First Impressions of MPC Live

I'm not sure if it helps but I am using a Live with a Surface Pro 4 and it's working great. It could be the cable people are having problems with, I know this was mentioned before. I have about 20-30 hours total use in controller mode so far, I have not had a single error. The unit did crash on me in standalone when I accidentally loaded an hour and a half long mix on to a pad.

Here is a run down of the different combinations of things I have tried:

1. Opened in Ableton, drag and drop, transport functions, everything works
2. Opened in Bitwig, same as Ableton, everything works
3. MPC 2.0 controller mode with the following VST's, Serum, Massive, Battery. The only plugin I had a problem with so far is Spire.

One of my major concerns is the large dial under the Q links is wonky as ****. It works perfect, it just has a lot more wiggle to it than I would like.

So, I just wanted to kind of report in on what is going on out in the wild. This is my first post here, so if I messed up don't roast me to hard. =]

After a day finally found the problem:
1: Installed the MPC sofware
2: Rebooted Computer
3: Clicked on install Driver (nothing happened)

I careful look at re-installing the software showed that is had not completed the second installing the driver part. Finally, however after a few more errors and clicks got it to say installing MPC (whatever ir was, and a couple of windows type of things)

Bish Bash Posh - Now the 2.0 sofware works without crashing, and I can get controller mode.

Blue lead that came with the MPC works fine although did have to upgrade the PC with some more 3.0 USB ports as well, not sure if 3.0 was around when this PC was born and certainly the system stated they were only 2.0. But... Finally all is working, I think!!! Touch this pretent woodern table.

Lethius One wrote: The unit did crash on me in standalone when I accidentally loaded an hour and a half long mix on to a pad. =]

I don't think one should load such a long mix!

starmanwarz wrote:Yeah, in a way we are "forced" to buy this device since the others are so limited... I wish some day a respected company like Ableton or NI comes out with a proper standalone so I won't have to deal with Akai ever again.

think ableton is the best bet: NI are certainly more competent than akai in handling releases and software development but I dont have faith in their ability to listen and act on customer requests in a timely fashion, and their communication is is also sub-par.

at this point korg, roland and yamaha are all write offs in the sample workstation market.

MPC-Tutor wrote:

matt underwood wrote:don't forget: we're early adopters and the mpc is a brand new product with a beta os.. so if u decide to buy something like this u. have to be aware of possible bugs etc and not blame others only because u don't wanted to wait.

I agree as an early adopter you should be prepared to accept bugs and to (ironically) pay a higher price for the privilege. Not sure how many people are actually aware that they are buying a product that currently ships with an actual 'official' beta OS though, this is not stated on the MPC Live product page. If you don't read forums like this, how would you know this?

I think Akai would do themselves a lot of favours if they included a statement to point out that the OS is not only beta, but still missing some core features (and stop putting 'with bluetooth/wifi' stickers on the boxes until the Live actually supports them!).

Lying by omission that realtime time stretch isn't in the LIVE for programs boils my blood. It's the main reason I bought the Live behind multi track recording.

Outside of Hellfire saying it's coming.... Pete hasn't been clear that it's actually coming soon.

On the akaipro.com forums when someone asks if realtime time stretching is in the Live they say yes and aren't clear that it's audio tracks and clip mode.

I have the same problem. When trying to go to controller mode it searches for my my laptop but never connects.
SPECS:
Dell i7, windows 10, 3.0 Ghz buss speed.

I have one 3.0 port and two 2.0 usb ports. It is said the MPC live is bacward compatible to 2.0 usb. So it should read either USB port.

I for one never knew it was in beta 2.0. I never heard that come out of Andy's mouth or anyone for that matter. It was misleading. I found that out when l registered my MPC live.
This is is the only problem lm having. And also l cant immediately turn on the Live right after l have shut it down. It takes about 5 minutes to wait and then cut it on.

I was able to get the software running and use the mouse and rock. I git my drum pattern that l made and exported each sound then dragged and dropped it into Reason 9.5. And it worked! I saved my session and sounds on the SD card and that worked.

Now all l need ti do is get the software to be recohnized by the live.

