Ohm64 vs. APC40

[gradek]

Ohm64 vs. APC 40

These two new controlers look awsome! I'm thinking about investing in one and was wondering if anyone has tested either off these units with Resolume 3.0?

Looks like some great potential with huge arrays of buttons and potential feedback from software. Although it is unclear to me if either controler will get midi feedback info from software like resolume to light up the led buttons. Although both should work with the software. There is lot of buzz that both of these units will become the next big VJ hardware!

There seem to be some pros and cons about these units.

The APC 40 has only a USB interface and is mainly designed for Ableton Live. Although it uses midi, it can't connect to other controllers or hardware. Very lame. Although I really like the layout on this unit. apparently the unit can be configured with maxforlive to work as a sequencer or have other functions. see the hacking guide video below.

The ohm64 is a bit more expensive and has full midi support and seems to have more potential for customization. With full open source software, this peace is being design more like a musical instrument with many different uses yet to be discovered. Not to mention it is wood panel! how cool.

Interested to hear other peoples thoughts or experiences on these two devices.

More info on the Ohm64 here:
http://obscureobjectfilms.wordpress.com ... ontroller/
http://createdigitalmotion.com/2009/06/ ... /#comments
http://www.lividinstruments.com/hardware_ohm64.php

More info on the APC 40 Here:
http://www.akaipro.com/apc40
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/06/1 ... handshake/
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2009/ ... ing-guide/

[Tschoepler]

Definitely the Ohm64! I'm about to get one soon so I don't speak as an actual user. But as soon as I read about the APC40 being such a bitch at customization I was all for the Ohm64 The behavior of Akai and Ableton is sooo "music industry" Did we mention the wood panel?

[Tschoepler]

I'll get the OHM64 next week. report to follow

[gradek]

cool. I got the APC40, but not for VJing. I will try to test that soon with resolume.

[Tschoepler]

One thing I can tell already: I desperatly need MIDI/OSC feedback by Resolume

[gradek]

Yes Midi and OSC output would be awesome for so many things. we will have to wait till R4 for that however.

[Tschoepler]

OK, got my OHM64 up and running today (parcel service is so damn slow). At the moment I am only quick testing the piece for all the knobs and faders to work properly. Hopefully I have some spare-time this week to start more complex usage via MAX and Monome patches.
What I can tell right away: WOW! This controller definitely is worth the money. Even without all the fancy MAX running. If I only think of what is possible via MAX I'm kinda close to crying.
@ gradek: Have you tested the APC40 yet?

[gradek]

I have yet to fully test the APC40 with Resolume since I bought it as a Live controller.

The device itself feel rock solid and the knobs are smooth and rugged. the crossfader is light and stirdy. The overall layout seems like it make sense for R3. There are 4 banks that can be access for knobs, this means 8 knobs can be assigned to 32 parameter, so its easy to assign them to different layer functions/effects. There is also a button matrix for clips. with smaller buttons for mute/solo/etc... not to mention tons of sliders. but the ohm64 basically has the same layout. I'm not sure if you can swich between knob banks, to access more controls with the ohm?....

The biggest hangup I think this goes for the Ohm64 as well is no LED feedback. This might be solved with a Max patch since there are monome emulators for the APC40, but right now no one has created one. I don't know enough about max to do anything myself.

the Ohm64 was predicted to get a firmware update to support OSC, I hope that will still happen. then you could use OSCulator to get LED feedback or just control all kinds of things. but again no OSC or Midi out in R3 yet either so that is limiting.

Another hangup that does not plage the ohm, is that you can't change the behavior or notes assigned to the device. they are locked, since the APC40 is meant to be a ableton live only device. I guess that's why its also less then half the price of the Ohm64. however, it should be possible to change with midi translator, but seems stupid to have to go through all the trouble just to change something as simple as midi note assignment.

Pros for the Ohm is that is more customize, but the APC is a super dope Ableton controller that does all kinds of things that you can't do with other controller in Ableton live, like accessing effects controls auto-mapped and navigating the interface. so if your doing a DJ/VJ set by syncing both apps. its a good controller for live, that can also double as a secondary R3 Controler. That's why I bought it.

[Basic]

I have yet to fully test the APC40 with Resolume since I bought it as a Live controller.

The device itself feel rock solid and the knobs are smooth and rugged. the crossfader is light and stirdy. The overall layout seems like it make sense for R3. There are 4 banks that can be access for knobs, this means 8 knobs can be assigned to 32 parameter, so its easy to assign them to different layer functions/effects. There is also a button matrix for clips. with smaller buttons for mute/solo/etc... not to mention tons of sliders. but the ohm64 basically has the same layout. I'm not sure if you can swich between knob banks, to access more controls with the ohm?....

The biggest hangup I think this goes for the Ohm64 as well is no LED feedback. This might be solved with a Max patch since there are monome emulators for the APC40, but right now no one has created one. I don't know enough about max to do anything myself.

the Ohm64 was predicted to get a firmware update to support OSC, I hope that will still happen. then you could use OSCulator to get LED feedback or just control all kinds of things. but again no OSC or Midi out in R3 yet either so that is limiting.

Another hangup that does not plage the ohm, is that you can't change the behavior or notes assigned to the device. they are locked, since the APC40 is meant to be a ableton live only device. I guess that's why its also less then half the price of the Ohm64. however, it should be possible to change with midi translator, but seems stupid to have to go through all the trouble just to change something as simple as midi note assignment.

Pros for the Ohm is that is more customize, but the APC is a super dope Ableton controller that does all kinds of things that you can't do with other controller in Ableton live, like accessing effects controls auto-mapped and navigating the interface. so if your doing a DJ/VJ set by syncing both apps. its a good controller for live, that can also double as a secondary R3 Controler. That's why I bought it.

thanks for your review on both pieces of hardware. the APC 40/20 and the OHM are controllers i am looking at to get this month. I may start to use ableton for a AV project with resolume3 so its good to hear what you say in the last paragraph! this has been really helpful

[Tschoepler]

I share your thoughts on both controllers 100%. I guess you also read the article on CDM.
As I am not a Live–user but MAX–"novice" I'd say we are both prototypes for either one of the controllers When I have the time to get deep with the OHM I'll see if I can come up with some MAX–patch for MIDI/OSC–feedback. Shouldn't be too difficult I guess. But hey, I thought editing the avc–files via MAX wouldn't be hard and it proofed me wrong and a fool

Oh and just to proof you wrong (clip–/bank–navigation […] is possible)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm-XvChc5mA
Be sure to watch both parts of the tutorial.