When the MPC60 launched in 1988, Akai Professional blazed the trail for a unique way to get hands-on with your sound, and the indelible groove created by finger drumming cemented a distinct, immediately recognizable style of beat crafting and sampling. The APC series of instruments married this model with Ableton Live’s hybrid studio/live-performance architecture to elevate the creative potential of the software suite, and the APC64 is the modern musician’s answer to Ableton Live-driven performance. An 8-by-8, RGB-backlit, 64-pad matrix includes both velocity sensitivity and polyphonic aftertouch, while a surrounding constellation of multi-mode buttons comprises detailed, comprehensive navigation and performance tools. Sweetwater production pros agree that the newly included, fully assignable touch strips are a game changer for expressivity, boasting continuous control and complete customization with FX, V.I.s, dynamics, and anything else within the virtual production suite. Furthermore, a powerful internal sequencer, onboard Gate/CV jacks, and flexible TRS-MIDI connectivity not only provide simultaneous interfacing with external instruments, but allow you to go completely DAW-less without sacrificing performance potential.