Official: Akai Force Topic

machinesworking wrote:

CharlesRandolph wrote:At 1 minute 14 Seconds USB is connect to a computer.

You know of course that's not indicative of anything really.
Never said the Force wasn't ever going to be able to be used with a computer. "Initially no computer connection" was prompted by Dan at Gearlsutz, among other readings of what will be available now, to you as an end user, not a beta tester.

Besides, that all he seems to be doing is loading in his for sale MPC Kits, something already mentioned, not a huge reach to think that initially the Force before 3.0 drops will at least be able to read discs on a computer for accessing Programs and kits.

I want to be wrong about this, I'm just going off of what I've read and been told by representatives from AKIA, but I'm not entirely sure why you would want to gloat about a USB cable?

How do you Beta Test a device, that is suppose to connect to computer? If you don't connect it to a computer? Why would I gloat about a USB cable? Also, if you're talking to Akai representatives why are you here? There's no point since you have privileged information.

Also in other videos, a person mentioned he's had the Force for months, doing tutorial videos. Have you ever been a Beta Tester for a company before? Have you ever worked on a launch campaign? I have and I've had gear for 12 months before they were announced.

Where was it mentioned, that you can load MPC Expansions prior to the video? Because his video is the only one that mentions that, from what I know.

Ut ooh

machinesworking wrote:-Ability as of now to read Programs from the MPC files on a thumb disk or drive, but not Sequences.

????? Why?

J-Fly wrote:

????? Why?[/quote]

Because it's going to have Deep Ableton Integration in controller mode. It was mentioned in their Press Release.

LInk: http://www.akaipro.com/news/articles/ak ... production

In March 2019, Force’s development program includes in-depth Ableton Live integration. This functionality will include total visibility and command of Ableton’s clip matrix, tactile control of core mixer parameters including crossfader assignments, and control of device parameters instantiated in Ableton Live’s workspace via the touch user interface and Force’s rotary encoders / OLED displays.

CharlesRandolph wrote:How do you Beta Test a device, that is suppose to connect to computer? If you don't connect it to a computer? Why would I gloat about a USB cable? Also, if you're talking to Akai representatives why are you here? There's no point since you have privileged information.

Also in other videos, a person mentioned he's had the Force for months, doing tutorial videos. Have you ever been a Beta Tester for a company before? Have you ever worked on a launch campaign? I have and I've had device for 12 months before they were announced.

Where was it mentioned, that you can load MPC Expansions prior to the video? Because his video is the only one that mentions that, from what I know.

Honestly, it's all in the Gearslutz threads, Dan isn't some hidden person. It's being introduced at least from what they're saying right now as only hooking up to thumb drives, it's in the documentation and it's what Dan said in the MPC Live and Force threads. I've been heavily obsessing out about Force, because I initially was all over it, and now I'm cautious. It's very possible all this changes tomorrow, since it's very likely they announce at least MPC 2.4 along with presenting Force at NAMM.

Look, I'm really trying to use my time wisely these days, I appreciate that you're a smart person, and I can take some heat, but I really don't want to look back on my life and think about wasting hours explaining myself or my position to other men on the web. I was talking to a friend the other day about the internet, and how I never would have guessed (besides porn of course), that a huge chunk of peoples time on the internet would be men arguing on forums and women taking duckface photos on social media sites. I'm just kinda sick of it.

I enjoy your insights and knowledge, but I'm tired of grudges and overtly negative repartee on this here interwebs. I think I might have started off too aggressive and if that ticked you off I apologize, to you and Danoc. I find it bizarre to hold any sort of grudges about words online, and think it's a huge waste of time.

In the end we're all just really curious and excited about the same products. There's only fake conflict here.

machinesworking wrote:

CharlesRandolph wrote:How do you Beta Test a device, that is suppose to connect to computer? If you don't connect it to a computer? Why would I gloat about a USB cable? Also, if you're talking to Akai representatives why are you here? There's no point since you have privileged information.

