First news from NAMM is trickling in. Akai has announced a new version of their APC line with the APC20. This is essentially half of the previously released APC40 from last year. The new APC20 features everything but some send effects, additional knobs and the crossfader from its older brother.

From the press online it appears that the APC20 is meant to be more of a companion kit then a standalone. You can chain up to six of them together.

Price is $199

http://www.akaipro.com/apc20

• Eight voices, each with three oscillators
• Up to eight multi-timbral parts with stereo effects and 40-band vocoder
• Two multi-mode filters, three envelope generators, two LFOs, sample and hold, tracking generator
• Dynamic real-time and step sequencers, arpeggiator, and drum machine/rhythm sequencer
• Stereo bus effects including reverbs and delays
• 24-bit 1/4″ balanced stereo analog outputs and inputs
• 37-key synth-action keyboard with velocity sensitivity
• More than 600 preset sounds Sound banks: bass, lead, pad, string, brass, keys, comp, drum, SFX

It looks like a solid if not fairly generic little synth, but with the popularity that the Micron and the Microkorg have had this may be a hit. The question is though is this field already too crowded for another cheap small form factor synthesizer?

http://www.akaipro.com/miniak