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The APC20 comes with the right-hand panel of the APC40 removed.

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Akai's APC40, released last year, was the first 'official' Ableton Live controller, which gave it the right to carry the Ableton logo, and to offer a level of out-of-the box control that other MIDI gadgets could only dream of.

The APC40 was well-designed, well-built, and easy to use - though there was a feeling that it was somewhat chunksome for live gigs. Novation (not coincidentally, Ableton's UK distributors) retaliated with the Launchpad, a cheaper, smaller, USB-bus powered unit which gave the bare bones of Live Session View control, with the benefit of compatibility with other music apps through the Automap software.

Now, instead of coming out with something 'new', Akai has adapted the APC40, virtually cutting it in half and apparently shedding some of the functionality. Enter the APC20.

Overview

Retaining the metal base and ABS plastic upper casing of the APC40, the first things you notice about the APC20 are things that are missing - like all of the buttons and knobs on the right-hand side, and the two footswitch inputs. That said, the nine faders, 40 clip buttons, scene select buttons and track buttons for activation, solo/cue and record arm remain from the 40.

In an attempt to compensate for the lost physical controls, the APC20 has a Shift button, which gives dual functions to many of the other buttons and, critically, to the eight channel faders. But the thing that'll get existing APC40 users going is the new Note Mode button.

Now the clip launch buttons can send notes directly to slots in Live Drum Racks (the Launchpad does this too). The Note Mode button also toggles the Track Selection buttons for transport functions, MIDI Overdub and grid navigation.

he box includes Ableton Live Akai Professional APC Edition so you can start to jam immediately and the 20 is physically as close to the 40 as possible. It's the same height and depth, and logically uses the same parts and materials. The smaller size means this is a lot easier to find room for than the APC40 in a studio or a DJ booth.

Some folks will be disappointed that mains power is still required, considering that Novation has managed to get the Launchpad running over USB - we're guessing that a move over to bus powering would require a major overhaul, and that effort would have been reflected in the price.

In use

Plug the APC20 into the mains, turn it on, hook up the USB cable, launch Live, select it as a control surface in Live's MIDI Preferences and the familiar red Session View rectangle appears. For APC40 users - because they're so alike, it's easy to load a Live set that you built for the 40 and use it straight away - this might make you think that you can use the 40 in the studio and the 20 as your takeout version.