The Novation LaunchPad / LaunchControl XL combo was easier to travel with and the Ableton Push offered much more functionality. So in a nutshell, the MKI looked old, didn’t work, was too big and as a result simply annoying. Imagine the track you were cueing that definitely didn’t fit had suddenly decided to jump into the mix at full volume? Flickerings that could happen at any time are not good. The faders would start by either not sending any data or worse sending ghost data. Thirdly and most importantly, it stopped working. I’ve now lost three of the fader caps where they get stuck in bags (one fader is totally bent where it got caught rendering it useless) and I’m only left with one of the caps for the encoders. Secondly, it’s just too big and not just its footprint on a desk or in a bag. I’d often have to rearrange things in a booth just to get the power block close enough to plug into. But the APC40 needed a brick of a power supply and was supplied with a pointlessly short lead. My other controllers just needed a USB cable plugged in to give their light shows. The first niggle I had was the power supply. But after a while it was the tiny things that got magnified before I started seeing other newer more beautiful models. Like any relationship, things started off fantastically. Are the other controllers I’ve got better or did I just fall out of love with it? Sitting looking at my original controller I really needed to answer why it’s not had any love for some time. So the elephant in the room is did the original APC40 really need improving? Or would the success of the MKII rely on Gear Acquisition Syndrome? As you can see from the video it’s an impressive display of clip launching, but it didn’t really show off the new controller features which left me feeling, is it any better? OUT WITH THE OLD My first look was at the BPM show where I experienced Carl Rags’ virtuoso performance first hand. I jumped with both feet onto the Controllerism bandwagon when the first APC40 was released. It kind of took me by surprise when AKAI announced its second coming with the MKII and I was intrigued to get my hands on one. LINK: Akai Pro | PRICE: $399/€359/£269 | MANUAL: PDF IF IT’S NOT BROKE
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