Akai have announced their newest product the Akai Fire.
Created in close collaboration with software manufacturer Image-Line, the Fire gives FL Studio producers a dedicated hardware controller which is also the world’s first dedicated MIDI controller for the DAW. It follows the release of FL Studio earlier this year which was the first time the software was available on both Mac and PC.
Akai has a history in working alongside DAW’s to create dedicated controllers. Working alongside Ableton, they built the APC40 which was the first controller designed for Live back in 2009. The two continued to collaborate as the first Push controller was also built with the help of Akai.
The Fire is designed with four rows of 16 velocity-sensitive pads for the step sequencer matrix. The sequencer can also be used in several modes such as a keyboard for writing melodies, basslines or chords, a drum pad with velocity sensitive pads for recording beats in realtime and the last mode is for launching MIDI and audio clips in a live based performance. The Fire also comes with FL Studio Fruity Fire Edition. Similar to what is found on NI’s Maschine and Abelton’s Push, there is a rotary encoder to preview and load both sounds and devices with the aid of an OLED screen.
The Fire is out now priced at $199.99. More information availabe from Akai’s website.
Features:
· Plug-and-play integration with FL Studio
· Quickly input patterns along the timeline in the step sequencer
· 4 x 16 Matrix of Velocity-Sensitive RGB Pads
· Expandable up to four units, creating the potential for an 8 x 32 Matrix
· Record notes in Performance mode
· Graphical OLED display
· 4 banks of assignable Touch-Capacitive Knobs
· Instantly navigate the Channel Rack, Browser, Tool Bar and Playlist windows
· Use dedicated controls to quickly browse audio and project files
· Dedicated Transport controls
· USB Bus Powered
