MPC KEY 61 VS MPC X SE + MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLER ARP info

Hi! I am not sure if I'll go with MPC X SE + MIDI keyboard controller or MPC Key 61. Will I lose some features and especially arpeggiator of the MPC Key 61 if I go the MPC X SE + MIDI keyboard controller route? I am asking because there is no Arp button on the MPC X SE, only on MPC Key 61. If arpeggiator is available on MPC X SE, does it also work if I play keys on the MIDI keyboard controller that is connected to the MIDI input of the MPC X SE or it only works if playing pads on the MPC X SE? Also, does someone knows if the sound quality is also improved on MPC X SE compared to MPC Key 61? I am wondering because looking at the specs, I see the headphone output on the MPC X SE is much more powerful than the one on MPC Key 61 (360mWatts vs only 40mWatts). So it seems headphone output is improved on MPC X SE? How about Main Outs and Line/Mic/instrument Inputs circuitry for example, is it also in any way improved on X SE over Key 61 or both sound completely the same? Thanks

They all have the arpeggiator. The Key 61 just has the hardware button. The analog section of these two are different in design but the differences in sound are likely not big enough to be decisive.

Personally, I would pick the one that best served my needs.

RandomVibration wrote:They all have the arpeggiator. The Key 61 just has the hardware button. The analog section of these two are different in design but the differences in sound are likely not big enough to be decisive.

Personally, I would pick the one that best served my needs.

Hi, RandomVibration and thanks for the info. I forgot to mention that I need arpeggiator in standalone mode. So X SE has arpeggiator in standalone mode just like Key 61 has it? If yes, does it also work if I play keys on the MIDI keyboard controller that is connected to the MIDI input of the MPC X SE or it only works if playing pads on the MPC X SE? Thanks!

Lampdog wrote:arpeggiator

mpc manual pg 394, v2.12.2

Hello, Lampdog! Thanks for the info. If I am not mistaken, you own both X SE and Key 61? If yes, please let me know if there is any difference in sound quality that can be heard, especially on main outs and mic ins. Just by comparing specs, I see the heaphone output on X SE is much more powerful (360mWatts vs only 40mWatts on Key 61). So I wonder if also main outs and mic ins sound better on X SE. And if you own X SE, please also let me know if arpeggiator (in standalone mode) also works if I play keys on the MIDI keyboard controller that is connected to the MIDI input of the MPC X SE or it only works if playing pads on the MPC X SE? Thanks a lot!

Lampdog wrote:I have X.
I have Key61.

My headphones are ATH M-50, they are loud and crisp on both machines.

I don’t use arp.

Thanks man for this info!

Lampdog wrote:https://www.taggdigital.com/blog/ohm-Impedance

Hi Lampdog and thanks for the link! My headphones have very similar specs to yours so I am glad to know the Key 61 will be able to drive them just fine.

So, you're getting some lazy info here. The BIG difference between the Key 61 and the X that NO ONE is talking about is the arp. On the key 61 you can use the arp to arpeggiate drum programs. On the X you CAN NOT!! This is a huge deal. Not sure why Akai thinks no one wants to arppegiate drums, but it's insane that on the X (the flagship) you have to connect a midi keyboard with an arp if you want to arpeggiate a drum program. On the Key 61 you can use all the arp features on drum programs. This is huge and is almost enough to make me want to return the X and just go with the key 61 despite it's other limitations (IO/less Q links). Hope this helps.