Official 2.6 Firmware Update Thread

pspsounds wrote:

zangetsu01 wrote:Love the 2.6 Automation update.. 1 question:

How do you fine tune the value of the drawn level? Lets say I want it have a value of 62. With my fingers it's pretty hard to get it to 62, might end up at 64 or 60 a few times before I get it to be exactly 62.

Try using the data wheel. May need to hold shift down while turning the data wheel too.

That's the first thing I've tried but it doesn't work (Grid automation not step automation).
It seems as I can't select the automation value to do some increments.

JeriKo Jackson wrote:Akai delivered. Firmware updated flawlessy. Automation in standalone mode is tight af. If they can deliver Multi timbral input eventually all of my major complaints will have been addressed. My unit has been stable since launch. I had a couple freezes but none after 2.4. There are still a couple small bugs that irritate me and the time stretching algo in standalone is

As an early adopter, I was a HARSH critic. And some things like the dust magnet plastic and lack of physical buttons I've come to ignore despite how much I loathe them. I'll styleflip eventually and hold out hope akai builds on its success and release an MPC X micro or Studio Live?

Im stunned Akai has delivered on this one before 3.0.

I'm in 100% agreement with you. That said, I was a late adopter, buying my first MPC Touch (and then Live shortly after) when the firmware jumped from 2.4 to 2.5.

At this point, all I am really wanting are mostly more creative things added to it in standalone - like more synths and creative effects (preferably NOT by Air). That and disc streaming and multitimberal MIDI and I'll be good with my Live for the foreseeable future.

I have no intention to master on my Live - it will never, EVER, come close to what can be done in a typical DAW using plugins from (say for instance) iZotope. Neutron/Ozone FTW!!!

Frisbi wrote:

Bezo wrote:2.6 is looking good! I've been using the Live in Controller Mode exclusively until now, unrelated to any updates. An issue with my SSD or my Live is holding things up a bit. I'm using a thumb drive to set up some things for a road trip. I just have to be selective storing samples. Time to see why folks are so happy not using computers.

At this point, hardware hopes for me might only be internal program changes for program tracks via automation lanes. Can't think of anything else currently, but I'm only starting to use stand alone mode now. Maybe an option on the Autosampler to create a drum group.

Software hopes are that they bring it up to modern DAW standards including plugin delay compensation, VCA tracks & support for multi-output plugins.

Yeah take the courage and go standalone.
If you are used to daw as I was, I had to switch my workflow, changing all the automations I had working with daw.
It's been a bit frustrating in the beginning but when you learn the new workflow, it's fun and it sounds really good.
That's my suggestion

Ha! No courage needed. I’m not "going stand alone". Stand alone will be something I use when traveling, maybe if I get the urge to create poolside. It will never be my main mode of creating. I rely too heavily on virtual instruments & 3rd party plugs for that.

But, with the exception of no internal program changes, stand alone looks god for my needs.

EnochLight wrote:I have no intention to master on my Live - it will never, EVER, come close to what can be done in a typical DAW using plugins from (say for instance) iZotope. Neutron/Ozone FTW!!!

Mastering on the MPC Live or X, can be done with excellent professional results. What you're saying, is the same thing, that some people who mastered using analog gear, said about plug ins. Now, would I master using the MPC LIve or X? No, however I could use it make professional mastering.

Now, if they add their Akai DPS 24, multi band effect to the LIVE or X. That would make it a lot easier. Nevertheless, I come from the school where the Performance, Arrangement, Compositions is 90%, Mixing is 9% and Mastering is 1%.

how is the stability so far? I will try to make some time to do the update later today if possible.

Someone on gearslutz spotted in a video a new mode on the X called 'Live Control', which sounds similar to what was being advertised on the Force.

To complete this machine, multi timbral midi, disk streaming and an arranger will nail it for me. Everything else is icing on the cake. Either way, glad to see this company investing in their solutions and finally becoming successful in implementing their roadmap. If they get to the finish line it will be a great achievement.

Profound!

My 2.6 is working just fine, no hiccups, and just doing its thing!

CharlesRandolph wrote:

EnochLight wrote:
I come from the school where the Performance, Arrangement, Compositions is 90%, Mixing is 9% and Mastering is 1%.

I think people forget if the performance. arrangement, compositions and recordings are great. Mixing is super super easy. Which makes mastering absolutely dead simple. We are in a time, where people work on the mixing and mastering more than the music.

