Will we ever see another MPC

I can't think of much I'd add to or change with my 2500. hmmm lets see. . . .

-Real analog filters would be nice I guess.
-Bigger screen of course, although the current one is fine. (Although w/JJos the screen has been pushed to its limit) maybe the ability to hoook to an external screen? 7" color lCD -hell yeah!
-The pads are fine for me, navigating the OS is fine.
-I guess working at 24/96 sample rate would be an improvement. Although it best be able to read 16/44.
-Tracks of different lengths in a single sequence would be so nice to keep things lively. Although this i'm sure is currently possible if JJ wanted to rearrange the OS enough. No big deal though.
-More solid build..? Sure.. Although my machine gives me no indication that its built weak. Thing is heavy enough for me as it is.
-Built in 8gig Cf card acting as HD.
-USB to computer streaming of all tracks (or all outputs) as separate audio feeds?
-Higher end DAC's.. -why not.
-Being able to do all functions while the thing is playnig, never having to stop a beat.
-2 or 3 layers of undo, not just one.
-Reassign the numeric keys so they read top down not bottom up (WTF?) 123 top row, then 456, then 789, then +0-
-More channels of effects. 3 or 4. more flexibility in their routing.

its getting tough .. If we end up doing something like making it all a touch screen, or adding a synth, etc.. then in my opinion it gets too far away from its core purpose. I've seen products where they try to do it all and then they are really mediocre atg everything. Id rather have a superstar with a narrow focus than a mediocre everything.

So:
-Keep the same basic user operationality/familiarity.
-Upgrade the memory and speed of the core computer in there. Everything should be bale to happen without stopping the machine. Sequencer tightness must reamin #1 priority.
-Upgrade the signal path if possible, from recording ADC's through the DSP guts, to the DAC outputs. 24/96 - step into todays world in other words. Make the machine sonically transparent.
-Add more onboard effect blocks to keep us out of the DAW for as long as possible.
-Larger screen to make use clearer.
-Keep build quality as high as possible.

fun thread
peace
~Steve

the fact that they released that controller for Ableton Live tells you all you need to know: there will be no new MPCs.

think about it: if Akai was thinking about releasing an updated mpc, what is their main competition? Software.

what is the number one beat-making software in use right now? Ableton Live.


so what sense does it make to develop & release hardware that gives support to your main competitor? none.

so: Akai obviously has NO plans to compete with Ableton or any of the other software solutions. their future is obviously building controllers to support other computing platforms (Live & other DAWs, iPhone, etc...)

totally weak, but that's Akai for you. just one stupid decision after another. if they were to release an updated MPC 1000 with modern specs, usb 2.0, way better cpu, lots of advanced editing & sample mangling, quadruple the polyphony, lots of great built-in FX, nice pads, thinner & lighter then the current 1000, & under a grand... it would sell like CRAZY!

...but no, they give that all up & just make controllers. keep the expenses low & make an easy little profit. they'll keep making money and survive but the great MPC line is all in the past now.

You guys are so depressing, didnt they release a LE of the 2.5k last year or so?

I dont really know, but the LE was probably just so they could empty their warehouses of the remaining MPC's to make room for the controllers..

LOL

Really ROFL

revtor wrote:I dont really know, but the LE was probably just so they could empty their warehouses of the remaining MPC's to make room for the controllers..

y'know, that's not a joke. that's probably dead accurate.

that's probably the only reason they're still selling mpcs. they have all of these parts and units and they are trying to clear out all that stock. just look at the extreme difficulty some users have had getting replacement parts for their mpcs from akai. akai is like: "huh? no we don't have any of those parts in stock. we have no idea when we will get more. maybe try a third party. good luck!"

take good care of your mpcs, folks ...because when akai clears out what they've got, that will be it!

i think akai needs to one up the maschine if they want to release a new mpc and have it sell.
it needs to be more than a box that can stand alone.

-if they had made it so that you could use it as a soundcard aswell that would be nasty nice ( would of course mean that they'd have to bring better converters to table)
- have machine type setup where there's a dedicated program on your computer which is structures excactly like the mpc itself, only with added functionality as the use of external software instruments in the sequencer, but also make it a standalone box so that you can work wherever you want. at home you could plug it up and use the sequencer program on your pc for more control, and when you're going elsewhere with it you can just use the box itself.

i think those two things right there would be key in actually making the mpc more attractive for those who want a sampler that you can take with you on the go, but still have as a viable advanced sequencing system on your pc aswell.

at least i think that would be the key to it. if they had done it atleast, i don't think many manufacturers could really stack up to them. software and thousands of controllers has its charm, but having a solid standalone unit will never be replaced for me.
i might upgrade to the maschine one day, but as of now i don't see any need to at all given that the mpc can do everything i want to do for the most part. subtle things can just be added by software later to the composition.

Stand alone drum machine/samplers are one of the smallest selling product categories in pro audio. Akai is in the business of making money. A new mpc isn't gonna make them any.

[quote="props to the finger- have machine type setup where there's a dedicated program on your computer which is structures excactly like the mpc itself, only with added functionality as the use of external software instruments in the sequencer, but also make it a standalone box so that you can work wherever you want. at home you could plug it up and use the sequencer program on your pc for more control, and when you're going elsewhere with it you can just use the box itself.

quote]

Are there an programs availible that can do that with an old mpc through midi or usb?

jmac01 wrote:Are there an programs availible that can do that with an old mpc through midi or usb?

possibly through midi, but using midi you could probably use any sequencer if you're handy with mmc. but then i guess you'd only get the basics of start and stop plus some other buttons i think.
using a midi-routing program on your computer, you could assign specific buttons to correspond to different midi cc's.
usb is a no go on mpcs how they are now, they only work as a card reader.

while it is possible, the midi thing, it's not very intuitive. so it's still not a good competitor against maschine.

i think the mpc line will continue it is such a strong brand, there may be a 6k, im sure the 25k line will be continued as it was so popular.

i can imagine them revamping or streamlining the 4k into a sleeker body and putting that out and i still think they have some unfinished biz with the 1k so maybe a 125k or 15k is in order.

but i think at some point all the hardware groove box manufactures will need to compete with the standard set by machine.

jpeg wrote:i can imagine them revamping or streamlining the 4k into a sleeker body and putting that out and i still think they have some unfinished biz with the 1k so maybe a 125k or 15k is in order.

An MPC125000 ?!?

1k, 2k, 4k and 5k make sense, but 25k for 2500 and other misuses of the 'kilo' abbreviation get on my tits!

mpc15k should be mpc1500 which could be the successor to the 1k updated to take on the beat thang or they could make mpc1250 that could be like machine contender


or they could rock a mpc6k

think you missed my point

15k means 15000 that's 15 thousand, which is way more than 1500

you seem to keep using 'k' to mean "some zeros at the end" but that's not what it means. it means thousand