Akai Professional’s APC40 Performance Controller

This is a great piece of equipment for anyone who uses Ableton live. Here is some information directly taken from AkaiPro.com

Ableton Live software is a powerful, flexible environment for creating, performing, and producing music. This unique software demands an equally unique control instrument. Akai Professional and Ableton are proud to present the APC40: the Ableton Performance Controller. Combining the APC40 with Ableton Live transforms your experience from constructing tracks on a computer to fluid, musical creation

DIRECT DESIGN
Because Akai Professional and Ableton designed the APC40 specifically for Ableton Live, you don’t need to map its controls to talk to the software. Just connect your laptop to the APC40 via USB and you're ready to make magic. The APC40 is plug and play, so you don't need to install drivers. First-time setup is literally three steps: load Ableton Live, plug in and power up your APC40, and select the APC40 as Ableton Live's controller. That's it. No mapping, no setup, no hassles.

The APC40 is available now from pro audio and musical instrument retailers. It has U.S. retail price of $599.

Here is a great video on the features that the Akai Pro APC40 offers.