Got Bit by the Controllerism Bug!
Got Bit by the Controllerism Bug! Posted on: 20.08.2011 by Lizzie Hoesley So after getting my MPK mini, and testing the pads with Traktor (and failing because AKAI's editing software is FAIL and the pads don't put out the CCs I tell them to and run through the knobs...) I am hooked. I am getting rid of the mini, getting a legit 61 for my composing, and a separate controller for making mixtapes and (eventually) doing live stuff.What is recommended as the best all-around controller these days? I am on a budget, but I can save up if it's worth it... These are what I could believe of: MIDI Fighter (obviously, but expensive, and I don't need anything cool or durable yet =D) Novation Launchpad (this seems the obvious choice so far...) NI Maschine (price, but is the software worth it? or go Live or Traktor?) APC20/40 (the 20 is down to the same price $130 as LP on amazon!) X1 MPD (or 3 or 4 LPD8 or Korg NanoPads attached to eachother :-) ) Seems a lot of choices to me, not sure if I missed any, but it seems to be coming down to LP, Maschine, or APC (I could be wrong!) the only thing about the LP that's getting me is on the MPK I mapped one of the knobs to XFader bc I don't have a mixer. I don't really do normal mixes, but it's nice to have a tweakable X somewhere... I want to be able to do everything I need with one controller (I never use platters, I'm not a scratcher, when I do live stuff I prefer to fade to a new song, then clone the deck, and set up loops and/or cue points on one of them to mix a song with itself... but I'm kind of new to this!) Thank you incredibly so much for any advice you can share!! | |
| Lizzie Hoesley 20.08.2011 | If I use a computer for live shows, would maschine still be better than an MPD32? (or 26?) And the LP seems the least limited, since there are pages and pages and pages of buttons... the thing has 64 + 8 (x4) that's a lot of buttons. Even more if you use the 'scene launch' buttons for modifiers for the other 64... then you have 4 pages of 64x8 buttons. That's 500 right there. That's a button overdose. I just wonder how the LP buttons feel compared to APC (I suppose Maschine and MPD pads feel similar to eachother? Same as the MPK mini pads?) What would you guys get if you could only have 1 controller to start with? |
| Neil Malia 20.08.2011 | I have an apc 40 and i really love it! everything about it is great... i also have an x1 and mpd32...if i could have sex with the x1 too i totally would...that thing is perfect! as for the mpd32 it is pretty cool but im going to be trading it in for the maschine because the maschine is better suited for production and i can use it for live shows |
| Darcey Kinnett 20.08.2011 | I've probably said this like 1000 times, but I love my APC40. It's a really solid and quality piece of gear
. Maybe get a novation launchpad and an X1? |
| Kayce Mesia 20.08.2011 | The APC40 is a solid piece of gear
. I bought mine last week and I'm pretty damn sure I won't regret buying it. Ever. Ableton is great for making loops and cue points, before the show, of course. The crossfader is a great addition as well. But I'm an Ableton whore, I have no place among the Traktor fanboys. :C The LP, on the other hand, is just buttons. It's very restricted, although you can do some fancy stuff with Novation's Automap software. And the Maschine... I wouldn't be able to tell you about that from personal experience. :/ |
| Aleta Hartzler 20.08.2011 | sounds like your looking for a bunch of buttons and not jog wheels or anything.. all i can say out of that list is: i have an X1 and its amazing. if i could have sex with it i would. i also have an LPD8 and its pretty great. definently usable as long as you spend some time with the mapping to make sure your using all of its ability. |
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