Akai APC Mini Mk2 Compact Loop Trigger for Ableton Live - Controller
Discover the Akai APC mini mk2, the ultra-portable Ableton Live controller that enhances your performance thanks to its 64-pad RGB light matrix and nine assignable faders.
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Your Ableton Live session, at your fingertips.
Do you produce or mix on Ableton Live? Then you know how powerful the Session View is for arranging tracks on the fly or performing live. The problem is, launching clips with a mouse kills inspiration. That's where the AKAI APC Mini Mk2 comes in.
At Garage à Musique, we consider this controller the ultimate travel companion for electronic music producers and DJs. Why? Because it combines a massive 64-pad RGB matrix with 9 physical faders for mixing. It's literally a miniature mixer and clip launcher that fits in your backpack.
Integration with Ableton Live is seamless and instantaneous: simply plug in the USB cable, and your computer screen will illuminate directly onto the APC Mini's color matrix. The colors of your clips in the software will correspond exactly to the colors of the pads under your fingers.
Why the APC Mini Mk2 is a "Game Changer":
Matrice 8x8 RGB Brillante : Fini de deviner quel clip est actif. Les 64 pads reflètent fidèlement les couleurs de votre session Ableton Live pour un repérage visuel parfait dans les clubs sombres ou les studios tamisés.
9 Faders Assignables : C'est son énorme avantage face à la concurrence. Vous disposez de 8 faders de piste et 1 fader Master. D'un simple clic, transformez-les pour contrôler le volume, le panoramique (Pan), les envois d'effets (Sends) ou les macros de vos plugins.
Mode "Drum" et Mode "Note" : Ce n'est pas qu'un lanceur de clips ! Le mode Note transforme la matrice en un clavier virtuel avec la fonction "Smart Scale" (impossible de jouer de fausses notes !). Le mode Drum adapte les pads pour contrôler le fameux Drum Rack d'Ableton.
100% Plug-and-Play : Pas de pilotes à installer, pas de mapping fastidieux à configurer. Il est pré-mappé pour Ableton Live dès la sortie de la boîte.
Comparison: APC Mini Mk2 vs. The Competition
The matrix controller market is tight. Here's why the APC Mini Mk2 stands out.
| Characteristic | AKAI APC Mini Mk2 | Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3 | AKAI APC Key 25 Mk2 |
| Pad Matrix | 64 RGB Pads | 64 RGB Pads | 40 RGB Pads |
| Faders (Mixing) | 9 Physical Faders | None | None (Rotary potentiometers) |
| Piano Keyboard | ❌ No (Note mode on pads) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (25 mini-keys) |
| Target Software | Ableton Live | Ableton Live | Ableton Live |
| Integrated Modes | Drum, Note (Smart Scale) | Custom, Keys, Drums | Standard keyboard |
| Our opinion | The best for mixing and live performance. | Excellent, but lacks faders. | Ideal if you are primarily a keyboard player. |
Technical Specifications
Pads : 64 (matrice 8x8) rétroéclairés RGB, sensibles pour le lancement de clips
Faders : 8 faders de piste assignables + 1 fader Master (Course courte, idéaux pour le live)
Boutons de navigation : Flèches directionnelles pour naviguer dans l'immensité de la Vue Session
Soft Keys : Boutons dédiés pour Volume, Pan, Send, Device, Stop Clip, Solo, Mute, Record Arm
Connectivité : 1x port USB Type-B
Alimentation : Auto-alimenté par le bus USB (pas d'alimentation murale requise)
Compatibilité : Mac et PC (Intégration native Ableton Live)
Dimensions: 24.0 cm x 21.0 cm x 3.2 cm
Poids : 0.81 kg (1.79 lbs)
📦 In the box:
1x AKAI APC Mini Mk2
1x Câble USB
Carte de téléchargement logiciel (Inclut Ableton Live Lite et des instruments virtuels Air Music Tech)
FAQ - The most frequently asked questions on the web
1- What is the difference between the Mk1 (the old model) and this Mk2?
The difference is immediately apparent: the Mk2 features RGB pads (which display all the colors of your Ableton clips), whereas the Mk1 only displayed three colors (green, red, and orange). The Mk2 also adds the highly requested "Drum" and "Note" modes for composing directly on the grid.
2- Can I use it with FL Studio or Logic Pro?
Although designed specifically for Ableton Live's "Session View," it remains a standard MIDI controller. You can manually map the pads and faders in FL Studio, Logic, or any other DAW, but you won't have the automatic (plug-and-play) integration it offers with Ableton.
3- Do I need to buy Ableton Live to use it?
No, not if you're a beginner! The APC Mini Mk2 comes with Ableton Live Lite , a lightweight but very powerful version of the software that lets you start producing and performing immediately at no extra cost.
4- Are the pads velocity-sensitive (for creating rhythms)?
The matrix's 64 pads are designed primarily for triggering clips with precision and speed (push-button type). If you're looking for very thick, velocity-sensitive pads for pure finger drumming , we recommend the AKAI MPD218 or the MPK Mini instead.
5- Does this controller have a built-in sound card?
