APCX

APCX is a VST3 MIDI effect for the Akai APC Mini MK2 that turns the controller into a live step sequencer: build patterns on the pad grid, run the sequence in time with your DAW, and drive software instruments with the plug-in’s MIDI output.

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Download and install

APCX is Windows-only for now (Windows 10 or later).

What you need

• Akai APC Mini MK2 connected over USB
• Windows 10 or later
• A VST3-capable DAW that can host a MIDI effect and route its MIDI onward

Get the latest build

Open the repository Releases page on GitHub and download the latest MSI or ZIP for Windows.

Option A — MSI installer (recommended)

1. Download APCX-Setup.msi from the release.
2. Run the installer and complete the steps.
3. Restart your DAW or run its plug-in rescan so it picks up APCX.

The installer places the VST3 bundle where your system expects VST3 plug-ins (you should not need to copy files by hand).

Option B — ZIP (manual install)

1. Download APCX-VST3-Windows.zip from the release and extract it.
2. Copy the APCX.vst3 bundle (the whole folder-like bundle, not a single .dll inside it) into a VST3 folder your DAW scans, for example:
   • All users: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
   • Your account: %APPDATA%\VST3
     Your DAW may use an extra custom folder—check its plug-in preferences.
3. Rescan plug-ins in your DAW and load APCX.

If the DAW does not list APCX, confirm the full APCX.vst3 bundle was copied and that you chose a folder that appears in the DAW’s VST3 scan list.

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Using APCX

1. Connect the Akai APC Mini MK2 over USB before or right after you open the plug-in.
2. Insert APCX on a track or slot where your DAW allows MIDI-generating / MIDI-effect VST3s, and route its MIDI output to a software instrument (or the next MIDI effect in the chain), following your DAW’s usual rules for MIDI FX.
3. Watch the status line at the bottom: it should move from searching to connected when the APC Mini MK2 is found.
4. Top four pad rows (32 pads): step positions in the live sequencer—tap pads to enable or edit steps.
5. Bottom left 4×4: note / pitch selection for painting steps.
6. Bottom right 4×4: velocity selection.

Key / scale / octave controls are under the grid. Pad colors on the APC Mini MK2 show the current step, active notes, and velocity.

Shift on the hardware: hold Shift on the APC Mini MK2 for the on-device scale/key/octave overlay.

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Development — environment and build

These steps match CMake + Visual Studio 2022, which is what this repo and GitHub Actions use. Building on macOS/Linux is not set up in this repository yet.

Prerequisites

Tool	Notes
Git	For clone and submodules.
CMake	3.22 or newer (cmake --version).
Visual Studio 2022	Workload Desktop development with C++, including the MSVC and Windows SDK toolsets.

Clone the repository

JUCE is included as a git submodule, so clone with submodules:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/distantdev/apcx.git
cd apcx

If you already cloned without submodules:

cd apcx
git submodule update --init --recursive

Pinned JUCE version

APCX targets JUCE 8.0.12 (tag 8.0.12 on juce-framework/JUCE). Keep the submodule on that tag unless you bump it and re-check CI and local builds.

To move the submodule to that tag after cloning:

cd JUCE
git fetch --tags
git checkout 8.0.12
cd ..
git add JUCE
git commit -m "Pin JUCE submodule to 8.0.12"

Build (CMake, same as CI)

From the repository root in PowerShell or cmd:

cmake -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64
cmake --build build --config Release --target APCX_VST3

Output:

• Release VST3 bundle: build\APCX_artefacts\Release\VST3\APCX.vst3
• With the current CMake settings, a copy may also be written under build\VST3\ after a successful build (useful for quick testing).

To install manually for testing, copy the APCX.vst3 bundle into a VST3 scan folder (see Option B — ZIP above) and rescan in your DAW.

After git pull

If submodule pointers change:

git pull
git submodule update --init --recursive

CI and releases (maintainers)

The workflow .github/workflows/build.yml runs on:

• Pull requests targeting main
• Pushes of tags matching v* (e.g. v1.0.0)
• Manual runs (Actions → workflow → Run workflow)

It produces build artifacts: a VST3 ZIP and an MSI. For v* tags it also creates a GitHub Release and attaches those files.

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Contributing

Pull requests are welcome. Use the CMake build, test with an APC Mini MK2 when you can, and note behavior changes—especially MIDI timing or hardware mapping.

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License

APCX is copyright © 2023–2026 Distant Nebula and licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0). See the LICENSE file in this repository for the full license text.

This project uses JUCE, which is used here under the same AGPLv3 option described in JUCE’s license terms (or a commercial JUCE license if you obtain one separately).

Contact: Levi Sluder — levi@distantnebula.com — https://distantnebula.com