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.
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By BKLYN Wed Mar 25, 2026 7:00 pm
I finally got around to watching the MPC Sample video, and I can't help but feel that Andy Mac and Co. are going on a full-scale assault on every other brand and their sampler products. Elektron, Rossum, Isla, Teenage, Roland, Korg, Native Instruments, Yamaha, Casio, anybody could get it like it's 1995 in the Tunnel or 187 in the Latin Quarter, you're getting stuck up for your rope on the dance floor.

I'm just saying, at this point, Akai Pro is the Wu-Tang meets G-Unit of this sampler game; they got the answer for everyone. It's a hostile takeover for our dollars, but it's not even monopoly money at this point that's driving them; they are trying to take over an entire sector of the industry because they believe they're the chosen ones.

I misspoke when I said murder; this is genocide when you think about it deeper. Akai Pro wants world domination of the samplers, and we're just allowing them to do it. We're financially supporting it. What's next, an Akai Pro collaboration with Elon Musk's Neuralink?

MPC Neural is going to become the new flagship MPC at this rate...
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By Ultros Thu Mar 26, 2026 1:56 am
Yes inMusic is doing it to everyone. they are the usa / donald trump of audio but honestly ask yourself this.. wouldn't you rather be on the side doing the obliterating rather than receiving the obliterating? heh
By BeatWilson Thu Mar 26, 2026 2:11 am
I stopped supporting them when I noticed all the mold's/color's and no real innovation as far as sequencer/automation/sampler/midi. I knew they were never to be trusted since the Mpc2000 days, but still... It just got out of hand.

Pioneer "Alpha Theta" is also a complete trash company as far as gatekeeping, trying to buy up competition/software and trying to control the market.

At least in the DJ community, Denon is seen as not as bad as Pioneer "Alpha Theta", but I think all these companies are guilty. We should be supporting the under dogs more. I miss when you could call up Rane and have the actually technician talk to you and such.

It was like how Sequential was/is, but since awhile now, Rane was bought by InMusic and yeah... same ol sh*t. At least when Sequential was taken over by Focusrite, they still directly answer phone call's, email's, repair in house, send out parts, and produce decent quality stuff for the most part.

PS: I miss when Dave Smith(RIP) was around.
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By Ultros Thu Mar 26, 2026 3:27 am
Hah word they got the dj side cornered too. stanton, numark, denon and rane... vestax is out of commision for ages, technics -i think isn't even making the SL 1200 anymore after 2025. Who's left to take over? audio technica and pioneer is all i can think of.
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By Ultros Thu Mar 26, 2026 6:32 pm
The problem with NI is they make controllers... none of us want to buy computer periphreals for $1000 or whatever they cost. Its different if you buy a sampler, a synth, fx units, something tangible that stands on its own.

Like for me as a dj / producer I dont want to go from vinyl to a damn dj controller and a pc. I dont wanna go from my tactile microkorg keyboard that makes real sounds with 6 aa batteries to some plastic shit that makes no sounds at all.

Those devices are for entry level users who are wetting their beak for the first time and don't know what they are after.

I started on hardware as a young kid. 8 years old i got my first guitar and started lessons, playing a real instrument. Mom and dad bought me a kawai keyboard when i was about 10, which i still have to this day and it makes sounds. lol. It's just weird to go from musical devices that give instant output to adding a digital engine to it and kluding the whole vibe.

I think a lot of us feel that way, like "thats a kids toy im not buying that trash!" and rightfully so. It *is* a kids toy, albeit a shitty one. Big up to my mom and dad for giving me real hardware to get me started.

*edit* ukelele was first at about age 4.. i used to rock out on that mf.

This "toy music" idea is something inMusic understands about us. they aim to facilitate those of us who want real gear and thats why they are killing it.
Last edited by Ultros on Thu Mar 26, 2026 6:43 pm, edited 2 times in total.
By Certified Beatz Fri Mar 27, 2026 6:04 pm
BKLYN wrote:
jpeg wrote:can we admit that Akai's first murder victim was NI Maschine :lol:

it was a slow beat down that turned into straight murder


I think NI committed suicide with Maschine...


