AKAI APC40 and Beyond

[Bradfo69]

Well... I guess I'm getting "somewhere". I also switched over to another show computer just to start from step one.

1) Fired up computer and attached the USB cable. Windows XP "Found New Device", recognized it as the APC40, also recognized it as a USB Audio Device, and then said my device was installed and ready to use.

2) Copied your BEYOND-APC extracted folder (that I had placed on an external drive) to that computer's C: drive and then cut and pasted my license file from my BEYOND directory to my BEYOND-APC directory.

3) Fired up BEYOND. It loaded and confirmed I was hooked to my QM

4) Went to "Settings" and MIDI Devices - Settings. At the bottom, in the window it said "Warning: Akai APC40 not found." In the drop down box at the top for Device 1, the only option to click was USB Audio Device. I clicked on "Configure" and steered it to the BEYONDMIDIMAP file.

5) Now, when I tap the buttons on the Akai in the upper left for cues, it does change the cues in Beyond and the slider number 4 seems to affect the right hand XY position indicators. But, I don't see anything else happen with any other slider or rotary control. The four direction bank select key pad in the right middle of the Akai does change each sheet of cues too.

The other thing I think is odd is that the only color the buttons seem to have is green and yet, I see they're capable of red, orange, yellow etc. I don't know if they do that with Beyond though.

[Bradfo69]

O.k. I'm getting somewhere! I also configured the "Out" and now all the buttons light up and are various colors and the rotary controls are making things happen.

Think I'm on to something - now to hook up a laser.

[hakzaw1]

GREAT Thread Brad- I know that many more will be getting the Akai and if we work together learning how to use these will be much easier-

I got lucky on mine- the seller had three- the first one went the second day at BIN 150$- while I was looking at the second listing it went--POOOF!
so I popped on number 3- I have contacted the seller( new to eekBay) and asked him if he would like to work directly with forum members on more of these as he has the best prices I have seen-- there are NOT used- come well packed and a very low ship fee too. total was ~$163--

thankx to all adding to this thread-- len

[astatic]

Great now it's working.
Your right when you say it's kinda strange you got the message the Akai APC couldn't been found, i've not seen this before but maybe that's because the imported files where already in the Beyond-APC directory, and then the message is not strange.

Have fun with your APC-40!

[Bradfo69]

I played with it a bit but, just like the Novation Remote Zero, there is a definate learning curve. It DOES work so, that's a good thing. I was concerned there was a problem with the APC. The Novation is actually nicer in that respect since you have an LED screen that tells you what the sliders and rotary buttons control.

@Len - Mine was $150 shipped and lightly used.

[michelrietveld]

just got my hands on a second hand apc40, arrived this morning, hopefully i have some time to play with it this weekend.

[astatic]

I played with it a bit but, just like the Novation Remote Zero, there is a definate learning curve. It DOES work so, that's a good thing. I was concerned there was a problem with the APC. The Novation is actually nicer in that respect since you have an LED screen that tells you what the sliders and rotary buttons control.

@Len - Mine was $150 shipped and lightly used.

On the pangolin forum there is a drawing of what all sliders and knobs are for.
I named all with stickers.

[Bradfo69]

Thanks. I'll have to check that out. I figured someone would have done a template at some point. I think I'll be using it live for the first time this Friday night. I've got a couple of quiet days early this week and I hope to squeeze in some practice time.

[White-Light]

There is a template be patient...

[norty303]

Of course, the template will be wrong if you reassign anything though...

Some of the default setup I just can't work with (Quick Effect selection on a knob for example, you try and dial in number 9 on demand ) so I remapped a load of it. I know a few others have done some extensive work on it as well.