Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
By CharlesRandolph Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:35 pm
Sharris wrote:I used to route all outputs, not all outs got their own effect pedal tho. Eventually I got a few more pieces of hardware & ran out of inputs on my mixer. Was thinking about getting a patchbay..... I don't know, might not, I've been playing with different signal chains & seeing what works best for me.


How many channels is your mixer?
Have you had the chances to use the MPC ONE?
By jimikill Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:23 am
Yep, UK pre-order from Dawsons, had an update from them yesterday letting me know about a potential mid March delivery, I'm taking that with a pinch of salt but positive thinking and all that.
By TheDoctor Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:55 am
I think it's fair that the Live is the only one to have a battery.
Atm we have the X, the studio center piece with the most I/O, meter, buttons, 16QLink
The One is the little brother for people who want a classic mpc with all the software feature and easily integrate with your DAW workflow, you can use in controller mode or export stem
The Force is the clip style standalone device with MPC engine. Perfect for dj, who likes ableton and modular guy for the step sequencer.
The Live is still the best MPC, portable, additional output if you use outboard, no need of a phono pre amp, probably the best for a lot of people for solo live, you take a midi controller or a mono synth with battery and you bring 3 cable with you. Often I recorded at my friend house his vinyl. The rectangular size is perfect when you sit somewhere. If you work with a label, it's easy to bring the Live with you at the studio,plug in and go. No hustle to sync with Ableton, the additional output are enough to run through some outboard or get some stem. You can easily export your project and leave it there. No computer, no cable.

If the One has battery then it should have more output at that point there's no point in a square shape but also what's the point of the Live then?

Classic MPC with the X/One.
Modern version with the Live.
Different approach with the Force.
And all of them don't cut down in term of technology and features.
I think Akai is doing a great job, nowdays it's really hard to make a "main so brain". Some use outboard, some just a little, some completely ITB. Vst and analogue synth then you got the modular guy, the dj who is not mixing anymore but kind of playing live.
It's perfect we have 3 type of MPC, I would like a Live mk2 with a small 16 step sequencer with arrow page in one row and QLink with oled.
By philphil Thu Feb 13, 2020 12:32 pm
jimikill wrote:Yep, UK pre-order from Dawsons, had an update from them yesterday letting me know about a potential mid March delivery, I'm taking that with a pinch of salt but positive thinking and all that.


That’s promising, thanks for sharing. Nothing from my end but the guy I talking to from another store at Anderton’s said they’ll most likely all arrive in the same happy container so no point preordering from different retailers. Fingers crossed!
By Unreallystic Thu Feb 13, 2020 1:54 pm
TheDoctor wrote:I think it's fair that the Live is the only one to have a battery.

I don't really agree with this, but I do understand the position. To *me*, the X, which cost like a stack more than the Live, yet has the SAME feature set, with some additional I/O, a *slightly* larger screen that compared to the price mark-up of amazon devices - isn't worth that kind of money to justify, and more buttons that actually aren't "that" expensive to manufacture/add...should have EVERYTHING the Live has - plus more.

Now does the X need a battery - absolutely not, with its size, I'd expect to plug it in in a studio, not a more mobile friendly environment, which is why what you said makes sense, but as someone who still kind of wants the X, but struggles to justify the cost, losing the battery is a bit "eh".

I'm still going back and fourth on the implementation of the One though for a similar reason, it could EASILY be so much more, but its obviously been knocked down to function as a combination "Cheap MPC X" and "Machine Kombatant" - yet by just adding a battery, it becomes an even more accessible and portable Live, I don't imagine Live sales to be *awesome* right now, so there would be very little cannibalization.

But hell, Akai still hasn't melded their controller & MPC lines together, there should be a MPK (MPC) 249 Live by now.
- Unreall
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By Bezo Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:24 pm
CharlesRandolph wrote:...I can see that, but power steering gives you more control over the car and AC allows for you not over heat in 110 degree weather. Does the battery in the MPC, make give you cleaner inputs? Does it enhance the software? Does it improve the music in any way? Now, just because it's a gimmick, does not mean it's not useful. But if it was really important, why would they not put it in the MPC X?
The battery allows folks to work with the Live away from a power supply; on a plane, outside, on a sofa, etc. AC doesn't make the car drive any better, it doesn't make one a better driver. It simply makes a person more comfortable while driving. It's very similar to the Live's battery in that way.

