Frequently Asked Questions

 

What software is included with my purchase, and where can I download it?

The following software will be available in your account after you register your APC mini mk2

  • Ableton Live Lite 11
  • Hybrid 3
  • Mini Grand
  • Velvet


Is Ableton Live 11 required?

The APC mini mk2 is supported on Ableton Live 11.2.7 or later for correct operation.  The included Ableton Live Lite 11 Akai Edition is supported and functions as expected. 


Whilst support for the device was added in version 11.2.7 of Ableton, you may still find success manually mapping the APC to your the necessary parameters in earlier versions of Ableton. For more information on custom MIDI mapping, please contact Ableton directly.


Does the product require an additional power supply?

The APC mini mk2 is powered by the included USB cable and does not require an additional power supply.  


Does the APC mini mk2 require drivers, and where can I download them from?

The APC mini mk2 is class compliant and does not require any drivers.  


Is the product compatible with the latest Windows, and Mac operating systems?

Since the APC mini mk2 is class compliant it is immediately compatible with all current Windows, and Mac operating systems, as well as Macs equipped with M1 Processors.  


Can I use 2 or more APC mini mk2 at the same time to control different tracks simultaneously?

Yes! You can use up to 6 APC mini mk2 units at the same time. They can be then assigned to control different tracks for larger sessions!


Are the pads velocity sensitive?

The pads on the APC mini mk2 are intended for launching clips and are not velocity sensitive. They can also be used to trigger drums or notes, provided you have put your APC mini mk2 in Drum Mode or Note Mode, which we will outline below! 


How do I set this up with Ableton?

  1. First connect the APC mini mk2 to your computer into an open USB port. The APC is a Class Compliant Plug-and-Play device and will not require additional driver installation.  

  2. Once the APC is connected to your computer, powered on, and ready to use, open up Ableton Live.  

  3. Go to Options > Preferences. On a Macintosh computer you would select Live > Preferences.


     

  4. In the window that opens select the Link Tempo MIDI tab on the left hand side.


  5. Next select the APC mini mk2 for Control Surface, Input, and Output

    Make sure this is set to the mk2 version, instead of the 'APC Mini', for correct operation.

  6. You can then close the Preferences window as you are now ready to go!

What are the Soft Keys for?

The soft keys are the buttons located to the right of the pads on your unit. Normally, you can press one of these buttons to stop the clip in the corresponding track—represented by the column of five Clip Buttons just above it. However, you can change their functions by pressing and holding Shift and then pressing one of the top five buttons labeled Soft Keys: Clip Stop, Solo, Mute, Rec Arm, or Select. Each button puts the Clip Stop Buttons in a different mode: 

  • Clip Stop Mode: The Clip Stop Buttons will stop their corresponding tracks (the default mode). 
  • Solo Mode: The Clip Stop Buttons will solo their corresponding tracks. 
  • Mute Mode: The Clip Stop Buttons will mute their corresponding tracks. 
  • Record-Arm Mode: The Clip Stop Buttons will record-arm their corresponding tracks. • Select Mode: The Clip Stop Buttons will select their corresponding tracks. 

Press and hold Shift and press one of the right four Clip Stop Buttons to shift the viewable 8x8 matrix of clips. In Ableton Live's Session View, this is indicated by a red rectangle around the clips.

 

What is Drum Mode, and how do I use it with Ableton?

The APC mini mk2’s Drum Mode splits the matrix of Clip Buttons into 4x4 quadrants that align with Ableton’s 16 slot Drum Rack, starting with the lower-left quadrant. To enter Drum Mode, press and hold Shift and press the sixth Scene Launch Button. Please note that you will only be able to access Drum Mode from the hardware when a drum track is loaded and selected in Ableton.


What is Note Mode, and how do I use it with Ableton?

The APC mini mk2’s Note Mode changes the layout of the Clip Button matrix to be used to play notes like a chromatic keyboard. The note scale, octave, and layout of the Clip Buttons can all be adjusted directly from APC mini mk2. To enter Note Mode, press and hold Shift and press the seventh Scene Launch Button (Note). 

While in Note Mode, the Clip Button colors will change to reflect the selected scale notes. Scale root notes will be lit red, while other notes in the scale will be lit amber. When a Clip Button is pressed, all Clip Buttons of the same note and octave will be lit bright green, while all Clip Buttons of the same note in other octaves will be lit light green.


To edit the Note Mode settings, press and hold both Shift and the seventh Scene Launch Button (Note). The matrix of Clip Buttons will change to the following layout, which you can use to adjust various settings for Note Mode:


When any parameter is changed, the Clip Buttons will display an animation to confirm the selected choice.

Use the top two rows of Clip Buttons to change the desired root note of the scale. When pressed, the new selection will light green. Press and hold a root note button to see the name of the currently selected scale displayed in the matrix. For instance, if C is selected, the matrix would appear like the following:

Use the first four columns in the fourth and fifth rows of Clip Buttons to change the note layout. Each row of notes can be separated by a 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or an Octave. Press and hold one of these buttons to display the selected value in the matrix. For instance, if Separate Rows by 5th is selected, the pad matrix would appear like the following:
Press the Show/Hide Non-Scale Notes Button to enable or disable notes not in the currently selected scale from appearing in the pad rows. When disabled, Clip Buttons for non-scale notes will be unlit. 


Use the sixth and seventh rows of Clip Buttons to select the scale type. Press and hold one of these buttons to display the scale name in the matrix as scrolling letters. 


Use the eighth row of Clip Buttons to set the base octave for the pads. Press and hold one of these buttons to display the current octave setting in the matrix. For instance, if -1 Octave is selected, the pad matrix would appear like the following: 

To exit Note Mode editing, release both Shift and the seventh Scene Launch Button (Note), and the Clip Buttons will change color to reflect the updated selections.