Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.

Live MK3 or XL?

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By Certified Beatz Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:03 pm
B-Wise wrote:
Certified Beatz wrote:And serious ask yourself extra buttons and 8gb more ram is it worth $1200 more and have the room for it its a no brainer. I loved the live 3 just didn't want to hit shift button all the time.. but $1200 less you can buy a new interface or some mid level studio monitors..

You also get a bigger screen & more knobs with screens.


Exactly onc.i try it its tought going smaller
By B-Wise Thu Apr 16, 2026 11:25 pm
JethroJethro wrote:After living with the Force and 64 pad clip launching and 8 q links with screens I couldn’t go back. I rarely reach first for my Key 37 even with Pro Pack.

Yeah, the Force even killed the excitement & desire would've had for the current g2 MPCs. Someone was on another forum was hinting at an F2. Normally I would be like whatever, but with this dude it might be true. I think now that MPCs have been Forced up it would do better this time around, especially if the rename it MPC-64.

Back on topic, the clear choice is the XL over the L3. Those knobs & screens are underrated & only X & Force users would know how powerful & helpful they are. The 64 pad just works better with 3.0. Where as the 16 step buttons seems uncomfortable but better than nothing. The 8 extra knobs & Touchstrip is nice!
By Basics Fri Apr 17, 2026 6:58 am
Just to follow up on my original post -

I’ve been digging around a bit more and honestly everywhere I look people are saying “get the XL.” YouTube, Reddit, here… it’s pretty consistent.

That said I can’t help wondering how much of that is genuine user experience vs a bit of hype or just people repeating what they’ve heard. Once a narrative sticks it kind of snowballs.

Also it’s probably worth saying people don’t often spend money on something and then come back and say they made the wrong choice. It’s more likely they lean into reasons that support what they bought, whether that’s conscious or not.

I’m not against the XL at all, it looks great, but I’m trying to figure out if it’s actually worth it for how I’d use it, or if the Live 3 would realistically do the job just as well.

So yep still on the fence a bit. Anyone here gone with the Live 3 and not regretted it?
By B-Wise Fri Apr 17, 2026 7:37 am
Most of these sites/channels will obviously be bias especially this one, so seeking more opinions won't help.

Ask yourself better questions on why you need or just want to upgrade? You may not need to do anything.

Based on the limit info in your 1st post, most would say get the XL, but some reasons you like the new ones & feel the desire to upgrade?
By Certified Beatz Fri Apr 17, 2026 10:53 am
B-Wise wrote:Most of these sites/channels will obviously be bias especially this one, so seeking more opinions won't help.

Ask yourself better questions on why you need or just want to upgrade? You may not need to do anything.

Based on the limit info in your 1st post, most would say get the XL, but some reasons you like the new ones & feel the desire to upgrade?


Hes right i only bought it for one feature Im happy with my X.. the new stems on the XL with the beefy processor sucks. With the pro pack on my X achieve the same results. USB-C audio and midi is dope. I can use my daw cubase all the time now not bouncing from mpc software to Cubase or have as a plugin. I'll be honest I spend $2800 for one feature i have been wanting for 31 years.
By Basics Fri Apr 17, 2026 11:05 am
Certified Beatz wrote:
B-Wise wrote:... the new stems on the XL with the beefy processor sucks. …


Can I check what you mean here?

I know what you mean with wider potential when using a daw (I use Logic Pro). I’m trying not to be tied to a daw really. I’m much more creative when it’s me and the hardware
By Shift Gorden Fri Apr 17, 2026 12:42 pm
Basics wrote:
So yep still on the fence a bit. Anyone here gone with the Live 3 and not regretted it?


Here! I absolutely LOVE my Live 3. Sits nicely on my desk, personally I think all the updates (pads, step sequencer - and all the bits you can do with the 16 buttons like mutes, launches, edits) are brilliant.

It's built like a tank, and the USB to DAW works like a charm. And it works great with my other hardware. It's incredibly capable.

Honestly, I'd love an XL but the Live 3 seems to cover pretty much every darn thing I need!
By Certified Beatz Fri Apr 17, 2026 1:10 pm
Basics wrote:
B-Wise wrote:...

Can I check what you mean here?

I know what you mean with wider potential when using a daw (I use Logic Pro). I’m trying not to be tied to a daw really. I’m much more creative when it’s me and the hardware


When I track out my beats I can arrange in the XL and track out to cubase if I want additional vstis I can just launch in cubase and you my daw.. so im still in standalone is use midi channels when in the daw or I can use kontakt standalone in the XL in standalone.. the flexibility now is great..
By B-Wise Fri Apr 17, 2026 6:33 pm
Yall need to learn how to used the quote system because I never said any of this:
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=220519&view=unread&sid=e8485d923d6ee97ac44fd40a0ec49cf8#p1903567

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=220519&view=unread&sid=e8485d923d6ee97ac44fd40a0ec49cf8#p1903564

To be fair I know it wasn't intentional & the quote method something that could be improved.
By B-Wise Fri Apr 17, 2026 6:42 pm
JethroJethro wrote:Maybe most people don’t admit they made the wrong choice, but I wish I could sell my k37 back for what I paid for it. I’d send my Force out for the 4gb ram upgrade, may still do so.

Brand or in this case model loyalty ain't no joke. Years before 3.0 came to the MPC, I saying many MPC users would've been better of with a Force & maybe a MPD controller if you still wanted bigger pads :lol:

That RAM upgrade guy seems like a cool dude based on chatting with him on here, reddit & the MockbaMod discord. If I had a backup Force I would send it to him.
By Certified Beatz Fri Apr 17, 2026 7:04 pm
B-Wise wrote:Yall need to learn how to used the quote system because I never said any of this:
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=220519&view=unread&sid=e8485d923d6ee97ac44fd40a0ec49cf8#p1903567

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=220519&view=unread&sid=e8485d923d6ee97ac44fd40a0ec49cf8#p1903564

To be fair I know it wasn't intentional & the quote method something that could be improved.


Sorry editing on my phone :-D
By Certified Beatz Fri Apr 17, 2026 7:05 pm
JethroJethro wrote:Maybe most people don’t admit they made the wrong choice, but I wish I could sell my k37 back for what I paid for it. I’d send my Force out for the 4gb ram upgrade, may still do so.



I admitted I bought it for the usb-c audio and midi worth waited 30 years for it :-D

Also you can load 8 instances of fabric xl on XSE compared to 6 or the X the extra ram is good not sure if I want take a chance to have my X run hot or fry my board over time video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AWiYtX ... 9RmRXIGONF
Last edited by Certified Beatz on Fri Apr 17, 2026 7:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By Certified Beatz Fri Apr 17, 2026 7:08 pm
B-Wise wrote:
JethroJethro wrote:Maybe most people don’t admit they made the wrong choice, but I wish I could sell my k37 back for what I paid for it. I’d send my Force out for the 4gb ram upgrade, may still do so.

Brand or in this case model loyalty ain't no joke. Years before 3.0 came to the MPC, I saying many MPC users would've been better of with a Force & maybe a MPD controller if you still wanted bigger pads :lol:

That RAM upgrade guy seems like a cool dude based on chatting with him on here, reddit & the MockbaMod discord. If I had a backup Force I would send it to him.


When emailed him he said you can send the board to him but there is no way he can stress test also I would never send hardware to someone I dont know l.. unless akai was doing it or my local electronic store.. I might try to been practicing lifting chip on junk boards :-D