Also in other videos, a person mentioned he's had the Force for months, doing tutorial videos. Have you ever been a Beta Tester for a company before? Have you ever worked on a launch campaign? I have and I've had device for 12 months before they were announced.

Where was it mentioned, that you can load MPC Expansions prior to the video? Because his video is the only one that mentions that, from what I know.

Honestly, it's all in the Gearslutz threads, Dan isn't some hidden person. It's being introduced at least from what they're saying right now as only hooking up to thumb drives, it's in the documentation and it's what Dan said in the MPC Live and Force threads. I've been heavily obsessing out about Force, because I initially was all over it, and now I'm cautious. It's very possible all this changes tomorrow, since it's very likely they announce at least MPC 2.4 along with presenting Force at NAMM.

Look, I'm really trying to use my time wisely these days, I appreciate that you're a smart person, and I can take some heat, but I really don't want to look back on my life and think about wasting hours explaining myself or my position to other men on the web. I was talking to a friend the other day about the internet, and how I never would have guessed (besides porn of course), that a huge chunk of peoples time on the internet would be men arguing on forums and women taking duckface photos on social media sites. I'm just kinda sick of it.

I enjoy your insights and knowledge, but I'm tired of grudges and overtly negative repartee on this here interwebs. I think I might have started off too aggressive and if that ticked you off I apologize, to you and Danoc. I find it bizarre to hold any sort of grudges about words online, and think it's a huge waste of time.

In the end we're all just really curious and excited about the same products. There's only fake conflict here.

There is no grudge here and I'm just providing more insight. MPC forums has many die hard people when it comes to the MPC or related gear. If I was Akai Pro, I'll would have people here all day long.

The people here are pushing the MPC's to it's limits. That's why when people have issues, they come here. This place has a wealth for information, from long term users. We are like the Speed Running community for video games. We know all the glitches, that even the devs do not know. I'm here for the exchange of ideas, not to belittle.

Come on men.
Nervous before the launch of Force tomorrow?
Ah ah.
Anything they'll do will sound great, some bugs, some crazy workarounds but it will sound great for sure.

CharlesRandolph wrote:
There is no grudge here and I'm just providing more insight. MPC forums has many die hard people when it comes to the MPC or related gear. If I was Akai Pro, I'll would have people here all day long.

The people here are pushing the MPC's to it's limits. That's why when people have issues, they come here. This place has a wealth for information, from long term users. We are like the Speed Running community for video games. We know all the glitches, that even the devs do not know. I'm here for the exchange of ideas, not to belittle.

Yeah I'm not sure why Dan has taken residence there, maybe because of marketing reasons? i.e. for the "MPC curious"

It's certainly not because of any sort of overt politeness there, some of us have put him through the ringer with questions. Myself included. I just really wish we had solid answers on how it integrates right now with your computer, is it using a beta version of the MPC software, there is some indication that it's "focus" ( in Dan's words) will not be on the MPC software when attached to the computer but rather Ableton Live.

I've got massive amounts of questions about that, if it could read a Live Set, obviously with flattened VSTs and embedded Live devices, Max, and warping etc., imported from the computer now or in the future then I would definitly think about setting money aside for it. So far the conversation is about exporting to Live, not importing. I suppose this is a tiny concern, since it's not like it's impossible to take all those flattened files in as audio clips regardless, but it would be nice if the metadata .als file could talk to Force in some way giving tempo etc...

So it won't read MPC Sequence files right now anyway. That's because it's getting a different type of arrangement page for songs than the MPCs have right now. MPCs will also get this new arrangement page will keeping the old Sequence as well. the key word is "it's getting" as in MPC 3.0 software update. It will read Program, instrument, and Drum files apparently though. Makes sense, it's basically an MPC.

