Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

Akai Force Forum: Everything relating to the Akai Force, the new 64 pad, clip-based standalone sampler/groovebox from Akai. While not an MPC, it shares many similar software features to the MPC X/MPC Live including the same underlying code-base.
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Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By karmacomposer Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:37 am
See, that's what's funny. I don't see it as a disappointment at all.

I can do every single thing I want it to do on it right now.

I just don't understand the hatred and disappointment? It's a stand alone clip-based DAW and a very powerful one at that.

For those that **** about Ableton - WHO CARES? If you want a controller for Ableton, there are plenty of them. The Force is a totally different beast.

I guess you just need to realize WHY you want the Force and learn it's strengths.

I'm not a MPC guy and I come from software DAWs and VST Instruments as well as hardware keyboards. The Force allows me to sample and record my keyboards and create awesome loops and clips almost effortlessly (almost).

Yep, there's a learning curve - but I am in no hurry.

And the onboard instruments are KILLER good.

Nope, I for one am TOTALLY pleased with the Force.

Mike
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Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By MPC-Tutor Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:36 am
I agree, the Force is actually an excellent machine, and in many ways it's superior to the MPC. The only big disappointment ATM is the missing arrangement mode which was promised to be released in March 2019 and currently only exists in a Force beta.

But I don't see any need for Akai to 'revamp' the Force, they just need to sort out the promised arranger. At that point it's back to the usual feature requests that everyone has, such as disk streaming etc.

Whether that will happen is a separate issue. It's clear that the Force hasn't set the retail stores ablaze, and dropping their (very excellent) lead product specialist could be another indicator that it now considered a low priority for them.

Like most businesses ATM, I can't imagine Akai are doing anything but desperately trying to keep themselves from going permanently under.

Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By Tabletop Wed Apr 01, 2020 5:55 pm
MPC-Tutor wrote:I agree, the Force is actually an excellent machine, and in many ways it's superior to the MPC. The only big disappointment ATM is the missing arrangement mode which was promised to be released in March 2019 and currently only exists in a Force beta.

But I don't see any need for Akai to 'revamp' the Force, they just need to sort out the promised arranger. At that point it's back to the usual feature requests that everyone has, such as disk streaming etc.

Whether that will happen is a separate issue. It's clear that the Force hasn't set the retail stores ablaze, and dropping their (very excellent) lead product specialist could be another indicator that it now considered a low priority for them.

Like most businesses ATM, I can't imagine Akai are doing anything but desperately trying to keep themselves from going permanently under.


Why/how is it superior to MPC?
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Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By psr Wed Apr 01, 2020 6:22 pm
It's only been 1 year. it doesn't need a revamp. It's still "becoming" and even where it is today is incredible.

I'm a super long time MPC user and I've not touched my MPC X since the force arrived over a year and a half ago.
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Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By psr Wed Apr 01, 2020 6:27 pm
Tabletop wrote:
MPC-Tutor wrote:I agree, the Force is actually an excellent machine, and in many ways it's superior to the MPC. The only big disappointment ATM is the missing arrangement mode which was promised to be released in March 2019 and currently only exists in a Force beta.

But I don't see any need for Akai to 'revamp' the Force, they just need to sort out the promised arranger. At that point it's back to the usual feature requests that everyone has, such as disk streaming etc.

Whether that will happen is a separate issue. It's clear that the Force hasn't set the retail stores ablaze, and dropping their (very excellent) lead product specialist could be another indicator that it now considered a low priority for them.

Like most businesses ATM, I can't imagine Akai are doing anything but desperately trying to keep themselves from going permanently under.


Why/how is it superior to MPC?


The Arp is much better. I feel like some of the note modes are better. The 64 pad layout allows for a lot more melodic composition without the need of a keyboard. There are a few things and I supposed some of these are up for debate because it depends on how and what you use.

Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By obedreynaldo Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:29 pm
Akai force is the best hardware out there hands down. But it is very disappointing to say the least. Currently missing Three features that are undeniably basic routing out tracks in standalone mode, the arranger, more functionality as a midi control for ableton, a "note mode" in ableton etc, not just being able to control ableton which the controls it does have of ableton features is impressive no other hardware/midi controller has been able to do so with any DAW as impressively as force has done so with Ableton.

Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By karmacomposer Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:23 am
If you are so hell bent on controlling Ableton, get a Push 2 or a Launchpad Pro. The Force was meant to be a stand-alone clip-based DAW.

For heaven's sake people - stop bitching about what it isn't and learn the damn thing. It's ridiculously powerful as is.

Mike
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Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By Lampdog Fri Apr 10, 2020 4:53 am
karmacomposer wrote:
For heaven's sake people - stop bitching about what it isn't and learn the damn thing.


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Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By CFM01 Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:04 pm
The Force is certainly not a disappointment. What I’d say it’s hard to create a track from start to finish without currently finishing off in Ableton. Ableton export works great however may not be needed if the Force beta is ever released which has many of the missing features Force users have been asking for.

Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By dgadwa Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:45 pm
Although I'm still learning my way around with the Force, I am also very happy with it. Force is great from an overall design perspective - the hardware itself is fine and doesn't need a revamp, IMO. I'm just hoping for continued refinements and usability improvements to the OS.

Personally, I'm using Force more as a hardware MIDI sequencer and playing live *without* Ableton. The two things that I am REALLY missing are:

1) Program change messages that trigger only once within a clip - or some sort of clip automation ala Ableton. Why? It's impossible to play live on multiple synths without automated program changes. Force has that but it's not particularly useable if the program change keeps bringing the tweaks you make on your hardware back to the default patch every time the loop retriggers.

2) USB ports should be made class compliant for sending MIDI to hardware synths and hooking up MIDI patchbays.

Any early disappointments aside, I'm really hoping that the community can temper their expectations and see Force for what it is - along with supporting and encouraging it's MASSIVE potential.

Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By hellnegative Mon Apr 20, 2020 12:35 pm
dgadwa wrote:Although I'm still learning my way around with the Force, I am also very happy with it. Force is great from an overall design perspective - the hardware itself is fine and doesn't need a revamp, IMO. I'm just hoping for continued refinements and usability improvements to the OS.

Personally, I'm using Force more as a hardware MIDI sequencer and playing live *without* Ableton. The two things that I am REALLY missing are:

1) Program change messages that trigger only once within a clip - or some sort of clip automation ala Ableton. Why? It's impossible to play live on multiple synths without automated program changes. Force has that but it's not particularly useable if the program change keeps bringing the tweaks you make on your hardware back to the default patch every time the loop retriggers.

2) USB ports should be made class compliant for sending MIDI to hardware synths and hooking up MIDI patchbays.

Any early disappointments aside, I'm really hoping that the community can temper their expectations and see Force for what it is - along with supporting and encouraging it's MASSIVE potential.


Midi over USB would be an amazing add. I would also like to designate the midi thru port as a second Midi Output (or if it is not addressable due to circuit routing, designate the midi in as the second midi output). I have more than 16 synths in my rig at home.

Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By pedro666 Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:08 am
I do love my force.
I'm using it to play audio clips of 1-2 bar loops.
But i use the drum kit to play loops, not an audio track.
This frees up dedicated audio tracks I may need.
So for instance il load up a blank kit and ad a loop and other parts.
Another drumkit I have multisampled piano samples.
Then I have several midi tracks for controlling external synths.

Couple of gripes.

Lack of labelling scenes, although a work around is creating a blank track, filling it with empty clips and naming them as your scenes.

Lack of song mode
Being able to sequence scenes, tempo track,

No support for controllers such as akai midi mix or launch pads.

There's been alot of talk of not enough memory to do any kind of project but I've never seen this as a replacement for a daw but just a tool for playing loops and midi sequencing.

I used to use a korg electribe with 24mb of ram and play 14 songs... Yep I had to be clever, 22khz,mono,samples pretrimmed, but I could do it.
So, with 2gb it shouldn't be a problem.

Re: Will Akai Revamp The Akai Force?

By J-Fly Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:16 pm
karmacomposer wrote:If you are so hell bent on controlling Ableton, get a Push 2 or a Launchpad Pro. The Force was meant to be a stand-alone clip-based DAW.

For heaven's sake people - stop bitching about what it isn't and learn the damn thing. It's ridiculously powerful as is.

Mike

I will once the Force Bible is complete......no rush :popcorn:
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