akai apc40 for non-ableton users?

[amiga909]

some news!

custom projects, finally
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2009/ ... or-monome/
monomulator for the apc40! as it seems standard Max MSP can talk with the apc40 too, M4L seems not to be necessary! just wondering if Usine or Bidule could replace MaxMSP?

and here an inspiration how to get rid of the preset labelling:

really looking forward of getting an apc and to make my own clip manager

[amiga909]

as it seems, it should be pretty easy (simple midi messages; no sysex, no non-midi stuff) to control the APC!

from max forum:
"Using the midiin/midiout objects:
The top left button on the 5x8 clip control grid is 144 53 1, where 144-151 is the entire top horizontal row, 53-57 is the vertical row going down (the next row down in this case is 54), and 1 is the velocity. The bottom Clip Stop row is 52.

The Velocities are as follows
1 - Green
2 - Green Flashing
3 - Red
4 - Red Flashing
5 - Orange
6 - Orange Flashing

7-127 Are all green.
"
http://www.cycling74.com/forums/index.p ... msg_174338

[amiga909]

I think the only use of the handshake is to prevent any other controller using the APC40 template in Live, so you couldn't (without decoding it) use your BRC2000 etc., as a cheap APC40.

However, I don't think it affects using the APC40 with any other software, as it's just a MIDI controller. You just need to be able to have the other software work with whatever MIDI messages the APC40 puts out / accepts - you could probably use something like Bidule as a go-between/translator.

not sure if we are clear about the issues involved here:
imho there are 2 tasks:
1. replace the APC with monome/BCR, and use Live (with a bidirectional APC replacement) // e.g. masquerade a monome, telling Live u have a APC
2. replace Live with another host, and use the APC as birectional midi device // e.g. show pattern states in Usine (host -> APC communication), masquerade Usine/Bidule/etc., telling the APC u have MaxForLive

what u seem to target, koala, is the first matter. i am interested in the second.
i'd be surprised if (1) or (2) could be done easily.

(1) isn't possible, without hacking - that's why the handshake is there.

(2) I think will be possible.

as it seems to turn out, u were totally right koala.
check this supernice ressource
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/06/1 ... handshake/
controlling the APC should be easy as already said.
emulating the handshake - they are on it, only a matter of weeks i guess
gosh, still a few weeks b4 sale here in europe!

[amiga909]

coz akai seems not to be able to release a midi implemention chart, u might like this

[amiga909]

just to add..
i didnt make this!
http://www.andykyte.com/apc40midimap.jpg

[amiga909]

more info here:
http://www.bome.com/forums/viewtopic.ph ... 61184bda8a

[Jdub12000]

Can I use the app 40 with a different daw other than a Elton live

[Jdub12000]

Can I use akai app 40 with a different daw other than live

[BertKoor]

Can I use the AKAI APC40 with a different daw other than a Ableton Live?

That's actually a very good question.

From the product description I got the impression that the APC40 was a "propriety" thing and could only be used with Ableton Live exclusively. But I wondered whether it could do any communication over midi at all, so I scrolled down hoping to find such information in the User Manual.

Then to my surprise I found a link to this:

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Scope
• Glossary
• General Format of MIDI System Exclusive message
• Communications from PC Host to device - “Outbound” messages
  • “Universal” MIDI messages
    • Device Enquiry
      • Format of Device Inquiry Request message from Host to Device
      • Format of response from APC40 to Device Inquiry message
  • Outbound APC40 Sysex Message Types
    • Outbound Message Type 0: Introduction
      • Format of Type 0 outbound message
    • Outbound Message Type 1: LEDs.
      • Format of Type 1 outbound Midi note-on messages
      • Format of Type 1 outbound Midi note-off messages
      • Assignment of Note number messages to LEDs. Note 0x30 to 0x39 use MIDI Channel 0 to 7 to indicate Tracks 1-8. All other note values ignore the MIDI Channel
    • Outbound Message Type 2: Controller Value Update messages
      • MIDI Controller message
      • Assignment of controller numbers to absolute controllers
    • Interpretation of LED Ring Types
• Communications from device to PC Host - “Inbound” messages
  • Inbound Standard MIDI Message types
    • Type NOTE1: Note-on/Note-off messages
      • Midi note-on messages
      • Midi note-off messages
    • Type CC1: Absolute Controller messages
      • MIDI Controller message
      • Assignment of controller numbers to absolute controllers
    • Type CC2: Relative Controller messages
      • MIDI Controller message
      • Interpretation of MIDI Controller values for Relative Controllers
      • Assignment of controller numbers to relative controllers
• Document History

Introduction
The Akai APC40 Controller is a device that provides a control surface interface to Ableton Live software. This controller can alternately be used for controlling other software applications as well. The means of communication will be by MIDI messages over USB.

So it seems that the APC40 is just another midi controller, but it has some system exclusive midi message understood by Ableton Live.

Chapter "inbound messages" describes some bog-standard midi messages it sends to a host. You should, with some work, be able to make at least those type of message work.

So it might work within some limitations. But don't expect it to be easy.