I'm still wondering what we MPC users are getting in terms of Clip launching in the future though. The argument that the Force uses Scenes VS Sequences in the MPCs isn't that valid at all to me, look what this guy did in Java for Reaper and Push 2! For free even, no excuses for not doing better than some musician who can code!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47exKwGwHko&t

machinesworking wrote:

CharlesRandolph wrote:a huge chunk of peoples time on the internet would be men arguing on forums and women taking duckface photos on social media sites.

Sadly but true.. It also seems that every time Akai comes up with a new device or an software update people are starting to get edgy/anxious..

I might indeed like this better. Price is much more fair. My beef was mainly the price for what you get with X. How is X twice the price of live. Akai is obviously going for market segments and I certainly cannot fault them for that. The benefit to us is a more diverse selection. 4000 was like SL1200. Iconic but sadly no longer made.

I think you guys here are chill. Not arguing too much. Other types of forums it is not even worth my time. Just to be insulted for no reason. You cannot take the internet personally. The internet is like the grand congregation of all manner of creeps. Not to even mention some really scary bad dudes.

jeff lick wrote:I think you guys here are chill. Not arguing too much. Other types of forums it is not even worth my time. Just to be insulted for no reason. You cannot take the internet personally. The internet is like the grand congregation of all manner of creeps. Not to even mention some really scary bad dudes.

Heh... chill comes with age, experience, and just not taking opinions as personal attacks. I was gone for a few years and just coming back in the last few months... and I will say that the forums feel more matured. Might just be me though.

It is like the car forums. All kids that do not own an RS7(or rich parent, pretend to). Yet they have a lot of opinions. People that own cars like that rarely talk about them publicly unless honestly looking for upgrades. Which is also rare. Most are leased and left stock. It seems here average is 40+. So that makes a huge difference. Once again, most 16 year old's cannot afford an MPC X and it would be an unusually huge Christmas present. Plus many of us own MPC's from early 80's(Run DMC era). They were not born yet! Yes, there are odd rich kids out but probably not on forums either. Even some rap songs mentioned their MPC such as Mantronix. No song is quoting MPC's of today that I know of. In fact I know of but a few songs since 2000 that even mention any gear. Plus 2000 is already 19 years old to begin with. I can tell when someone says they are an Adult and are not so, as well.

Danoc wrote:...The 2 types of producers.
1. One that has the MPC and center core is the computer (that's ME).
2. One that would like to produce in standalone without the computer, then lay tracks in the computer. (Use to be me).
The center of the producers stu...

I'm somewhat of a hybrid by your list. The Live & software are the center of my creative process, what I'll refer to as song writing.

I've been in creative mode for a while, so I've not gotten to the technical aspects with my current set up, but...

When I get to it, or someone shows interest in a track, I polish in Logic. Finish sound designing, add some gravy, and (rough) mix the track for presentation. When I get settled, I'll take care of this much earlier in the process so that I can present tracks in their best light.

My ideal would be for the MPC software to get on par with Logic so that I could stay in the MPC ecosystem. It's more for efficiency and convenience as my current set up doesn't stop me from doing what I do. But wanting to create with a groove box workflow has split my process in a way that I wish it hadn't. If not for me being happier with my tracks, I would put Logic (previously Pro Tools) back at the center of my creative process.

But as your #1 says, the CPU is extremely important to what I do. The MPC standing alone couldn't do the job. RAM would only be an issue for me if the stand alone capabilities and features took a major leap forward. Still doubt it would be more than a writing tool for me though.

I understand totally bro, I do my drums in two places, in Reason 10 or the MPC Live. When I wanna get real complex I head over to the MPC. I can turn that on without turning on the computer, quick, and fast and I can really concentrate on the drums, and they just come out really nice, the swing of the sequencer and banging on the pads, and the way they are set up just gives me that thing. I use the Akai LPD8 which only have 8 pads I use that only with Reason if my drums are going to be standard and a lot not going on.

