The MPC-V: A Virtual Akai MPC

They're 3-D models, not drawings.

I draw 3D models all the time. Your point is invalid and your nose must be a couple of yards.

vmachine wrote:Looks like you guys found my article about the MPC-V.

I was about 50 pages deep on Google when I spotted it.

As wishlist concepts go I liked your designs and the text raised some important questions in relation to product development.

Are you an MPC user currently or working with Maschine?

50 pages deep? Nice. Probably find some interesting stuff down there.

I've never owned an MPC. I've worked a little with the 1000 and 2500 and played with Maschine a few times. As far as the MPC's go the workflow seemed really creative. I've heard maschine captures this a little... but I don't think a German company can do this the right way. Original MPC = USA + Japan. That's a unique combination to make a unique piece of gear.

vmachine wrote:Looks like you guys found my article about the MPC-V.

I created those models back in 2005 but didn't think much about them back then. At the time I was working for a company that would have been in a great position to build this. I even showed the concept images to the marketing director, but he wasn't interested.

I'm sure if Akai wanted to build this, they could have. Unfortunately big companies stick with what has worked in the past. How different are most of the MPC's from the MPC60? They are all basically the same thing with incremental upgrades and add-ons.

As far as assembling existing hardware and software to create this, this is not possible to the extent I'm talking about. One of the points is to capture the time proven workflow of the MPC line and put it into a hybrid instrument. This is far more than just putting some pieces together. It's about how the user experiences creating music. A prototype could be built using midibox.de and max/msp, but as far as a commercial possibility, it would most likely have to be released by a major manufacturer. On the other hand, large companies are not likely to invest in anything like this, especially right now as they are trying to make up lost ground against software. It would make sense that if they can't beat them/join them with something like this, but these companies don't think this way (except for Korg).

And to the person saying this article is about the latest and greatest... it's not. It's about music technology successfully adapting to trends. If it doesn't, it becomes extinct. The MPC could've done this, but I think it missed it's chance. And that chance was replaced with Maschine.

Until recently, I owned Maschine. It does exactly as advertised. I just didn't care for its sampler and sequencer. NI already has the blueprint to create a decent sampler in Maschine as they created Kontakt and Battery. But I believe they want to create a special lane for Maschine that won't take away from profits of their other products. This is why they are adding deeper integradtion of their other instruments with Maschine. I see this as a plus, but Maschine's current hardware isn't exactly designed to handle this intuitively.

So while NI was the first company to make a "hybrid MPC" they certainly have more work to do based upon all the feedback they receive in their forums. Some of the most requested features are already possible in MPCs. There is a place for any company that wants to release a similar product that will address these holes (user wants/needs).

i just want someone to develop a VST that will open all of my MPC programs exactly as they are in a DAW, plus be able to convert MPC seq files to midi files. Which would require them to somehow convert the chromatic 16 pad function to proper midi info.

^ This is all I need!

sensei wrote:i just want someone to develop a VST that will open all of my MPC programs exactly as they are in a DAW, plus be able to convert MPC seq files to midi files. Which would require them to somehow convert the chromatic 16 pad function to proper midi info.

^ This is all I need!

Simple and awesome idea. A plugin that will open all MPC projects, songs, sequences, snd, wav, and any file type associated with the numerous MPCs over the years...and play back as oringinally programmed. The is no current plugin that can achieve all of this.

Either that or an MPC that saves natively in a popular DAW format such as what the Motif does (saves in Cubase format).

Imagine using your MPC they way you always have...then importing the project to a DAW to put the final touches on it. There are so many nice ideas presented in the forums by forum members.

This plugin you're talking about would accomplish a good part of what I made the mpc-v concept for. Especially if it could switch modes really fast.

For me, looking at a computer screen is the main problem with a DAW. I noticed with the time I spent with mpc that it made me focus on the sound. This is great for making music. I want a musical instrument with this kind of focus on the sound, but also the power of a DAW when I need it. Maybe this is the holy grail of a musical instrument, but I think it's possible. Anything is possible. Ableton live is the closest feel I've found to this, but it's still pretty far away from the pure production workflow I'm looking for.

Ableton Live with a redesigned APC to include drum pads would be be a nice product.

vmachine wrote:50 pages deep? Nice. Probably find some interesting stuff down there.

You bet, a lot of folk wont go that deep on a search engine but there are hidden gems just waiting to be found.

As in this case.

Askia Shaheed wrote:

sensei wrote:i just want someone to develop a VST that will open all of my MPC programs exactly as they are in a DAW, plus be able to convert MPC seq files to midi files. Which would require them to somehow convert the chromatic 16 pad function to proper midi info.

^ This is all I need!

