Predictions of the next MPC Hardware Release.

When they add, arrangement/song mode to the Force, you can kiss MPC Live sales good bye. I've always felt the Live was a way to get rid of old MPC Touch parts. The Force is really the MPC LIVE. The Live is really the MPC Touch MKII.

Force and MPC X MKII seems like the way to go.

Good points. I think they are subconsciously trying to tell us something. They FORCED the LIVE while LIVE would have been a more appropriate name for the FORCE. I don't know if you saw my post right before yours but I'm looking for something a bit more portable. How about an MPC 500 MKII?

ralphyartis' wrote:Good points. I think they are subconsciously trying to tell us something. They FORCED the LIVE while LIVE would have been a more appropriate name for the FORCE. I don't know if you saw my post right before yours but I'm looking for something a bit more portable. How about an MPC 500 MKII?

I could see it as a quick money grab, but the MPC LIVE, eliminated the need for MPC 500 MKII.

I see where charles is coming from but the force doesn't offer the same interface for quickly making sequences and editing them. It's one of the biggest down sides to the machine. There is more but in my case it wasn't until I started using the force I noticed how much I rely on the erase button on the Live. Now there might be easier workarounds or shift button combos but it really sticks out to me. I'll agree about a mpc x mk2 in the future and maybe something more in between the live and x. Who knows forsure. I was guessing they may put the new os in a keyboard format but the force more than covers that. They have a lot of work to do and it'l be a ways out before we see another akai product, I would imagine.

Im just hoping they dont bring out another or newer mpc with upgraded ram and force everyone on that in the next 2 years. its just odd the amount of ram they chose for the devices this time around.

I feel like they will possibly make something inbetween the X and Live but in reality they will probably drop a new one with sliders and knobs for q links and just the bit of extra ram. I hope they dont because it would be a money grab. It just seems companies are pumping out so much hardware when they havent fixed the OS's or software for them. In a couple years there will be a Maschine mk4, which will just have a different arrangement of buttons and all that.

If I understood correctly, the same team is working on Mpc and Force and given that Force is still at the beginning of a long road, I don't think they gonna invest on a new hardware.
I mean, there is so much work to do on Force, its just a beta device, no arrangement or song mode and Akai teached us that their devices take at least a year to be useable.
So they gonna be totally busy with Force development for a long time.
And I am not sure they gonna invest on a huge machine like X, the trend is for portability.
let's see anyway.
Akai is unpredictable.

It's all depends on what is coming down the pipe line. The R&D for the next machine, should've started at least 2 years ago. They could release a MPC X MKII and just update the SOC. They wouldn't have to retool anything. Musikmesse April 2nd and Summer NAMM is April 17th, AES is October and Winter NAMM is January 16–19, 2020.

Moves have to be made and they can't show up with two, 3 year old machine and the Force. Partnerships and Buyers are looking for the next. Also once they have the Design, Manufacturing, and Delivery roadmap set. They don't want to miss that window of opportunity, waiting 1 or 2 years is costly.

Music Equipment is not just competing against Music Equipment. They're competing with Smartphones, IOT, Gaming Consoles, Desktop/Laptops, Automobiles, and everything else. Eyes are once again on AKAI PRO and once they are, it's important to keep them.

CharlesRandolph wrote:It's all depends on what is coming down the pipe line. The R&D for the next machine, should've started at least 2 years ago. They could release a MPC X MKII and just update the SOC. They wouldn't have to retool anything. Musikmesse April 2nd and Summer NAMM is April 17th, AES is October and Winter NAMM is January 16–19, 2020.

Moves have to be made and they can't show up with two, 3 year old machine and the Force. Partnerships and Buyers are looking for the next. Also once they have the Design, Manufacturing, and Delivery roadmap set. They don't want to miss that window of opportunity, waiting 1 or 2 years is costly.

Music Equipment is not just competing against Music Equipment. They're competing with Smartphones, IOT, Gaming Consoles, Desktop/Laptops, Automobiles, and everything else. Eyes are once again on AKAI PRO and once they are, it's important to keep them.

Yes let's see.
Making a Ram upgrade of Mpc would make a lot of sense but actually if they manage to stream from disk, it doesn't need it much.
And it looks like Force is the flagship now, so all efforts will be on it.
And I have to say that after 2.4, Mpc is almost done except for disk streaming and better automation handling.
So maybe two more updates and the mission is accomplished.
And Akai will have to come with something new. Maybe next year?

charles seems to have a good perspective on this. Maybe I wasn't far off with a keyboard running the new os. Maybe a small keyboard that is battery operated like the live. Just trowing out a random idea I had. Maybe somthing that emulates the mpc 400 style sampling, same 6 outputs but with multi mode analog filters on each, output expander like the asr-10 has, enhanced CV functions, etc... LOL

I am not sure what else they can add, besides software updates and sound packs. I wonder why they are offering, those free mpc packs for MPC X owners and not live or force? When they run the same software and have the same internals.

Yes Frisbi, there maybe only a couple of updates left. Akai is not making any money offering these updates. So perhaps the end game is near. As cockdiesel stated, maybe a stand-alone keyboard running the mpc software. Maybe they will release a standalone mixer/recorder that runs the mpc software.

CharlesRandolph wrote:I am not sure what else they can add, besides software updates and sound packs. I wonder why they are offering, those free mpc packs for MPC X owners and not live or force? When they run the same software and have the same internals.

Yes Frisbi, there maybe only a couple of updates left. Akai is not making any money offering these updates. So perhaps the end game is near. As cockdiesel stated, maybe a stand-alone keyboard running the mpc software. Maybe they will release a standalone mixer/recorder that runs the mpc software.

Not sure about a keyboard with Mpc software.
A mixer recorder standalone would be interesting but first they have to improvr Mpc software, its still not so good for that.
But I am quite sure Force will be the new direction for Akai standalone, it will develop Mpc style to a new modern workflow.

all true but what Charles brings up is extremely relevant. I'd expect a hodge podge of devices using the extra parts, probably a new line of midi controllers. I bring up the keyboard because the VIP software in standalone would be really really killer. I just my little wish list to the idea... Akai has released alot more than the force, x, and the live in the last years. the fire, the new midi keyboard etc.

all the machines cover enough ground of the mixer, recorder. You heard it hear first: A small portable battery powered keyboard by years end. focus on the modular world... although they will need to enhance the CV, the market is there. the multimode filters, BBD delay lines, tube preamp, and onboard optical compressor are just the icing on the cake
then a build up the next year for the next line of MPC

Maybe they can get a hold of Roger and pick his brain again look how far his thoughts have gotten them.

Even some new colors, improved CPU and touch screen would make sense, as long as the current line aren't cannibalized completely. Small but useful hardware changes plus significant software upgrades will lure new customers in and keep old customers happy. I suspect they mach charge to upgrade to 3.0. Assuming the same pattern of useful free upgrades between point releases...I reckon Akai can easily keep us all hooked for a number of years.

No they will not charge 3.0 software update, Akai product manager replied on GS about that.
I am just wondering if 3.0 will ever come to Mpc, maybe they just make 2 or 3 more updates of existing one and then bye bye.
But apparently Akai product manager said on GS that they are working to pair Force and Mpc to use same software.
But the point is: why this did not happen as they released Force?