The Full Akai MPC Touch Review From MPC-Tutor.com

My complete hands-on Akai MPC Touch Review is now live on MPC-Tutor.com, featuring overview of the hardware and a close look at the new Touch UI.

http://www.mpc-tutor.com/akai-mpc-touch-review/

No comment on the step sequencer UI? Surprising. I was curious what folks' consensus was for this aspect of the Touch interface.

I'm going to add a few more bits and pieces to the review over the next couple of days, l wanted to get the bulk of it live in the meantime, it's taken a fair bit of work to get this review done so far. I'll see if I can add a step sequncer section today if possible.

Nice review.

If they could make something with a similar form factor, but standalone, I'll seriously consider it.

Coz wrote:Nice review.
If they could make something with a similar form factor, but standalone, I'll seriously consider it.

Cheers Coz, took a lot longer than expected, and TBH I'd prefer to spend a few more weeks with it before making too many judgements on the Touch UI. Even over the past week some things that I initially felt awkward with have now become second nature.

Gut feeling is that we're more likely to see a larger flagship touch controller than a true standalone.

Coz wrote:Nice review.

If they could make something with a similar form factor, but standalone, I'll seriously consider it.

To be honest "Standalone" has a much weaker defense than it used to, but I feel like folks are still stuck on the old hang up. It's not like you'd be tethered to a large, overheated tower and an old CRT monitor. With current (powerful, small, cool & quiet) laptops, it's practically like having a standalone w/ a "breakout monitor".

If MPC announced a new stand-alone model with the "exclusive, full color HD breakout screen", the Standalone crowd would be like "Finally!!" LOL.

MPC-Tutor wrote:Gut feeling is that we're more likely to see a larger flagship touch controller than a true standalone.

I suspect they no longer know how to approach the standalone angle, especially with plugin use being so prevalent in music production. IMO plugins are completely superfluous to standalone machines. You don't need them providing the host OS offers the majority of the tools you need to get by.

I still don't think they've offered a tempting upgrade path from the 500, 1000 or 2500 for a lot of people since they switched to controllers. Hopefully they'll launch a new range at NAMM.

Icepulse wrote:It's not like you'd be tethered to a large, overheated tower and an old CRT monitor.

You're still tethered to a computer whether it's a huge iMac (in my case) or a small laptop. I've got 3 chunky controllers sat in front of my computer as it is, so I'm not anti controller, but I do value a dedicated standalone machine.

Coz wrote:

Icepulse wrote:It's not like you'd be tethered to a large, overheated tower and an old CRT monitor.

You're still tethered to a computer whether it's a huge iMac (in my case) or a small laptop. I've got 3 chunky controllers sat in front of my computer as it is, so I'm not anti controller, but I do value a dedicated standalone machine.

But that's just my point. Is is really "tethered" if your laptop weighs 3 lbs is .8" thick and can get moved around, just as easily as you'd move around a standalone? Personally, I see an MPC Touch and a 13" MBP SSD combo as equally portable as any new standalone might be. And the trade-off is WAYYYYY more flexibility, expand ability and muscle than you'd get if the touch was a standalone.

That's my 2¢.

Icepulse wrote:But that's just my point. Is is really "tethered" if your laptop weighs 3 lbs is .8" thick and can get moved around, just as easily as you'd move around a standalone?

1. I don't have a laptop and never intend to buy another one. I hate them.
2. ANY controller that HAS to be hooked up to a computer to work is tethered. It doesn't matter if it's light and fits in your man purse.
3. The 'flexibility' is completely subjective to the end user, as is the apparent power and usefulness.
4. I don't know what you mean by 'expandability'?

Coz wrote:

Icepulse wrote:But that's just my point. Is is really "tethered" if your laptop weighs 3 lbs is .8" thick and can get moved around, just as easily as you'd move around a standalone?

1. I don't have a laptop and never intend to buy another one. I hate them.
2. ANY controller that HAS to be hooked up to a computer to work is tethered. It doesn't matter if it's light and fits in your man purse.
3. The 'flexibility' is completely subjective to the end user, as is the apparent power and usefulness.
4. I don't know what you mean by 'expandability'?

It wouldn't make sense to explain it to an admitted hater. Like the reverb options on your "standalone"? Great. Don't like em? Too bad!! I just added 3 new reverb plugins, without blinking, that sound 10x better than the on-board reverbs you're saddled with. Of course, you can use off-board effects hardware if you like... But so much for "standalone". Feel like tweaking your mix on the sofa, or on your lunch break, without dragging your Standalone with you? Oh, well.

But it's a matter of taste. If you "hate" laptops, I'd suggest that your hatred might be clouding your ability to be objective, though.

I was firmly in the "standalone" camp. Although I had a nice MacBook 13", I never used it much, because all the DAWs I'd worked with involved a lot of tedious mouse-work and configuring. Then I decided to go w/ the MPC touch. Totally changed my mind. Why? The MPC software is totally simplified, as far as config settings. And the Touch interface shears 90% of trackpad reliance away. The only things still necessary on the PC are things that are much easier to do on the PC. MPC software strips away all the usual computer-based headaches usually associated w/ music making; a big factor in what likely contributed to your distaste.

Icepulse wrote:It wouldn't make sense to explain it to an admitted hater.

I suspect by 'expandability' you're referring to laptops, which if you're using Apple products, you might be able to upgrade the RAM but not much else. It's a nothing argument anyway. The rest of the guff you came out with isn't worth responding to because you're obviously a teenager who's ****' clueless.

Good luck with your 13" MBP and MPC Touch.

Coz wrote:

Icepulse wrote:It wouldn't make sense to explain it to an admitted hater.

I suspect by 'expandability' you're referring to laptops, which if you're using Apple products, you might be able to upgrade the RAM but not much else. It's a nothing argument anyway. The rest of the guff you came out with isn't worth responding to because you're obviously a teenager who's ****' clueless.

Good luck with your 13" MBP and MPC Touch.

I built my first PC (win 95) back in the late 90's, when I was in my in my late 20's. But your rage is still delicious, no matter how misguided & obtuse.

As I said, I was firmly in the "pro standalone" camp. My perspective has evolved, in light of new advances in the tech. Maybe, if you're lucky, the next MPC will be as dope as the "Beat Thang" In any case, how would you plan on getting samples onto a standalone? With your weightless, massless turntable?

I'm not sure what gets you so mad about this.... But it's obviously enough to elicit insults and name-calling.

I hope you get what you want, though. Your standalone device that relies on other hardware to make sound.

Alright you two, that's enough topic hijacking...Seriously, anyone else want to comment on the stuff covered in the review?