Simple and awesome idea. A plugin that will open all MPC projects, songs, sequences, snd, wav, and any file type associated with the numerous MPCs over the years...and play back as oringinally programmed. The is no current plugin that can achieve all of this.

Either that or an MPC that saves natively in a popular DAW format such as what the Motif does (saves in Cubase format).

Imagine using your MPC they way you always have...then importing the project to a DAW to put the final touches on it. There are so many nice ideas presented in the forums by forum members.

I've had it in my mind for about 5 years. When I saw Ableton and Akai working together I was hoping it would happen.

They're foolish not to do it, because it would keep the MPC line alive.

Sketching on MPC kills anything else, so do the sketch beats there and then import it into DAW and do the arrangement and mixing in there.

Surely they can do this. I have no doubt. Get JJ on it.

While that type of VSt would be awesome...I still want a new and improved MPC. There are alot of companies doing some amazing things. But every product I buy or test is always missing something.:

1. Kronos - GUI font is terrible, primitive sequencer, and sampler hasn't advanced beyong what we have seen in previous Korg products.

2. Fantom G - basic sampler...doesn't have the sampling technology found in the MV-8800, V-Synth, or even the Fantom X

3. Maschine - ok sampler/sample editor, barely adequate control surface, and MIDI capabilities that would be sub par by MPC 2000 standards

4. Motif XF - sampler is unnecessarily cumbersome

If I had a multi-million company and had the technical know-how, I would develop a product that would encompass the best of these products. Kronos' streaming sound engines, Fantom G's GUI, V-Synths sampling and sample manipulation, Mashine's plugin capabilities, Motif's file structure to include its ability to save natively in a popular DAW format (Cubase).....

The hardware would be a combination of the MPC 3000, 4000 and 5000. The MPC 3000 set the benchmark for quality. The MPC 4000 is also well built and has a better LCD design, nice data wheel, etc. The MPC 5000 and its numerous Q-link knobs and sliders are among my favorite features....

All of this is just my wet dream as this type of product will never surface......and be too expensive for anyone to buy.

Askia Shaheed wrote:While that type of VSt would be awesome...I still want a new and improved MPC. There are alot of companies doing some amazing things. But every product I buy or test is always missing something.:

1. Kronos - GUI font is terrible, primitive sequencer, and sampler hasn't advanced beyong what we have seen in previous Korg products.

2. Fantom G - basic sampler...doesn't have the sampling technology found in the MV-8800, V-Synth, or even the Fantom X

3. Maschine - ok sampler/sample editor, barely adequate control surface, and MIDI capabilities that would be sub par by MPC 2000 standards

4. Motif XF - sampler is unnecessarily cumbersome

If I had a multi-million company and had the technical know-how, I would develop a product that would encompass the best of these products. Kronos' streaming sound engines, Fantom G's GUI, V-Synths sampling and sample manipulation, Mashine's plugin capabilities, Motif's file structure to include its ability to save natively in a popular DAW format (Cubase).....

The hardware would be a combination of the MPC 3000, 4000 and 5000. The MPC 3000 set the benchmark for quality. The MPC 4000 is also well built and has a better LCD design, nice data wheel, etc. The MPC 5000 and its numerous Q-link knobs and sliders are among my favorite features....

All of this is just my wet dream as this type of product will never surface......and be too expensive for anyone to buy.

You broke it down very well Jahrome! If I ever won the Lotto, you'd be one of the first people I would call.

sensei wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:

sensei wrote:i just want someone to develop a VST that will open all of my MPC programs exactly as they are in a DAW, plus be able to convert MPC seq files to midi files. Which would require them to somehow convert the chromatic 16 pad function to proper midi info.

^ This is all I need!

Simple and awesome idea. A plugin that will open all MPC projects, songs, sequences, snd, wav, and any file type associated with the numerous MPCs over the years...and play back as oringinally programmed. The is no current plugin that can achieve all of this.

Either that or an MPC that saves natively in a popular DAW format such as what the Motif does (saves in Cubase format).

Imagine using your MPC they way you always have...then importing the project to a DAW to put the final touches on it. There are so many nice ideas presented in the forums by forum members.

I've had it in my mind for about 5 years. When I saw Ableton and Akai working together I was hoping it would happen.

They're foolish not to do it, because it would keep the MPC line alive.

Sketching on MPC kills anything else, so do the sketch beats there and then import it into DAW and do the arrangement and mixing in there.

Surely they can do this. I have no doubt. Get JJ on it.

Akai is already doing this with the MiniAk. You set it up in your computer then toss it into the OS. Hopefully they're doing this for an upcoming MPC.

Ill-Green are you talking about the MINI-AK Software Editor that just came out? That caught my interest, even though I don't own one. I keep getting drawn back to this synth for so many reasons.... especially when I'm seeing them NEW for $279.95.