AKAI Professional APC 40 Mk2

all controllers are "tweakers" or "launchers-triggers" or "keyboards". This one tries to cover all.
As a Keyboard Akai APC 40 Mk2 is not good. Pads are not velocity sensitive - not nice for recording drums or instrument parts - but still you can do it at on-the-go conditions.
As a "Launcher" - I personally find it very nice. 8 channel scenes is cool. When I work at the live sport events I need a variety of samples at my fingertips - Akai APC 40 Mk2 just shines here! I created my own template based on the default one.
As a Tweaker Akai Apc 40 Mk2 offers you 8 knobs-per-selected channel + 1 knob on the top - These knobs are endless spin with a nice travel. But it is often not enough. When Dj - I use a different Template and here I need an extra "Tweaker" to expand tweaking abilities of the device (I use DJTT Twister which is an amazing tweaking device) and for the reset (quick set-to-default) feature.

Mechanically Akai APC 40 Mk2 seems to be proof enough. Not a single issue while using it for 2 years (carefully but intensevely)
Faders and knobs are reliable not flimsy. I would recommend a plastic cover to lingering the lifetime of the device.

so Pro's:
- Universality and functionality within live or studio conditions
- Great launcher (Trigger)
- Fair Tweaker
- Made quality
- light weight
- Well thought Templates available
- Keeps your eyes away from the computer screen
- Foot controller switch functionality
- USB powering
- Price for all that

Con's:
- Not for a Keyboard-ing or Drum Pad-ing
- Not as compact as you may think (not a Con for me though)
- Volume faders a bit tricky to spot on the "0" level (I use fabric tape)
- Triggered clip is indicated in green weakly pulsing (I avoid green color when colouring the steady clips and miss hard pulsing)

I would recommend it for Ableton users as a "Launcher" ("Trigger") controller to pair it with some other "tweaker" deviceand keyboard if needed for a beautifull setup !

I've bought it 4 years ago.

Pros:
It is very steady, very easy to use with ableton live, superb if you use it for triggering clips, mixer and fx processing.A very good daw controller.
Good for live shows and studio. Very nice light buttons colored function. It helps you understand without looking on the screen which clip is playing and what you can choose next. It is a plastic but solid enough hardware.

Limitations/Cons:
Fx knobs: The fx functions are following a random appearing order on the dock, depending on the specific effect you want to manipulate. So you have to customize sometimes.
Not easy to use the volume faders, if you want control more than 8 channels.
The volume faders are not reacting according to the values / (fader position in the software) of the new channels.
If you move them a bit the track volume can change rapidly in to an extreme high or low position.

Problem:
Until few months ago it worked perfectly well.Then a problem with solo buttons occurred. The buttons suddenly stopped working - also no lights on -. AKAI told me there was maybe a problem with the usb connection/power system.
Thanks to thomann warranty and the great work of thomann service team it now works as new.

I recommend it even though the cons and the solo buttons problem.

I’ve been using the AKAI Professional APC40 Mk2 for a while now, and honestly—it’s one of those pieces of gear that just clicks with how I work, especially in Ableton. From the moment I plugged it in, everything was just... there. No fiddling with settings or custom mappings. It auto-bound to Ableton beautifully and felt like an extension of the software right away.

What really blew me away is how versatile it is. Of course, it shines in live performance mode, launching clips, controlling effects, and navigating the session view with ease. But I actually ended up using it a lot as a mixing console during production. Faders are smooth, knobs are responsive, and there’s this feeling of control that you just don’t get with a mouse and keyboard.

One thing I didn’t expect was how well it works with VST synths—specifically Massive X in my case. The top row of knobs basically turns it into a kind of hardware synth controller. I find myself twisting knobs and stumbling onto sounds I wouldn't have come up with otherwise. It really sparks creativity in a way that's hard to describe until you try it.

Build-wise, it feels solid. The knobs have a good resistance—not too loose, not too stiff. The buttons light up nicely and are easy to see even in low light. The only small downside for me is the plastic front panel. It’s a bit glossy and picks up fingerprints and reflections. A matte or more textured finish would have looked a bit more pro maybe, but that’s really nitpicking and more about personal taste than anything else.

All in all, if you’re an Ableton user and you like having that physical connection to your music—not just clicking around—this is a fantastic piece of gear. Whether you're mixing, jamming live, or just tweaking sounds in the studio, the APC40 Mk2 delivers. If it fits your budget, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go.