well, something to work with, i guess…
That is pretty interesting to note. It may depend on the software you used to check the note and cc values. I have heard that different software or hardware manufacturers sometimes label middle C differently. It is commonly known as C4, but seeing how all your notes are one octave different than my labeling yet all the cc values are the same leads me to think this may be the case. This really can’t explain why you’re not getting any sort of value from the “track selection” buttons. As Ableton and Traktor both respond to the buttons being pressed, it is difficult to think that no MIDI info is being sent.
What software did you use to label your diagram? I used Traktor.
i used snoize midi monitor, but if you’re a PC user you could use midi ox.
track select does perform a function, just not a note on or cc message. it changes the midi channel that device control on.
when used IN ableton, track select does work as track selection and that is handled in LIVE. i have tried to midi assign track select buttons in GRAND VJ and havn’t been able to, and this is probably why.
As far as custom mapping (not for Live) Can you choose which midi channel the APC40 sends on? Or if it always sends data on channel one, you could use MidiPipe to convert all the data to a different channel - and you could use it together with the vci-100 without duplicate notes affecting functions. (Haven’t messed around with one yet, so just guessing here).
I know the notes and CC’s the unit sends aren’t programmable, what I’m suggesting is to use a pipe to change the midi channel the APC40 is transmitting on, so there’s no interference with the VCI’s commands.
I’m pretty sure you can use a MIDI translator program like Bomes to assign a different output for the APC40. I intend to do so and also check how the APC’s functionality in Ableton Live changes by doing so. I’m hoping I can use some buttons on the APC to control things in Traktor and others to control things in Live at the same time.
I’m meaning to get to that within the next couple of weeks. I just ordered a new computer, reformatted my old one, and am waiting to install my music software.
Just to update how I’m working with my APC40, I am using MIDI Patchbay (for Mac) to transmit all MIDI coming from the APC40 channel 1 to channel 10 in a Traktor Virtual Input. Then all the output MIDI from Traktor Virtual Output gets transfered from channel 10 to channel 1 on the APC40.
Works simple, great, and now I can use the APC40 in conjunction with the VCI-100 without any glitches.
I’m thinking I really, really want one of these Akai controllers for Traktor Pro. Can any of you tell me if I can set the top right section of knobs to have 4 pages like it does for Ableton (with the pans and sends acting like 48 knobs instead of 12) This would really influence my decision to buy. Have any of you mapped it out in such a fashion?
You can use the modifier function in the MIDI mapping section of TPro to set up four states for the knobs (maybe access the different states by pressing the four small buttons directly below). This is done through software and not through the APC40.
But don’t forget, the lower set of knobs and buttons essentially gives you 9 banks.
8 knobs + 8 buttons x 9 = 72 knobs + 72 buttons
Ridiculous. This section is controlled through the APC40.
(BTW, each row of knobs has 4, not 6…so your comment of “48 knobs instead of 12” should read 32 knobs instead of 8)
Thank you so much. I’ve only just gotten “serious” and decided to stick some real effort into this hobby (Mostly because of what I see NI has done with TraktorPRO). I’ve been a thread checker for quite some time and I hope to be a contributor (not just an inquisitor) soon.
Thanks again.
You actually do not need to go through this process with the TPro 1.2 update. You can now assign a particular controller to a particular MIDI Mapping, so you no longer run into the conflict of two controllers using the same MIDI channel.
