AKAI Professional APC64 Ableton MIDI Controller with 8 Touch Strips, Step Sequencer, 64 RGB Velocity-Sensitive Pads, CV Gates, MIDI In & Out, USB-C

Exactly as advertised... Works with Ableton Live straight out of the box! Programmable buttons & independent sliders (the main reason this model kicks so much butt in my opinion) Assuming it holds up well over time, I am quite happy to have this as part of the studio setup.

There are a lot of reviews for this as a DAW. This isn't one of them. Welcome to my newest DJ Deck.My greatest love in this digital DJing world is the flexibility that DJs have with workflow. My greatest complaint is that everyone is still stuck in the thought processes that began with a two deck setup and a 3 band eq. It's time to move on from the hardware defined to the software mindset. This thing helps.It only took three days for me to custom map this to the two DJ programs I use; TRAKTOR and Virtual DJ. I can control stems, pitch, key, hot cues, transport pads, and a heck of a lot of effects. With all of them on the main page. Since then, I've had more time to work on my art due to it's size and portability, and having all my options on the main page means that I'm not flipping through pages, but just playing music and working my my sets.Being able to be software defined, it matters not that your use if different than mine, just program it for what you need. And the size is perfect to carry along - or just have near your desk so when the work day is done, you just move your keyboard out of the way... No big deck, No location change, No big deal.And performance? Let's be honest. Very few DJs need platters. I certainly don't. And neither does anyone else who isn't scratching, as long as you've got the nudge buttons, which I may add are trivial to map. I use this along my main deck for gigs to give me flexibility, but it would work just as well with a basic 2 or 4 channel mixer, and I wouldn't even need the mixer is someone, hint hint, would make an appropriately sized and priced 4x4 or 4x6 rotary encoder box. But if you want a new button or slider to bust out or cut a stem? It's right there! You want to set an instant double or loop? It can be right there! You have effects that are sick, but are a pain to set up and find in the menu? Program it! These can all be right there.There are 64 RGB pads, 17 led backlit buttons, and 9 sliders. The sliders aren't innofaders. (Duh) But they are consistent and smooth. And the pads are what you expect for $100. But they work every time, even if they are a bit more sensitive than I like. Programming was straightforward for my DJ software with no unexpected hiccups. Build quality is fine. I wouldn't want this for $300, but it is a super good value buy at $100. Especially considering the costs of it's competitors in this space.But the real benefit is the variety of pads and sliders. Depending upon your priorities, you can use 16 pads for 4 decks, 32 pads for 2 decks, or even 64 for one deck if you wanted. I use one row for common actions and loading. Two rows for effects, two for hot cues, one for loops/beatjumping, one for pitch/key (I do a lot of key mixing), and one for transport. The sliders run main volume, vocals, melody, and rhythm. There are still a few pads and a lot of buttons not in use.It is tools like this that make the age of digital DJing the magic that it is. I Highly Recommend this for anyone looking to try something different in their DJ skills, to move on to the next level, to get more mobile. After 3 weeks of use I'm already doing things I've never done, and sounding better and more entertaining that I've been in a while. You can do it. This can help.

Feels great, easy to use, fits well into the case I bought and it’s easy to travel with, worth the price!

Bought a "used: mint" model from "Amazon resale". Asides from the box being covered in tape/amazon stickers (which annoyingly can't be removed without ripping the box) , it was like new. No problems registering it to my akai account & downloading all the software that comes with it. Still had the sticker over the LCD, USB cables were still twist-tied and seemed unused (though the plastic bags they came in had been taped into the box in a manner that didn't seem 'factory stock'). No obvious signs of use on the unit itself.The device itself is smaller than I was expecting. The pads are smaller than those of the ableton push/novation launchpad, which might be annoying to finger drummers. They have a 'hard' feel compared to other pads I've used.Only had it a few hours, but for just over $200, it's probably about as good a grid controller you'll find for the price.

What can I say, a car really knows how to make their products. This piece of gear is essential for my visuals control as well as controlling Ableton when needed. Very easy plug and play and you're good to go

So helpful for the show I was working on - just plug into the computer and it’s ready to go. I didn’t get a chance yet to use all of the various functions, just the keyboard with what I needed for a school musical pit. Much easier than a huge keyboard on my desk too.

This is a great entry level controller. I am not very good at using it just yet but this helps make it more simple to work with my DAW

Does the job triggering clips but build quality isn't great and faders are just ok. Should be cheaper. Feels like a toy, but can serve a purpose. Should probably be cheaper and I'd go with different options if I did it again.