Feedback and Ideas for Akai Hardware & Software Engineers

Here are some tips for the Akai hardware & software engineers regarding the current Pro Pack and the upcoming Gen-2 devices like the MPC X/SE 2.

Let me say that again: MPC X/SE 2.

Pro Pack 2:
Because the Gen-1 devices lack dedicated buttons, the workflow is suffering in efficiency. Now that Matrix and Clips have arrived, it would be nice to have a dedicated button to switch to the Clip Matrix & Clip Editor. I know you can put the respective icons in the sidebar, but that's not enough to build a workflow. Another useful editing feature would be the ability to copy a row of clips and paste it to another row. Editing tools such as Delete row are missing; it would be handy to be able to select a clip, hit Copy, and paste it to another position on the grid.

For Gen-1 users it would be great to support external MIDI devices such as the Launchpad Pro MkIII or Akai APC units. To enable this you should enhance the MIDI-learn section and define a Source named "Matrix" and make some Targets, for example:

• Pad 1
• Pad 2
• Pad 3
• ...
• Launch Clip Row 1
• Launch Clip Row 2
• ...
• Stop All
• Rec Arm
• ...
• Matrix Copy
• Matrix Delete
• ...
• ... etc

You know where it goes.

Gen-2 devices:
For future Gen-2 devices such as the MPC X/SE 2, these functions should already be on board as dedicated buttons. It can keep its MPC DNA/character without becoming too much like an Akai Force.

That's it. Some may say posting a thread about this won't help, but I know Akai has been watching us over at Hakai and is gradually implementing some of our ideas.

As you know, sometimes you get stuck in the box, and it helps if someone not involved — someone with a helicopter (bird's-eye) view — lifts you out of it.

All in all, you’ve done an excellent/impressive job with the MPC Live III and firmware 3.6.0 rollout.

HAKAI.

zangetsu01 wrote:it would be nice to have a dedicated button to switch to the Clip Matrix & Clip Editor.

Letting the user reassign some buttons maybe ? I absolutely never used the "16 levels", "Full levels" and "Tap tempo" buttons on my MPC One - and I easily imagine the Menu items being the allowed targets for button reassignment.

this mf... lol... still riding my coat tails its been two years! did you manage to actually code anything new? or are you still recycling my work and project name?

To be clear to any on-lookers I dont roll with this dude no more. I have nothing to do with "hakai" but there is a 2.14.1 custom ultros rom on my github over at github.com/redhate

The lack of buttons is a big incentive to buy the new one, so I don't think AKAI will allow the option for external extra buttons anytime soon.
Remapping some unused existing buttons would be great too, but I'd be surprised to see it because of the same reason.

Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:

zangetsu01 wrote:it would be nice to have a dedicated button to switch to the Clip Matrix & Clip Editor.

Letting the user reassign some buttons maybe ? [b]I absolutely never used the "16 levels", "Full levels" and "Tap tempo" buttons on my MPC One[/b] - and I easily imagine the Menu items being the allowed targets for button reassignment.

This is wild. 16 levels is essential to an mpc. It’s literally a core part of an mpc workflow that helped shape and define a whole genre of music lol.

The +/- buttons are probably the most unused buttons & they would make a great Copy & Delete alternative.

Deeser, mouthclick remover and audio to midi

J.O.BEATS wrote:

Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:Letting the user reassign some buttons maybe ? [b]I absolutely never used the "16 levels", "Full levels" and "Tap tempo" buttons on my MPC One[/b] - and I easily imagine the Menu items being the allowed targets for button reassignment.

This is wild. 16 levels is essential to an mpc. It’s literally a core part of an mpc workflow that helped shape and define a whole genre of music lol.

The MPC's social divide, laid bare ! I'm a late comer to the MPC world, I have never made anything even resembling hip-hop, I barely listen to any hip-hop, I'm glad programs and tracks are now solidly aligned - because that is how I was already organizing my tracks anyway, I'm ecstatic about the clip matrix on my MPC One, I use MIDI and the MPC's synths much more than its awesomely powerful sampler (of which I barely scratch the surface)... I'm Akai's new audience that wants a hassle-free DAW-in-a-box. A couple days ago, I was listening to Crate's Motel's Youtube "Before you buy the MPC Pro Pack. Update 3.6. Air Visual EQ, Reverb Pro & Utility Review" and commented "Funny how points of views are different: to me, the clip matrix alone is worth the price - and the rest is mere icing on the cake... And you don't even mention the clip matrix !" ... I guess catering simultaneously to the historically core audience and to their new audiences is a serious problem for Akai.

Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:I guess catering simultaneously to the historically core audience and to their new audiences is a serious problem for Akai.

Akai does a great job of adding a lot of stuff without anything you don't use get in the way of the things you do. Some people overwhelmed by everything as if you have to use it all in every session. You don't have to use the FX but if you do they grouped & easy to find, you don't like the synths don't add them. Your not into sampling, no biggie, there's 128 MIDI/CV tracks & 8/16 audio tracks. Even with the new drum track mod matrix & all the other new features added to helps go deeper in sound design, you don't have to use any of it. They made MPC stems & Warp better for the sample headz, but if you never use it you'll forget that's it's even there.

Most of the people complaining are the same type of people that's mostly complain about everything! Akai ain't worried about them. Just look at how much hate the L3 was getting at first vs now.

Akai have done a good job of listening to users

and the MPC Live 3 is deffo a jack of all trades device

I would say Akai has put a bigger focus on attracting new customers

I think they should have a legacy mode that allows programs to operate in the traditional way independent of tracks.

But in general we should applaude akai for having the courage to take bold steps forward; some complain about bloat, but just ignore the features and options that u dont need in ur workflow.

Just from cheeking a few vids out (manual not online yet).. so of the top of my head

With all the FX and pad roll options a
TAG system for fav
would defiantly save scroll time

Step seq
Step Skip,
step cycling,
scene input (with length)
clock division
Playback direction

It be very nice to just take anything that's on screen and ''hold a step to input its value'' and that value would then be added to the step window for future step ..

... I don't have one and I do think I'm picking Tonverk as of right now, still waiting on 24/96k sound demos ... as its dam tempting

jpeg wrote:Akai have done a good job of listening to users

and the MPC Live 3 is deffo a jack of all trades device

I would say Akai has put a bigger focus on attracting new customers

I think they should have a legacy mode that allows programs to operate in the traditional way independent of tracks.

But in general we should applaude akai for having the courage to take bold steps forward; some complain about bloat, but just ignore the features and options that u dont need in ur workflow.

So weird to see this said about an mpc. This was the exact same argument from the “pro daw “ crowd 20 years ago

i think he just says things. sounding like chatgpt most times

B-Wise wrote:The +/- buttons are probably the most unused buttons & they would make a great Copy & Delete alternative.

My most used buttons for scrolling presets

eLuSiVeMiTe wrote:

B-Wise wrote:The +/- buttons are probably the most unused buttons & they would make a great Copy & Delete alternative.

My most used buttons for scrolling presets

Most users can live without it. Let us have the option has custom buttons. If you use those buttons keep like that, if not, change it to whatever you need.