No. The APC Mini Mk2 only handles MIDI data. It has neither a microphone input nor a headphone output. You will need to connect your speakers or headphones directly to your computer or external audio interface.
Your Ableton Live session, at your fingertips.
Do you produce or mix on Ableton Live? Then you know how powerful the Session View is for arranging tracks on the fly or performing live. The problem is, launching clips with a mouse kills inspiration. That's where the AKAI APC Mini Mk2 comes in.
At Garage à Musique, we consider this controller the ultimate travel companion for electronic music producers and DJs. Why? Because it combines a massive 64-pad RGB matrix with 9 physical faders for mixing. It's literally a miniature mixer and clip launcher that fits in your backpack.
Integration with Ableton Live is seamless and instantaneous: simply plug in the USB cable, and your computer screen will illuminate directly onto the APC Mini's color matrix. The colors of your clips in the software will correspond exactly to the colors of the pads under your fingers.
Why the APC Mini Mk2 is a "Game Changer":
Matrice 8x8 RGB Brillante : Fini de deviner quel clip est actif. Les 64 pads reflètent fidèlement les couleurs de votre session Ableton Live pour un repérage visuel parfait dans les clubs sombres ou les studios tamisés.
9 Faders Assignables : C'est son énorme avantage face à la concurrence. Vous disposez de 8 faders de piste et 1 fader Master. D'un simple clic, transformez-les pour contrôler le volume, le panoramique (Pan), les envois d'effets (Sends) ou les macros de vos plugins.
Mode "Drum" et Mode "Note" : Ce n'est pas qu'un lanceur de clips ! Le mode Note transforme la matrice en un clavier virtuel avec la fonction "Smart Scale" (impossible de jouer de fausses notes !). Le mode Drum adapte les pads pour contrôler le fameux Drum Rack d'Ableton.
100% Plug-and-Play : Pas de pilotes à installer, pas de mapping fastidieux à configurer. Il est pré-mappé pour Ableton Live dès la sortie de la boîte.
Comparison: APC Mini Mk2 vs. The Competition
The matrix controller market is tight. Here's why the APC Mini Mk2 stands out.
| Characteristic | AKAI APC Mini Mk2 | Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3 | AKAI APC Key 25 Mk2 |
| Pad Matrix | 64 RGB Pads | 64 RGB Pads | 40 RGB Pads |
| Faders (Mixing) | 9 Physical Faders | None | None (Rotary potentiometers) |
| Piano Keyboard | ❌ No (Note mode on pads) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (25 mini-keys) |
| Target Software | Ableton Live | Ableton Live | Ableton Live |
| Integrated Modes | Drum, Note (Smart Scale) | Custom, Keys, Drums | Standard keyboard |
| Our opinion | The best for mixing and live performance. | Excellent, but lacks faders. | Ideal if you are primarily a keyboard player. |
Technical Specifications
Pads : 64 (matrice 8x8) rétroéclairés RGB, sensibles pour le lancement de clips
Faders : 8 faders de piste assignables + 1 fader Master (Course courte, idéaux pour le live)
Boutons de navigation : Flèches directionnelles pour naviguer dans l'immensité de la Vue Session
Soft Keys : Boutons dédiés pour Volume, Pan, Send, Device, Stop Clip, Solo, Mute, Record Arm
Connectivité : 1x port USB Type-B
Alimentation : Auto-alimenté par le bus USB (pas d'alimentation murale requise)
Compatibilité : Mac et PC (Intégration native Ableton Live)
Dimensions: 24.0 cm x 21.0 cm x 3.2 cm
Poids : 0.81 kg (1.79 lbs)
📦 In the box:
1x AKAI APC Mini Mk2
1x Câble USB
Carte de téléchargement logiciel (Inclut Ableton Live Lite et des instruments virtuels Air Music Tech)
FAQ - The most frequently asked questions on the web
1- What is the difference between the Mk1 (the old model) and this Mk2?
The difference is immediately apparent: the Mk2 features RGB pads (which display all the colors of your Ableton clips), whereas the Mk1 only displayed three colors (green, red, and orange). The Mk2 also adds the highly requested "Drum" and "Note" modes for composing directly on the grid.
2- Can I use it with FL Studio or Logic Pro?
Although designed specifically for Ableton Live's "Session View," it remains a standard MIDI controller. You can manually map the pads and faders in FL Studio, Logic, or any other DAW, but you won't have the automatic (plug-and-play) integration it offers with Ableton.
3- Do I need to buy Ableton Live to use it?
No, not if you're a beginner! The APC Mini Mk2 comes with Ableton Live Lite , a lightweight but very powerful version of the software that lets you start producing and performing immediately at no extra cost.
4- Are the pads velocity-sensitive (for creating rhythms)?
The matrix's 64 pads are designed primarily for triggering clips with precision and speed (push-button type). If you're looking for very thick, velocity-sensitive pads for pure finger drumming , we recommend the AKAI MPD218 or the MPK Mini instead.
5- Does this controller have a built-in sound card?
No. The APC Mini Mk2 only handles MIDI data. It has neither a microphone input nor a headphone output. You will need to connect your speakers or headphones directly to your computer or external audio interface.