By MPD MPK RAY
Mon Jan 09, 2017 9:25 am
Simultaneously with the launch of the new MPC LIVE and X MPC, Akai Professional presents the new version 2.0 of the MPC software, which further enhances the functions of what appears to increasingly assert itself as a real DAW, going beyond the traditional work environment by beatmaker with the introduction of audio recording on dedicated tracks, in real-time audio warping, the launch clip mode, enhancing control via QLink potentiometers, drag-and-drop audio and MIDI, and completely revisiting the user interface. Some of these functions actually there I had anticipated with Daniel the AKAI in a video posted on my YouTube channel during the Winter NAMM 2016 (click here), as well as in reports from the stand (click here). But it is after one year at the Winter NAMM 2017 (click here to read the report) that the American company launches new Software 2.0 MPC that from today will travel together even on both new hardware and MPC MPC Live X able to work independently, without requiring a connection to a computer (click here to read the dedicated article). One software then, both the computer based environment when working with hardware controller mode, both the hardware stand-alone when no computer work, with some differences due to different work environments that will explain in this my article.
Compatible with Mac and PC, the MPC 2.0 software provided free supplied with all the hardware of the line of the Akai Professional MPC (MPC X, MPC Live, Touch MPC and MPC Studio Black) works both independently as DAW software in its own right, in jargon "stand-alone" or as plug-in VST, AU, or AAX to popular DAW software (Cubase, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, etc.) available for the operating systems MacOS and Windows 64-bit . Thanks to the new Audio Track will be recorded in multi-track, making use of various monitoring options (Auto, On and Off) with and without effects, opting for direct recording, or programmed by setting the Punch In and Punch out. When working without a computer with hardware and MPC MPC X Live projects can contain up to a maximum of 8 stereo audio tracks to 44.100Hz / 24-bit, while the computer based software, that is with the hardware in the controller mode supported audio tracks will be 128 (24bit / 96kHz).
The hierarchy in the MPC software is simple, a sequence consists of multiple tracks, each of which can accommodate a selected program between 6 different types available: CLIP, mainly useful for stem 4 from 4 each loop (16 loops from the maximum length of 8 measures) that resembles what is usual with a master controller (APC40, APCmini) associated with the Session window of Ableton Live, DRUM, the historical way of MPC sampler, Keygroups mapped to play instruments on notes, then mapped chromatically sampled instruments on the pad (keyboard), MIDI, to play external MIDI devices by transmitting the track notes to the MIDI OUT port. The hardware MPC X owners, which is endowed with 8 outputs CV / gate will exploit the Program CV useful for controlling and playing vintage analog instruments, modular and / or "non midizzati". The type of Program Plug-in, as you might guess is available only in computer MPC software and is used to load virtual instruments and effects plug-in VST (PC and Mac) and AU (Mac OS), which will be mapped instantaneously.
