The Official MPC Element Thread

InspectahEX wrote:It only says the PLUGIN has one track per instance, when you open Elements in stand alone I am sure you are not limited to one track, come on people use common sense.

Doesn't make much sense to omit that detail...or even worse, allow the misconception that it's going to operate with a 1 track sequencer in standalone mode when they are trying to fill preorders

well this is Akai bro, they are infamous for terrible marketing and promoting

Yea...they need to clear up a lot of questions here or I am perfectly content with the notion AKAI won't budge on the issue until they have enough customers under their belt, who took the leap of faith, to make it worth their while.

It's starting to feel like they are flinging poo against the wall and hoping it sticks now. The admin of the FB page is telling people to "move quick because they are hot"...but are being very vague as to details of the softwares functionality.

I think it's best to just expect it to be a gutted MPC software with all the same issues and no extra functionality. In fact, considering they stated, matter of factly, that the MPC software will be unlocked for the Element in the 1.5 roll out...it would be foolish to think they would unlock the Essentials software for third party controllers.

I'm getting cold feet big time now.

In addition...if there are no virtual outs...I doubt I want to run 6, 8, 10 instances of the shit to be able to just mix a drum track. This ain't no Battery 4 killer. I still like the controllers aesthetics tho.

The Essentials software excels when used inside a DAW. You can run multiple instances inside the DAW, and mix them separately. Not only that, but each instance can have it's own sequence length, so you could have a 2 bar drum beat in instance 1, a 16 bar riff in instance 2, etc.

peteblues wrote:The Essentials software excels when used inside a DAW. You can run multiple instances inside the DAW, and mix them separately. Not only that, but each instance can have it's own sequence length, so you could have a 2 bar drum beat in instance 1, a 16 bar riff in instance 2, etc.

cool, thanks

any way you could let us know if the mpc essentials hardware can be used as a "dongle" to open the mpc software (full version)?

peteblues wrote:The Essentials software excels when used inside a DAW. You can run multiple instances inside the DAW, and mix them separately. Not only that, but each instance can have it's own sequence length, so you could have a 2 bar drum beat in instance 1, a 16 bar riff in instance 2, etc.

Thank you!!...OK, so no virtual outs.

Next, unlocked for 3rd party controllers?

not to my knowledge, but not sure actually.

it doesn't really matter the amount of tracks the essentials has, especially when your running it inside a daw, but since there are limited amount of tracks, is there at-least a way you can route each pad to the mixer channels in your daw.. that would be good.

if not that means you would have to place each percussion sound on separate tracks.. and that wouldn't sit to well for finger drummers and just people who record drum loops playing their drums, snares etc together

yea, you can't route each pad to a different DAW track, but you can mix the pads separately inside the MPC software.
Having multiple output routings would break the scope of the "essentials" software

peteblues wrote:not to my knowledge, but not sure actually.

Aren't you one of the software guys?

yes, but I haven't been involved in anything regarding using external controllers to control qlinks or parameters (I'm assuming that's what you mean by unlocking). To my knowledge (and I'm a little too busy right now to double check), the qlinks don't respond to incoming midi cc's.

peteblues wrote:yea, you can't route each pad to a different DAW track, but you can mix the pads separately inside the MPC software.
Having multiple output routings would break the scope of the "essentials" software

Thanks Pete. How is mixing the pads separately accomplished without assignment each its own track? This would help greatly. And are we talking about the Ren/ Studio software or Essentials software only?

peteblues wrote:yes, but I haven't been involved in anything regarding using external controllers to control qlinks or parameters (I'm assuming that's what you mean by unlocking). To my knowledge (and I'm a little too busy right now to double check), the qlinks don't respond to incoming midi cc's.

Yes, that is exactly what I meant. Thanks

GedaBlaq wrote:

peteblues wrote:yea, you can't route each pad to a different DAW track, but you can mix the pads separately inside the MPC software.
Having multiple output routings would break the scope of the "essentials" software

Thanks Pete. How is mixing the pads separately accomplished without assignment each its own track? This would help greatly. And are we talking about the Ren/ Studio software or Essentials software only?

you can mix the pads inside the MPC software, in the program mixer (i.e. assign different fx or eq to each pad).
So, the essentials software doesn't offer virtual outs, just a stereo out.
With the Ren/Studio software you have the option to use 8 virtual stereo outs.

you can mix the pads inside the MPC software, in the program mixer (i.e. assign different fx or eq to each pad).
So, the essentials software doesn't offer virtual outs, just a stereo out.
With the Ren/Studio software you have the option to use 8 virtual stereo outs.

But i mean... if you are using your essentials with a powerful DAW, why in the world would any one want to mix and apply fx or eq inside the elements software..

this is strange.