Is the MPCX built to last?

For you X owners, what's your take on the machine and the software? I'm kinda hard with my machines, I'm not a hobbyist, i pretty much get down with my gear everyday and USE it.

Is the X going to be a rugged quality piece of kit to me for years to come or do you anticipate problems? I haven't even seen one in person. What's been your experience, what's your instincts tell you?

I have no prior experience at all with akai products but I’ve had mine for a few months now. Everything on it feels rugged the switches and pads etc seem strong and well built. I have read of numerous issues that people have had on the forums with technical glitches regarding the q links but I think that they are probably more to do with software than hardware. Touch wood mine is holding up well and hasn’t had any issues so far.
Just my twopence on the subject.

I've had my share of gear and must say i am impressed with the build quality (not impressed with a lot of other things, but all software related).
The knobs are excellent buttons are good (not excellent. I prefer the digitakt and, even better, the cirklon). Big knop perfect. Connectors all firm. Screen is fine, a bit wobbly when you hit it harder then slight touches. I only have issues with my pads, but hope that will be resolved by tomorrow when i bring it back to the shop for a switch. Im really impressed by the q-link knobs. Overall it feels like a quality product. And i must say in real life the X looks a lot better then on the net. I thought it looked gimmicky with the red sides and all but I really like it in the flesh. The pads are real dirt magnets though. But ask me in a year from now, i've only had it for a week or so..

I have mine since a week or two, the build quality seems very good. No wobbly knobs, everything feels rock solid. Maybe the display could benefit from a more fixed support, it moves a little back and forth when you touch it. If the resistance would become less in the future that could become an issue (screen falling backwards when you touch it), but so far I doubt it would be.

ghost.transmitter wrote:I have mine since a week or two, the build quality seems very good. No wobbly knobs, everything feels rock solid. Maybe the display could benefit from a more fixed support, it moves a little back and forth when you touch it. If the resistance would become less in the future that could become an issue (screen falling backwards when you touch it), but so far I doubt it would be.

Do you use the stand? I had a hard time finding out how to fold the stand off the back of the screen, but it seems you have to pull it pretty hard. The bottom is the hinge, the top is clipped behind a hook where you have to pull it out off. Here's an image (i was looking for one when i first got it)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6u1hg7hmb3izi ... 2.jpg?dl=0

Ah, I didn't know it has a stand... Good to know, thanks!

Thank you friends for sharing your experiences and opinions. There's just something about the design and form factor of the X I prefer over the Live. I'm thinking of possibly centering my studio around the X, even though I record mostly live instruments and do "some" sampling, I see it as a nice controller and box to record into, even without the software, it looks like it would be a pleasure to interact with (I hope).

I do enjoy making and creating my own sounds, samples to play over keys, etc. I'm just wondering if the X will last me 10 years and that I can grow into it, I'm not familiar with MPC's at all, but I love what they are designed to and I'm more of a hardware, hands on type of music creator. Like I had mentioned, I don't mind the price of the X, but I'm looking for a long term machine that I can learn and stick with. If I got the X, that's probably all I'd use to create music with until it stopped working.

In ya'lls opinion, does the X bring $2200 worth of value and functionality and sound to your studio?

Thank you.

The X is a Drum machine/DAW/Computer wrapped into one. It could last mote than 10 years if you take care of it.

Is it worth $2200? That's subjective , how much of the machine you learn and use.

Gnome Tone wrote:Thank you friends for sharing your experiences and opinions. There's just something about the design and form factor of the X I prefer over the Live. I'm thinking of possibly centering my studio around the X, even though I record mostly live instruments and do "some" sampling, I see it as a nice controller and box to record into, even without the software, it looks like it would be a pleasure to interact with (I hope).

I do enjoy making and creating my own sounds, samples to play over keys, etc. I'm just wondering if the X will last me 10 years and that I can grow into it, I'm not familiar with MPC's at all, but I love what they are designed to and I'm more of a hardware, hands on type of music creator. Like I had mentioned, I don't mind the price of the X, but I'm looking for a long term machine that I can learn and stick with. If I got the X, that's probably all I'd use to create music with until it stopped working.

In ya'lls opinion, does the X bring $2200 worth of value and functionality and sound to your studio?

Thank you.

I would ask a different question than “is it worth it?”. Like DaNoc said, that’s a subjective question, and you’re not going to get an answer that really means anything to you.

Instead ask yourself, what are you going to do with it? Are you going to make $50 with it? Or are you going to make $50,000? Nothing wrong with either one, but it will help you answer that question, and then make a decision to buy it or not.

For me, the X was completely worth it. But I make music commercially, so the cost of ownership was justified within 90 days or so.

^ What Eyaic said. Ask the question is it worth that dough FOR YOU.

I got the Live for me its worth it for ME. Plus l didn't pay $1199 for it. I paid $959 for it.

It better be built to last, Akai already up shit's creek to risk it.

But peep this for quality insurance. My dog tripped over some wires trying to squirm around to sleep under the speaker, knocking my Live to the floor. To justify his clumsiness, he then stretches over and sleeps on top of the Live with his claws digging into the screen. I was out, had no idea this happened until I arrived and caught him dozing off. I escorted him out, checked my Live, everything was good and screen unscathed. Today, once again, I find the same shit, Live on the floor, dog sleeping on top of the Live, this **** got the keys! Anyway, its working fine and no scratches...yet.

Man your dog is making some beats on your machine lol why he gotta grab the Live twice? Soon as he heard you he played like he was sleep lol


Arrab Dog Musik lmao

Ill-Green wrote:It better be built to last, Akai already up ****'s creek to risk it.

But peep this for quality insurance. My dog tripped over some wires trying to squirm around to sleep under the speaker, knocking my Live to the floor. To justify his clumsiness, he then stretches over and sleeps on top of the Live with his claws digging into the screen. I was out, had no idea this happened until I arrived and caught him dozing off. I escorted him out, checked my Live, everything was good and screen unscathed. Today, once again, I find the same ****, Live on the floor, dog sleeping on top of the Live, this **** got the keys! Anyway, its working fine and no scratches...yet.

Danoc wrote:Man your dog is making some beats on your machine lol why he gotta grab the Live twice? Soon as he heard you he played like he was sleep lol


Arrab Dog Musik lmao

you know, I can believe that, he watches TV and opens doors. A real Snoopy. If I got a dope beat going on, he stays and sleeps but if its wack, he'll give me a dirty look and walk away.

Hey hey! Cool, I appreciate the back up and words of confidence gentleman, thanks for answering my questions. I've got to get my new studio room painted and fixed up and ready to organize my gear. I just moved out to the country and am quite excited to start working in my new room! A view to a fruit tree garden a lots of trees.

One more thing, I thought I read that key groups using an external keyboard to play polyphonic samples in standalone was not possible, only in 2.0. Is this true?

And also, I'll probably work in standalone mode to get familiar with the machine, is there 2 gigs of storage for whatever work I might get done until I purchase a new computer? Or is that operating memory? 10 gigs of storage, 2 gigs for ram, wouldn't that leave 4 gigs out of 16? Anyhow, just thinking out loud.

I'm giving myself two weeks to get my room finished, once it's done..... The X will be my newest member of my noise making assembly. Pretty excited to check it out!

2 weeks? That is quick. I am currently using my MPCX on a TV tray until I get my studio set up. I live in a condo, where space is a premium, so I have to clean out my garage storage locker, move stuff from my den into that, and then I can set things up. It will take more than two weeks to get that done.

Tony