You took the word out of my mouth but to add NI wqs trying to be a cult leader and take all of its followers with them.. there extreme bad practices of throwing shiny new controllers that relies on software only that cannot support the hardware.. there lack of working with completion to better they software and have there controllers work with them.. at least inmusicbrand allow maschine controllers work with there software..
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By NearTao Fri Mar 27, 2026 6:38 pm
Do remember though... at the *time* the shift was absolutely software/daw integration... *everybody* knew you needed a controller as hardware was too expensive and software too plentiful... standalone devices were going the way of the dodo...

It wasn't *that* long ago I figured I'd stick with my MPC 1k and JJOS only... because it was clear Akai was never making another standalone device after the 5000... and it had *issues*... whatever folks want to say about Akai... since the Live/X release... they've at least supported the damn things for literal years... and the controller mindset doesn't support this...

NI's trap is that they had to keep on putting out new controllers... but they didn't offer anything *that* new over the last iteration... and needed a computer upgrade... and that decision was in the consumer hands... not NI's... to make their products more compelling. The magic was all in their software... but they destroyed their software development team... and now they mostly just put out patch kits for Kontakt... it used to be Reaktor was their way to scope out and spec out new tech/features... before delivering things as new synths...

I don't know... but my suspicion is NI bloated themselves on the hardware interfaces... put too much faith in patch kits over innovation... and kind of ate their own tail.
By Certified Beatz Fri Mar 27, 2026 7:54 pm
NearTao wrote:Do remember though... at the *time* the shift was absolutely software/daw integration... *everybody* knew you needed a controller as hardware was too expensive and software too plentiful... standalone devices were going the way of the dodo...

It wasn't *that* long ago I figured I'd stick with my MPC 1k and JJOS only... because it was clear Akai was never making another standalone device after the 5000... and it had *issues*... whatever folks want to say about Akai... since the Live/X release... they've at least supported the damn things for literal years... and the controller mindset doesn't support this...

NI's trap is that they had to keep on putting out new controllers... but they didn't offer anything *that* new over the last iteration... and needed a computer upgrade... and that decision was in the consumer hands... not NI's... to make their products more compelling. The magic was all in their software... but they destroyed their software development team... and now they mostly just put out patch kits for Kontakt... it used to be Reaktor was their way to scope out and spec out new tech/features... before delivering things as new synths...

I don't know... but my suspicion is NI bloated themselves on the hardware interfaces... put too much faith in patch kits over innovation... and kind of ate their own tail.


I agree in 2014 I sold one of MPCs the 2500 and never wanted Ren when it was released.. I bought maschine studio and kontrol mk1 .. I liked the kits and instruments but never could jell with the work flow.. they were ahead of there times.. but like you said it was one shiny new controller after the other...

slow progression on there software.. I sold and bought the X. Rest was history.. then I decided to fall back into the NI trap and bought kontrol mk3 which ok but released with none of what was promised.. took almost 3 years to get to what should have been released on day one.. Akai which I still call them still support the Original X and live 9 years later..

great company and not much at all to complain about.. bought the XL on day one and love it alot to learn i still find myself using my X more since I can make the same music in standalone with 2gb of ram.. what set the XL and X apart is usb c and of course reefer processor and ram.. I can now work in standalone the opening daw track and use vst's into my XL ..
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By Ultros Sat Mar 28, 2026 7:09 pm
Certified Beatz wrote: at least inmusicbrand allow maschine controllers work with there software..


genius move really. Letting their controller work with the mpc software so ppl can get a taste and wonder about what it is like with the proper interface lol... like planting seeds in peoples heads they don't know have been planted.
By Certified Beatz Sat Mar 28, 2026 7:29 pm
Ultros wrote:
Certified Beatz wrote: at least inmusicbrand allow maschine controllers work with there software..


genius move really. Letting their controller work with the mpc software so ppl can get a taste and wonder about what it is like with the proper interface lol... like planting seeds in peoples heads they don't know have been planted.


Now there controllers are on ebay :smoker: :-D :-D