Bug reports & end-user support for Akai's MPC Software 'controllers' including the new MPC Studio 2, the MPC Touch, MPC Renaissance & original MPC Studio and MPC StudioB lack.
By sampie Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:32 pm
QG0D wrote:Well here is my review, I did it quick and fast. So I know I will have to redo it. But you can more or less get what I'm saying.





Great review brother thanks!! very informative. I am gonna cop it. I think i will be able to work it. Even though i will have to use it with a DAW i will give it a shot, and its more my budget at this time. Thanks again!
By sampie Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:33 pm
MiniDX wrote:sampie, if you want a multitrack sequencer you need a MPC studio.



Thanks yeah this is what i thought too. But as of now i am on a budget so i will go for the element and see if it suits the workflow for me. and my budget will only allow it now. thanks
By sampie Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:33 pm
I copped the Element yesterday and i think its dope but there are some issues i will address on my end too. First off thanks to all and especially QGOD for the review video.

The Element is dope but the 1 track limit is the problem if u plan to use it standalone.
So i been using it in Logic and i am happy to say that so far it appears that all the instances you have open run in sync together for sequencing via the MPC software. I still havent tried song mode yet.

The issues i am having is that when using the Element with Logic , the transport on the element pads for the play button doesnt do anything when i press it. I have to use the mouse and press play on the logic screen--only then does the Element play button light up and begin to run the sequence.
QGod can u confirm if this happens to you as well?
By kaydigi Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:50 pm
sampie wrote:I copped the Element yesterday and i think its dope but there are some issues i will address on my end too. First off thanks to all and especially QGOD for the review video.

The Element is dope but the 1 track limit is the problem if u plan to use it standalone.
So i been using it in Logic and i am happy to say that so far it appears that all the instances you have open run in sync together for sequencing via the MPC software. I still havent tried song mode yet.

The issues i am having is that when using the Element with Logic , the transport on the element pads for the play button doesnt do anything when i press it. I have to use the mouse and press play on the logic screen--only then does the Element play button light up and begin to run the sequence.
QGod can u confirm if this happens to you as well?


How are the pads compared to the legacy models?
By sampie Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:44 pm
kaydigi wrote:
sampie wrote:I copped the Element yesterday and i think its dope but there are some issues i will address on my end too. First off thanks to all and especially QGOD for the review video.

The Element is dope but the 1 track limit is the problem if u plan to use it standalone.
So i been using it in Logic and i am happy to say that so far it appears that all the instances you have open run in sync together for sequencing via the MPC software. I still havent tried song mode yet.

The issues i am having is that when using the Element with Logic , the transport on the element pads for the play button doesnt do anything when i press it. I have to use the mouse and press play on the logic screen--only then does the Element play button light up and begin to run the sequence.
QGod can u confirm if this happens to you as well?


How are the pads compared to the legacy models?




The pads do feel nice but different from the legacy mpcs in my opinion. I tapped on the floor model of the mpc studio and to me that feels closer to the legacy mpc units. Now also at first i thought the element pads were not responding well but then i i went into the software preferences and adjusted the pad sensitivity and threshold settings and now they respond better. i dont have to pound on them. but i still think the response could be better. I had a korg padkontrol and those pads were the best. Also if i recall the Akai mpk mini pads i tried once in a store felt similar to the element pads.

update - i seem to be having latency issues while running the software via a DAW - i tried with logic 9 and also garageband and i get slight latency when hitting the pads and its just enuff to annoy me. hopefully i can fix that.

also i cannot figure out how to use the Element as a midi controller for other software.

Akai really needed to give us at least 4 tracks in standalone this way u can have one track for samples, another for a plugin and one midi etc... i am hoping that the essentials software will be updated but i doubt Akai will. If i cant get the latency issue when running in a daw sorted then i might have to return the element and save for the studio. Also song mode seems to be disabled while running it as a plugin....unless i am doing something wrong.

Overall if someone is just using samples and no plugins etc this unit is perfect as standalone.
User avatar
By M-Chop Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:49 am
Mpc Renaissance should have been named the studio
the studio the Renaissance
and Mpc Element should have been named Mpd Element
User avatar
By QG0D Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:11 am
The issues i am having is that when using the Element with Logic , the transport on the element pads for the play button doesnt do anything when i press it. I have to use the mouse and press play on the logic screen--only then does the Element play button light up and begin to run the sequence.
QGod can u confirm if this happens to you as well?


I'm glad the video (with shakes and Blurs) helped you get the MPC Element. I really need to redo it and make my 2 cents it own video, any who.

I indeed had the same thing happen to me in Studio one. then I remembered that the element works in 2 two modes (the main mode in MPC Essentials with lights, And power save mode with no lights).

What you have to do to get transport controls is set up midi controls within logic, lucky for you they cover this in manual the is a pdf file. As that was useless to me for being a Studio one user, I have to dig deeper and used the setup for the MCP Ren for studio one to get by that part. Now like in the video the transport keys are the only keys you can bind. Keep in mind of the note thing as well

by the way manual is in the MPC Essentials - under Help, then mmc controls

update - i seem to be having latency issues while running the software via a DAW - i tried with logic 9 and also garageband and i get slight latency when hitting the pads and its just enuff to annoy me. hopefully i can fix that.


Well since we are fully software based, your interface or sound card will more then likely be a cause. finding a sweet stop will be tricky but very do able, try rising or lowing the latency in the sound setting. And Audio buffer size, I try to use 512 when I can. But the sweet spot for me was 704.
User avatar
By QG0D Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:29 am
M-Chop wrote:Mpc Renaissance should have been named the studio
the studio the Renaissance
and Mpc Element should have been named Mpd Element


Lol, as it stand right now without full control bindings you can't even call it even that. maybe the note binds is a Mac thing? someone with a Mac can let us know it be nice.

I really hope Akai fixes these issues as there pretty easy to fix, and will make this budget mpc worthy of the MPC name.
User avatar
By M-Chop Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:15 pm
Lol, as it stand right now without full control bindings you can't even call it even that. maybe the note binds is a Mac thing? someone with a Mac can let us know it be nice.

I really hope Akai fixes these issues as there pretty easy to fix, and will make this budget mpc worthy of the MPC name.


True..

Sorry off topic a little, but think about it though

Mpc Renaissance - sits in the studio, so that thing should have been named Studio

Mpc Studio - Akai having pictures of guys making beats in tropical resorts.. look at Alchemist, he was on the beach with his studio lol.. that's an art, nice views.. etc Renaissance

Mpc Element - well.. should have been an MPD update, but completely different controller from the fly, and should have made the software completetly different from the Studio and Renaissance software, and also.. would have been nice if it was similar to Fxpansion Geist and N.I Battery interms of routing to channels in your DAW

The Mpc Element is a great idea.. but just poor execution.. there are allot of beat makers who use Maschine just to sequence out there drums in their DAW. so your spending $599 to play drums from your controller.. Element would seem like the perfect cheaper alternative if Akai can just get it rite
User avatar
By Ill-Green Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:50 pm
Element should've been the MPX8 with SD reader and streaming USB. Resample samples with VSTs and work on a track standalone. This way you attract the hardware guys and introduce the software to them. If they like, they'll cop a Renaissance.
User avatar
By QG0D Tue Oct 22, 2013 5:50 pm
doughlove wrote:Can someone tell me if the Element/Essentials has 16 Level Tuning?


Yes it does. The demo video on page one shows it. By gak I think.