From whst l tead you reinstalled the software and now its working?

CFM01 wrote:After a day finally found the problem:
1: Installed the MPC sofware
2: Rebooted Computer
3: Clicked on install Driver (nothing happened)

I careful look at re-installing the software showed that is had not completed the second installing the driver part. Finally, however after a few more errors and clicks got it to say installing MPC (whatever ir was, and a couple of windows type of things)

Bish Bash Posh - Now the 2.0 sofware works without crashing, and I can get controller mode.

Blue lead that came with the MPC works fine although did have to upgrade the PC with some more 3.0 USB ports as well, not sure if 3.0 was around when this PC was born and certainly the system stated they were only 2.0. But... Finally all is working, I think!!! Touch this pretent woodern table.

starmanwarz wrote:Yeah, in a way we are "forced" to buy this device since the others are so limited... I wish some day a respected company like Ableton or NI comes out with a proper standalone so I won't have to deal with Akai ever again.

Co-signed!!! +1000

On the akaipro.com forums when someone asks if realtime time stretching is in the Live they say yes and aren't clear that it's audio tracks and clip mode.

Akai seems to struggle to provide honest answers to direct questions. Akai continuously tap dances around questions that may not depict their products favorably.

Advertising half implemented (or completely missing) features as a way to boost product sales is VERY UNETHICAL & contributes to consumer distrust of the Akai company & their products!!

I don't see myself forced to get this machine. Though being moble is the future there are other things out there that are moblie. In my situation which is different from everyone else l could rock without the live. I've found a way to be on grid wothout using a freakin interface.

The live and joy l once had using the 2000XL l can sort of relive that in a new modern way.

When l get the problem of the MPC to connect to the computer solved l'll be ok. Im not having any other issues.

With the coming of Reason 9.5 which now takes vsts and Studio One 3.5 dropping their bombshell l really can just rovk standalone. But l want to check out Velvet and Xpand, Hybrid 3 etc. If connecting never works l can stay standalone go to SD card and take it from there. Now for guys who dont have the money to get a DAW and depend soley on standalone and the MPC software in controller mode l feel sorry for them. They could kill it with just using the MPC live and software 2.0 if the ish actually worked properly.

I don't see myself buying another MPC from Akai in a long time.
Im not looking for NI ot any other company to make a standalone. Im going to look in making a straight standalone with no connection whatsoever to a PC. lwe need to be innovaters instead of looking for someone to do exactly what we need and do it ourselves. That's where l am right now.

Danoc wrote:I don't see myself forced to get this machine. Though being moble is the future there are other things out there that are moblie. In my situation which is different from everyone else l could rock with the live. I've found a way to be on grid wothout using a freakin interface.

i thought u originally was getting the x but instead u already got the live

Danoc wrote: l/we need to be innovaters instead of looking for someone to do exactly what we need and do it ourselves.

Good point! Depending on how the final release of MPC 2.0 software/hardware OS pans out….. I just might end up upgrading my Studio One DAW to version 3.5 & adding the Faderport 8 - and call it a day.

Sometimes I get caught up in the 'new and flashy' products. I realize that I already have everything I need to make music. New products can be creatively inspirational but are more of a want than a need.

starmanwarz wrote:Yeah, in a way we are "forced" to buy this device

I don´t think anybody is forced to buy this Nukai crap, there are enough stable, powerful and reliable standalone samplers out there.

**** wrote:

starmanwarz wrote:Yeah, in a way we are "forced" to buy this device

I don´t think anybody is forced to buy this Nukai crap, there are enough stable, powerful and reliable standalone samplers out there.

Such as?

I'd never go back to the older standalone MPC's, want to try something fresh. I don't miss my 2500, at all. And I don't want to participate in the used market roulette for older models

SP16 is hella expensive for what it offers and very limited

MV's may be capable but they are old and out of production, I'd rather spend my money on a unit that is been actively developed

I'm not sure about other Elektron gear but the Digitakt looks like a very fun little box and is currently on my wishlist. i don't know if it can directly compare to the X/Live though.

what other standalone device has a touch screen and can run on battery? what other device also is able to act as a hardware controller?

i'll wait

I love mine.