Any new tricks with 2.6? How do you like the automation? Any issues loading older projects from your MPC 2000XL?

Danoc wrote:Profound! My 2.6 is working just fine, no hiccups, and just doing its thing!

CharlesRandolph wrote:I think people forget if the performance. arrangement, compositions and recordings are great. Mixing is super super easy. Which makes mastering absolutely dead simple. We are in a time, where people work on the mixing and mastering more than the music...

I think the one-man-show makes it difficult for some. How many folks are great in all aspects? We're all trying to be Prince now.

CharlesRandolph wrote:I think people forget if the performance. arrangement, compositions and recordings are great. Mixing is super super easy. Which makes mastering absolutely dead simple. We are in a time, where people work on the mixing and mastering more than the music.

Any new tricks with 2.6? How do you like the automation? Any issues loading older projects from your MPC 2000XL?

Danoc wrote:Profound! My 2.6 is working just fine, no hiccups, and just doing its thing!

Yeah man I noticed the same.
The majority of people want an Mpc to make a lot of processing like they are used with computer, automations, software integration, tools for editing and drawing notes on grid and so on.
This is exactly the workflow I wanted to avoid when I buyed Mpc.
I buyed it because I wanted to record all in real time with pads and keys after the project is balanced and mixed all in the box.
I thought that was the obvious way of using Mpc but then I discovered I was in the minority.
And I have to say I really don't like the sound of the 90% of music that I hear today because is just overprocessed and this comes from the digital computer daw revolution.
The truth is that the less you process your sounds, the better and cleaner and defined they sound.

Bezo wrote:I think the one-man-show makes it difficult for some. How many folks are great in all aspects? We're all trying to be Prince now.

I agree. The new MPC's represents that perfectly. They're trying to make it, so can be used with everyone's workflow.

Frisbi wrote:And I have to say I really don't like the sound of the 90% of music that I hear today because is just overprocessed and this comes from the digital computer daw revolution.
The truth is that the less you process your sounds, the better and cleaner and defined they sound.

We're still in the aftermath of the loudness war. Digital... allowed us to push those level up and up and up. What we tend to be missing are Signature sounds from artist. From Vocals to the musical composition, it's hard to tell who is who. Perhaps, that why Akai Pro is slowly but surly, adding more sound sculpting features.

I wonder what other features they have planned, for the purpose of sound sculpting.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Bezo wrote:I think the one-man-show makes it difficult for some. How many folks are great in all aspects? We're all trying to be Prince now.

I agree. The new MPC's represents that perfectly. They're trying to make it, so can be used with everyone's workflow.

Frisbi wrote:And I have to say I really don't like the sound of the 90% of music that I hear today because is just overprocessed and this comes from the digital computer daw revolution.
The truth is that the less you process your sounds, the better and cleaner and defined they sound.

We're still in the aftermath of the loudness war. Digital... allowed us to push those level up and up and up. What we tend to be missing are Signature sounds from artist. From Vocals to the musical composition, it's hard to tell who is who. Perhaps, that why Akai Pro is slowly but surly, adding more sound sculpting features.

I wonder what other features they have planned, for the purpose of sound sculpting.

I wish Akai makes it a great instrument for live performances but I fear the majority wants the opposite.
And yes, protools/waves made the music industry sound very flat, squashed and fatiguing.

Frisbi wrote:I wish Akai makes it a great instrument for live performances but I fear the majority wants the opposite.
And yes, protools/waves made the music industry sound very flat, squashed and fatiguing.

I wouldn't blame protools or waves, it's engineers who controls the sound. Traditionally the MPC was not a live performance focused based machine. You may need to get, the Akai Force for that.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Frisbi wrote:I wish Akai makes it a great instrument for live performances but I fear the majority wants the opposite.
And yes, protools/waves made the music industry sound very flat, squashed and fatiguing.

I wouldn't blame protools or waves, it's engineers who controls the sound. Traditionally the MPC was not a live performance focused based machine. You may need to get, the Akai Force for that.

Yeah the engineers did that. Was still a lot of good sounding music coming out when ProTools and Waves were hot.

MPCs have always been a live focused machine from the moment you could load 16 sounds to the pads and tap them, much more live than any kind of ableton/sp404 set, tweak the filter and pretend the knob is on fire or that changing sequence in a quntized environment is some kind of thing worth doing on stage, MPCs have always been dope from live drumming and anyone who knows what they are doing can hold down the drums/samples for a band, mcs or live show