My inventions are in my head, and I just use the different tools I have, and I am glad I am in the box, so I don't have to turn on a bunch of equipment just to get to one place. I do my sound designing in Studio One (complex) or Audacity, and they thing is my Wave plugins. Reason is more like my recording, making my track and mixing. Studio One I use for mastering cause it's dope, I will start mixing in it soon cause I will get Studio One 4.2 that baby is off the chain. So I will never be where I was when I had the 2000xl making it my center. I are far gone from depending on Akai, their history now is not matching up with what we think and need. But I love my MPC live though so I am good. I want it to last a long time, and I don't let people touch it. Last person that did almost got his neck broke, I never thought I would get so angry cause this is my machine and I said not to touch it and you don't have to dough to buy me a new one. smh. I keep it clean and not abuse it, it looks brand new and I haven't had the problems others have had, so I am blessed.

But this new thing I will not buy into and won't buy into anything because I am already set and have a new computer coming that is blown out.

Bezo wrote:

Danoc wrote:...The 2 types of producers.
1. One that has the MPC and center core is the computer (that's ME).
2. One that would like to produce in standalone without the computer, then lay tracks in the computer. (Use to be me).
The center of the producers stu...

I'm somewhat of a hybrid by your list. The Live & software are the center of my creative process, what I'll refer to as song writing.

I've been in creative mode for a while, so I've not gotten to the technical aspects with my current set up, but...

When I get to it, or someone shows interest in a track, I polish in Logic. Finish sound designing, add some gravy, and (rough) mix the track for presentation. When I get settled, I'll take care of this much earlier in the process so that I can present tracks in their best light.

My ideal would be for the MPC software to get on par with Logic so that I could stay in the MPC ecosystem. It's more for efficiency and convenience as my current set up doesn't stop me from doing what I do. But wanting to create with a groove box workflow has split my process in a way that I wish it hadn't. If not for me being happier with my tracks, I would put Logic (previously Pro Tools) back at the center of my creative process.

But as your #1 says, the CPU is extremely important to what I do. The MPC standing alone couldn't do the job. RAM would only be an issue for me if the stand alone capabilities and features took a major leap forward. Still doubt it would be more than a writing tool for me though.

Danoc wrote:I understand totally bro, I do my drums in two places, in Reason 10 or the MPC Live. When I wanna get real complex I head over to the MPC. I can turn that on without turning on the computer, quick, and fast and I can really concentrate on the drums, and they just come out really nice, the swing of the sequencer and banging on the pads, and the way they are set up just gives me that thing. I use the Akai LPD8 which only have 8 pads I use that only with Reason if my drums are going to be standard and a lot not going on.

My inventions are in my head, and I just use the different tools I have, and I am glad I am in the box, so I don't have to turn on a bunch of equipment just to get to one place. I do my sound designing in Studio One (complex) or Audacity, and they thing is my Wave plugins. Reason is more like my recording, making my track and mixing. Studio One I use for mastering cause it's dope, I will start mixing in it soon cause I will get Studio One 4.2 that baby is off the chain. So I will never be where I was when I had the 2000xl making it my center. I are far gone from depending on Akai, their history now is not matching up with what we think and need. But I love my MPC live though so I am good. I want it to last a long time, and I don't let people touch it. Last person that did almost got his neck broke, I never thought I would get so angry cause this is my machine and I said not to touch it and you don't have to dough to buy me a new one. smh. I keep it clean and not abuse it, it looks brand new and I haven't had the problems others have had, so I am blessed.

But this new thing I will not buy into and won't buy into anything because I am already set and have a new computer coming that is blown out.

Yeah, going in the box took my efficiency, and my sound for that matter, to the next level. I turn on the CPU, MPC, interface & speakers and go. Though I'm hanging onto a few hard synths, they get no action. No more preamps, hard synths, romplers, separate samplers, drum machines... haven't even picked up my guitar or bass since.

And nah, I won't be buying the Force. I'm following more for how the Force relates to improvements to the Live & software.

I'm only a year into my Macbook Pro and it's doing the job. When things get more serious, I'm already eyeing the iMac Pro.