Why are the Q-Links Touch Sensitive?

I own an MPC ONE, and I am interested in the 4 Q-links it comes with. I understand that it is touch sensitive. The plastic knobs seem to be made out of some conductive plastic. However, I don't understand why AKAI chose to make them touch sensitive? For example, the data knob is not touch sensitive; it just registers inputs from the user turning the knob and it adjust the values on the screen accordingly.

The data knobs also seems to be made of the same material as the plastic Q-link knobs. Does anyone know why AKAI chose to make the Q-link knobs touch sensitive?

Furthermore, does anyone know of a way to 'turn off' the touch sensitivity of the Q-link knobs? I ultimately want them to work like how the data knob / jog wheel does.

Start @ Menu, then Preferences, then General,scroll down to "show qlinks status when touched".

With suitable gloves the touch sensitivity doesn't work. Akai Force used for illustration

J5isalive wrote:Start @ Menu, then Preferences, then General,scroll down to "show qlinks status when touched".

Hey thank you for the insight! I tried this, but it unfortunately did not disable the touch sensitivity of the Q-links. It does, however, remove the q-link status side panel window from popping up if the knobs are touched. I am under the impression there is not a way to disable the touch sensitivity of the q-links entirely?

I missed what you meant by touch sensitive. If what you described was how quickly the values changed while turning the qlink knobs, I can offer no help. The glove idea might be the way to go.

J5isalive wrote:I missed what you meant by touch sensitive. If what you described was how quickly the values changed while turning the qlink knobs, I can offer no help. The glove idea might be the way to go.

Values go slower when additionally holding SHIFT. Just a hint.

I guess you can replace the knobs with ones made of regular plastic

or put a piece of rubber on the shaft

dustyslices wrote:or put a piece of rubber on the shaft

If that doesn't work, I hope you got a Plan B

The original question still stands: Why are the Q-Links touch sensitive? Were they always on models before the live/touch? What is the point of it? The function always seemed inconsistent at best and a cover for poor UI at worst.

I often wonder if there are other equipment user bases that are as whiny as the MPC one.

jaymack wrote:I often wonder if there are other equipment user bases that are as whiny as the MPC one.

As we say in the software industry: there are two types of software: those about which users complain all the time, and those no one uses !

It's like having a button on a mouse. No touch sensitivity is like a mouse without buttons. Touch sensitivity allows recording automation without turning the knob, like with high-end mixing consoles and controllers. Touch a knob/fader to record an automation curve. If you don't touch, it can mean that you're not specifying anything about that control. And it allows specifying "I mean THIS knob" in user interactions, without turning the knob. And it allows a press/tap of the knob. Or e.g. activating an effect while holding a knob and deactivating it when not holding the knob. I don't know how well these possibilities are taken advantage of in the MPC, but on the Force I haven't noticed any downsides.

Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:

jaymack wrote:I often wonder if there are other equipment user bases that are as whiny as the MPC one.

As we say in the software industry: there are two types of software: those about which users complain all the time, and those no one uses !

In that case, Akai appears to be doing VERY VERY well