Sonivox Orchestral Companion - Strings from Pluginboutique.com
The user interface has been completely redesigned to be more streamlined, convenient and simplify the various phases of music production. In addition to appearing more modern and appealing, the GUI has aesthetically standardized in two computer work environments and stand-alone hardware. Who owns a mini-TOUCH (click for info) surely will understand what I mean: the discrepancy between the graphics shown in the display of the machine and that a little 'retro previous versions of the software on the computer. time-stretching functions, pitch-shifting and the new warping algorithm in real-time allows us to adapt to the BPM of our projects any audio file, from the regions of the audio tracks to the loops of the new program clips, up to the standards used in drum program and keygroup. In addition to the intervention on the speed, we can vary independently also the pitch of the audio material loaded in the mentioned program. All this coupled with traditional "chop" feature, also called slicing, separating individual portions of an audio track to automatically assign them to individual pads will allow us in the studio, both live and to give vent to our creativity without having to sin in audio quality or musicality: basic elements, often overlooked by the intrinsic limits of traditional samplers. We will have no more excuses: we will transpose and adapt to the tonality of our projects any audio element "intoned". The MPC software supports audio files in WAV, MP3, AIFF, REX and SND as well as being compatible with the samples and sequences created with all hardware MPC products in history, which will be comfortably loaded in the projects. In addition, with simple Drag and Drop audio and MIDI material will be a snap to import and export from / to the DAW software projects events, clips, regions and phrases. The browser dedicated to the MPC Expansion (Click to consult the list of those available for sale) in this new version we find him placed in the right column into the program. Along with the MPC 2.0 software are provided free well supplied 17GB of audio content and expansions, drum kit sounds, sequences among the most sought today by industry of music production for kinds Trap, Future House, EDM and techno, as well as a selection of Essential Instruments to be used in tracks Keygroups mode. Users can create their own expansions to be exchanged with other manufacturers or friends using the appropriate MPC Expansion Builder. As was already the case in previous versions, the powerful virtual instruments Hybrid synthesizer 3 of the Air Music Technology is integrated into the MPC software and then used in controller mode from the plug-in hardware trace MPC. also many plug-ins that came with the new hardware AKAI MPC PRO X and MPC LIVE, which I invite you to consult the list in the article accessed by clicking here.
Thanks to the program Clip Launch the MPC allows for real-time performance during live without having to resort to third-party software, as well as using new hardware Akai Professional MPC MPC X Live and in total absence of computers. If we add that the MPC Live is battery operated, it should not be difficult to see move and juggle on stage or in the audience the DJ or the featured performer with his MPC in his hands while playing back loops from launch clip track and manipulates the effects in XYFX mode of multi-touch screen. Not to forget the Phrase Loop function that serves the recording of musical phrases of predefined lengths from external devices connected to the audio inputs of the MPC. Then logs, cut and play in a few simple steps while remaining synchronized.
The integration with the hardware products of the MPC series by Akai Professional allows you to have all of the MPC software functions such as audio and MIDI recording, programming, editing and mixing at your fingertips, accessible and controllable by the many buttons, knobs, and by Pad from the color touch screen. It will be a walk to work with editing tools such as the pointer, pencil, scissors, gum, apply fades, reverse, mute and change the pitch and speed in BPM. Using the touch screen we can draw automation on the parameters of the effects, tools and the mixer. Not only an excellent native integration between hardware and software, this version 2.0 of the software sees the MPC control convenience also extend to external instruments through an optimized mapping of Q-Link knobs, now fully editable, configurable and assignable to the management of any parameter of any internal or external instrument connected to the MPC based workstation. In addition, for the exclusive preserve of the lucky owners of the Akai Professional MPC X there is the display of the parameter name and the corresponding value in special OLED display placed in proximity to each potentiometer. The 16 physical hardware pad are arranged in well 8 banks, for a total of 128 useful MIDI notes to play the drum parts and keygroup no extension limits. Thanks to the "Scale" and "Chords" mode we can set up the 16 pads in different selectable musical scales, and play by the same MIDI arrangements, then give birth to real harmonic progressions harmonically related to the scale set by the user.
Right in the mixer were devoted several changes to make it more intelligible and easy to access, despite the advanced and extensive routing capabilities that provide submix, sends and returns for effects, support for plug-in multi-timbral with multiple audio outputs ( up to 16). Thanks to the renewed routing is natural to infer that the MPC hardware owners can take advantage of multiple audio outputs available (8 in the MPC and X 6 in the MPC LIVE) to route to external mixer inputs or to separate monitoring the various submixes. In the new version 2 of the software mixer was aesthetically revisited with the introduction of channel strip adaptable and scalable fader if necessary.
http://www.alarrecordingstudio.com/akai-pro-mpc-software-2.shtml
MPC X - iPad Pro 12.9" - "The MotherBox" Hackintosh
Last edited by MPD MPK RAY on Mon Jan 09, 2017 9:53 am, edited 3 times in total.