…For starting production with most likely Ableton, yet still using Traktor to DJ until it seems I’m fluent eneough with Live (which could be a long time)
The main difference I see is, APC40 has way more buttons and probably better for live, while the MPK25 has a keyboard(!!!) and is much cheaper.
For the sake of Traktor, they probably can both fill the uses I’d want out of them, samples/effects/etc.
As for getting a cheap APC40, the only one on craigslist is unopened for something like 275.
And I’m expecting a lot of people telling me how much they love their apc. The one thing though, I hear that production especially early on will be a whole lot more enjoyable if you have a midi keyboard, the mpk has this and the APC40 does not. Is this true? I have a very short budget and need to take time in these decisions. Other alternatives? An aPC40 sounds great, i just want to make sure it’s worth not having a keyboard for, especially when I won’t be REALLY using live probably for over a year.
Keyboard is essential to producing but I mean I picked up my 49key M-Audio Keyboard at guitar center used for 40 bucks…so looks for deals like that this way you can get both a keyboard and a APC 40
I had an APC when i started producing and yes, its handy but its not essential, MIDI keyboard is a MUST, ive got a 61 key midi enabled piano and an m-audio oxygen 25 for when im travelling.
I use and APC40 for Traktor and Ableton. It’s really an AMAZING tool for both. For Traktor it’s really nice if you understand Traktors midi editing. The midi editor for Traktor can make the APC40 do amazing thing.
For Ableton, the APC40 has a lot of limitations. However, if you get something like Bomes, you can really take things to the next level. Max for Live it nice too, but for strictly mapping controllers, I’d go for Bomes, inspite of the learning curve. Once you start to understand Bomes, it becomes effortless and essential.
I would agree that if production is your thing, finding a MIDI keyboard needs to be on the list. I have tried them all, and I would say the older Novation keyboards (pre-nocturn knobs), are the best. The key response and weight is really nice, and you have a lot of buttons and knobs.
YAWN…these threads are getting old. No disrespect to the OP…how would he have known…
But yeah…we need to add this question or similar to the FAQ, where the answer is:
Think about what you want to do and how you want to do it. Think about what else you want to do with it. Will it still be a worthwhile tool in 2 years. Will it do what i want it to do? What have you got currently. What ‘level’ are you at? Whats your budget?
All these things play a factor in buying DJ equipment.
But…you gonna buy something and sell it. I bet ya!
You gonna get it and then after a while think ah shit…its lacking there…or i coulda got that…seriously…
So be prepared for a round one and a round two.
Beware the GASS. It is not a joke…altho we all joke about it.
This has kept me from buying any controller or mixer or much of anything in the last year. It’s a good thing to keep in mind these days, when product after product, and update after update keeps happening. It’s the very idea that has me looking into DSI Tempest, instead of so many other things.
I have both, and they both serve very different functions. However, I got the MPK first, and in hindsight, I would have got a simpler and larger dedicated keyboard and compliment it with the APC. 25 keys soon becomes quite limiting.
I almost never use the pads on the MPK now and the knobs only serve to give me some control over synth parameters (mapped to Sylenth).
So, in a nutshell… get the APC, and forgo the MPK 25 for at least another 49+ key controller, or a proper synth!
Well, today, for some reason i recalled having an old keyboard from like 6 christmas’ ago that was never used by my family, it never crossed my mind it might be able to serve as a midi keyboard.
But anyways, let’s say i go for an APC40, will that kinda be the end-all?
I feel almost overwhelmed with the amount of knobs and buttons on it, I was considering an X1 for djing, but the APC40 accomplishes all that and more? Yet somehow I feel it looks so cheap and plastic-y.
and I see that the LK-220 goes for like 150 used, I get the feeling it would take forever to sell, but with that money could I get something a little less.. obtrusive and more geared towards production?
Just wondering why is the APC40 out of stock every where? I checked most of the popular sites (Amazon, Unique Squared, ProAudioStar, BH PhotoVideo), all are on back order.