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.
By Elijah Fri Oct 03, 2025 12:23 pm
kaydigi wrote:So the only way to launch clips is via the touch screen ?

You can launch clips from the touch screen or the pads. On the Live 3, you can also use the step buttons at the top.
By kaydigi Fri Oct 03, 2025 1:55 pm
Elijah wrote:
kaydigi wrote:So the only way to launch clips is via the touch screen ?

You can launch clips from the touch screen or the pads. On the Live 3, you can also use the step buttons at the top.


I’ll have to watch the official akai video this morning . The influencer videos I saw all glossed over it .

Thanks for the heads up
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By EnochLight Fri Oct 03, 2025 3:30 pm
Shift Gorden wrote:Loopop gives a little demo of this. Around the 22 minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfQqcd2YQ0&t=2092s
;


Loopop is awesome, but he misses stuff often. For instance, when he covered the new step sequencer, he doesn't realize that you can silently select pads during a performance by holding the shift button down. That's such a basic (and critically useful) method to programming I'm surprised he missed it.
By B-Wise Fri Oct 03, 2025 3:49 pm
kaydigi wrote:So the only way to launch clips is via the touch screen ? Please tell me that akai put in apc 64 or launch pad support ?

You can the 16 step/function pads & on the 16 drum pads if they're in the 4x4 clip launching mode. Akai should let all of their gear connect with each other & now that the MPC & Force are so similar hopefully that will happen. Being able to hookup the APC64 the MPCs & Force would be dooe.
By B-Wise Fri Oct 03, 2025 3:55 pm
EnochLight wrote:
Shift Gorden wrote:Loopop gives a little demo of this. Around the 22 minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfQqcd2YQ0&t=2092s
;


Loopop is awesome, but he misses stuff often. For instance, when he covered the new step sequencer, he doesn't realize that you can silently select pads during a performance by holding the shift button down. That's such a basic (and critically useful) method to programming I'm surprised he missed it.

Yeah, this reminds me. I saw one Tefty's demos & he was moving tracks one at a time pressing the Next & Previous pads, but I was wondering if it could move by 8 track if you hold the Shift first like on the Force?
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By mrmarbury Fri Oct 03, 2025 10:14 pm
Shift Gorden wrote:
I’ll have to watch the official akai video this morning . The influencer videos I saw all glossed over it .

Thanks for the heads up


Loopop gives a little demo of this. Around the 22 minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfQqcd2YQ0&t=2092s
;

It's exactly here. I was looking for it as well. Glad that it's possible. Found it weird when this was shown with the seq buttons only: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfQqcd ... 2T1&t=1755
By kaydigi Sat Oct 04, 2025 1:50 am
mrmarbury wrote:It's exactly here. I was looking for it as well. Glad that it's possible. Found it weird when this was shown with the seq buttons only: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfQqcd ... 2T1&t=1755


Looks stuffed in there, I’ll load a project from the force into the Live 3 and see if I like how it controls.

Thanks for the link
By JackD Sat Oct 04, 2025 11:23 am
24hrs spent with my MPC Live 3, here what i like the most:

- Instant plugin load. That was a pain point for me, some piano plugins needed 5-6 seconds to load on my MPC Key 37, but now they are instantly. A big improvement for me.
- Finish material is not the same as Live 2… finally is good dark grey plastic.
- Step sequencer buttons are pretty useful for several functions. The use of the touch screen is reduced
- Audio over USB is FANTASTIC, on both In and Out side. I really feel like we can use this device until the mastering phase
- Installed sound packages: the sounds included are really good and some of them are 8 velocity layers.. which makes some acoustic drums kits really consistent
- Clips are pretty well implemented. Sequences and clips can work together, it was not easy to implement
- Pads are much better than previous generation in terms of sensibility, and I didn’t experience any double triggering

Cons:
- Pretty heavy, and not that portable
- Pad x/y cannot be used for controlling plugin parameters at the moment, but only with Drums and Keygroups
- it would be cool to use pads in 8x8 for clip launching, this is not implemented at the moment

If you have questions just let me know
By Certified Beatz Sat Oct 04, 2025 11:51 am
JackD wrote:24hrs spent with my MPC Live 3, here what i like the most:

- Instant plugin load. That was a pain point for me, some piano plugins needed 5-6 seconds to load on my MPC Key 37, but now they are instantly. A big improvement for me.
- Finish material is not the same as Live 2… finally is good dark grey plastic.
- Step sequencer buttons are pretty useful for several functions. The use of the touch screen is reduced
- Audio over USB is FANTASTIC, on both In and Out side. I really feel like we can use this device until the mastering phase
- Installed sound packages: the sounds included are really good and some of them are 8 velocity layers.. which makes some acoustic drums kits really consistent
- Clips are pretty well implemented. Sequences and clips can work together, it was not easy to implement
- Pads are much better than previous generation in terms of sensibility, and I didn’t experience any double triggering

Cons:
- Pretty heavy, and not that portable
- Pad x/y cannot be used for controlling plugin parameters at the moment, but only with Drums and Keygroups
- it would be cool to use pads in 8x8 for clip launching, this is not implemented at the moment

If you have questions just let me know


Great review wish more would give intel on their thoughts after purchasing.. fast load times that's a big deal and will play a big part in larger instruments in future releases that have MPE support.

To be honest besides ram and processor the only think I wanted was audio over usb.. 24 channels is godsend then add 32 midi.. the MPC is not a complete groovebox.. you can mix in your daw and master one take..
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By EnochLight Sat Oct 04, 2025 12:56 pm
Certified Beatz wrote:Great review wish more would give intel on their thoughts after purchasing.. fast load times that's a big deal and will play a big part in larger instruments in future releases that have MPE support.

To be honest besides ram and processor the only think I wanted was audio over usb.. 24 channels is godsend then add 32 midi.. the MPC is not a complete groovebox.. you can mix in your daw and master one take..


I'll echo what JackD said and just say:

    PROS

  • Plugin loading time (even for sample-heavy plugins) is now truly instant (or almost instant) - it really does load like a proper workstation now.
  • The insane amount of buttons really is excellent - and while I'll agree that Live 2 (and gen 1) looked a lot more minimalist/nicer, having to rely on the touchscreen for almost everything was a major PITA. Live 3 solves this, and does so in spades. The Step Seq buttons do so much more than just act as a Step Seq - it was implemented in a really smart way.
  • In standalone, 32 plugins tracks and 16 stereo audio tracks (of unlimited length) is just mind blowing.
  • Touch strip: I know some think this is a gimmick and not needed, but - again - the way it is implemented is so useful, it needs to be talked about more.

    CONS

  • Sweet baby jebus this thing is massive! If you really enjoyed taking your Live 2 or Live 1 with you everywhere, be prepared. The additional weight isn't that bad, but the size - just - WOW.
  • Battery life sucks even worse than before. You'll be lucky to get 2-3 hours of life out of your battery during a heavy production. Just sitting there untouched and with all lights/LED set to dim or go off after 1 minute, th battery goes from 100% to 10% in 3-4 hours. I'm not as mad about that as I thought I would be, as the new CPU is truly awesome - and I'd rather have this CPU on fire and fast than have longer battery life.
  • Conan already pointed it out, but Visual EQ's spectral display is broken. It's not accurate at all. Looks nice and sounds great, though. Hopefully they can fix it.
  • She aint pretty, but... she's mine. :lol:
By Certified Beatz Sat Oct 04, 2025 1:02 pm
EnochLight wrote:
Certified Beatz wrote:Great review wish more would give intel on their thoughts after purchasing.. fast load times that's a big deal and will play a big part in larger instruments in future releases that have MPE support.

To be honest besides ram and processor the only think I wanted was audio over usb.. 24 channels is godsend then add 32 midi.. the MPC is not a complete groovebox.. you can mix in your daw and master one take..


I'll echo what JackD said and just say:

    PROS

  • Plugin loading time (even for sample-heavy plugins) is now truly instant (or almost instant) - it really does load like a proper workstation now.
  • The insane amount of buttons really is excellent - and while I'll agree that Live 2 (and gen 1) looked a lot more minimalist/nicer, having to rely on the touchscreen for almost everything was a major PITA. Live 3 solves this, and does so in spades. The Step Seq buttons do so much more than just act as a Step Seq - it was implemented in a really smart way.
  • In standalone, 32 plugins tracks and 16 stereo audio tracks (of unlimited length) is just mind blowing.
  • Touch strip: I know some think this is a gimmick and not needed, but - again - the way it is implemented is so useful, it needs to be talked about more.

    CONS

  • Sweet baby jebus this thing is massive! If you really enjoyed taking your Live 2 or Live 1 with you everywhere, be prepared. The additional weight isn't that bad, but the size - just - WOW.
  • Battery life sucks even worse than before. You'll be lucky to get 2-3 hours of life out of your battery during a heavy production. Just sitting there untouched and with all lights/LED set to dim or go off after 1 minute, th battery goes from 100% to 10% in 3-4 hours. I'm not as mad about that as I thought I would be, as the new CPU is truly awesome - and I'd rather have this CPU on fire and fast than have longer battery life.
  • Conan already pointed it out, but Visual EQ's spectral display is broken. It's not accurate at all. Looks nice and sounds great, though. Hopefully they can fix it.
  • She aint pretty, but... she's mine. :lol:


I can't buy one at the moment to much going on or I would test one out.. Hopefully if they release the X I would definitely sacrifice and buy one.. I meant to say in my post it's a complete groovebox.. im really happy the time and effort inmusic Brand put in..
By akimov Sat Oct 04, 2025 1:09 pm
Hi, I was thinking about the new Live 3 and the addition of numerous controls around the screen that allow you to stay focused on the music. I have an mpC KEY 61. My criticism is that the buttons are far from the screen, and there are no buttons below (like the KEY 37) or above (like the Live 3). I don't like the feel of the keyboard, which is very different from the feel of a Roland or Yamaha keyboard.
So I'm hesitating to buy the Live 3 with a MIDI keyboard. Obviously, it's less practical on stage.
Unless AKAI releases a new, better-designed KEY 61. It's clear that AKAI has given this some thought, as the controls on the KEY 37 look different, and not just because of the lack of space. What do you think? Thank you.
By Certified Beatz Sat Oct 04, 2025 2:05 pm
akimov wrote:Hi, I was thinking about the new Live 3 and the addition of numerous controls around the screen that allow you to stay focused on the music. I have an mpC KEY 61. My criticism is that the buttons are far from the screen, and there are no buttons below (like the KEY 37) or above (like the Live 3). I don't like the feel of the keyboard, which is very different from the feel of a Roland or Yamaha keyboard.
So I'm hesitating to buy the Live 3 with a MIDI keyboard. Obviously, it's less practical on stage.
Unless AKAI releases a new, better-designed KEY 61. It's clear that AKAI has given this some thought, as the controls on the KEY 37 look different, and not just because of the lack of space. What do you think? Thank you.

I would definitely entertain a new Key 61 and possibly get rid of my control mk3 and keypad 61 mk3