It's not in the X because its inclusion is not based on importance. It's base on usefulness. Akai nor most X owners consider the X portable. That's what the Live is for.

Controllers control other devices that likely need to be plugged in. No need to put batteries in them. Many of them are USB powered instead, which is useful for those devices.

The way most folks use the word gimmick means exactly that, a novel feature that is not useful, there only to attract attention. Only folks that don't see the usefulness of it would call it a gimmick. Aside from you of course, who thinks EVERY device that attracts business is a gimmick. So according to you, EVERY PRODUCT made for profit is a gimmick. You might be alone on that one.
By CharlesRandolph Thu Feb 13, 2020 4:07 pm
Bezo wrote:The battery allows folks to work with the Live away from a power supply; on a plane, outside, on a sofa, etc.


Is that how you like to work? More mobile?

Bezo wrote:AC doesn't make the car drive any better, it doesn't make one a better driver. It simply makes a person more comfortable while driving. It's very similar to the Live's battery in that way.


I never said, AC made the card drive better. I said

.I can see that, but power steering gives you more control over the car and AC allows for you not over heat in 110 degree weather.



Bezo wrote:It's not in the X because its inclusion is not based on importance. It's base on usefulness. Akai nor most X owners consider the X portable. That's what the Live is for.


Again the X is portable, it's 12 pounds. The same as the MPC 2000XL.


Bezo wrote:Controllers control other devices that likely need to be plugged in. No need to put batteries in them. Many of them are USB powered instead, which is useful for those devices.


This is true, so it's running off the power of plugged in device.

Bezo wrote:The way most folks use the word gimmick means exactly that, a novel feature that is not useful, there only to attract attention. Only folks that don't see the usefulness of it would call it a gimmick.


Again, I never said it wasn't useful. But it is a gimmick to sale more units.

Bezo wrote:Aside from you of course, who thinks EVERY device that attracts business is a gimmick. So according to you, EVERY PRODUCT made for profit is a gimmick. You might be alone on that one.


Again, I did not say that. I said, everything that is for sale has a gimmick. Everything.
Last edited by CharlesRandolph on Thu Feb 13, 2020 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By Danoc Thu Feb 13, 2020 4:19 pm
TheDoctor wrote:I think it's fair that the Live is the only one to have a battery.
Atm we have the X, the studio center piece with the most I/O, meter, buttons, 16QLink
The One is the little brother for people who want a classic mpc with all the software feature and easily integrate with your DAW workflow, you can use in controller mode or export stem
The Force is the clip style standalone device with MPC engine. Perfect for dj, who likes ableton and modular guy for the step sequencer.
The Live is still the best MPC, portable, additional output if you use outboard, no need of a phono pre amp, probably the best for a lot of people for solo live, you take a midi controller or a mono synth with battery and you bring 3 cable with you. Often I recorded at my friend house his vinyl. The rectangular size is perfect when you sit somewhere. If you work with a label, it's easy to bring the Live with you at the studio,plug in and go. No hustle to sync with Ableton, the additional output are enough to run through some outboard or get some stem. You can easily export your project and leave it there. No computer, no cable.

If the One has battery then it should have more output at that point there's no point in a square shape but also what's the point of the Live then?

Classic MPC with the X/One.
Modern version with the Live.
Different approach with the Force.
And all of them don't cut down in term of technology and features.
I think Akai is doing a great job, nowdays it's really hard to make a "main so brain". Some use outboard, some just a little, some completely ITB. Vst and analogue synth then you got the modular guy, the dj who is not mixing anymore but kind of playing live.
It's perfect we have 3 type of MPC, I would like a Live mk2 with a small 16 step sequencer with arrow page in one row and QLink with oled.
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By Danoc Thu Feb 13, 2020 4:22 pm
Indeed, it's way lighter than the MPC2000XL. I agree. I use to lug the 2000xl around, at first I was proud and thought I was doing something. Man as time went on it got heavy LOL I told dudes at the major studio I wasn't no longer carrying it around. People got angry at me. First off they had the MPC2000, why the crap did they need me to bring my machine? :WTF: It got on my nerves. But the Live is comfy to carry around. I love it.

TheDoctor wrote:I think it's fair that the Live is the only one to have a battery.
Atm we have the X, the studio center piece with the most I/O, meter, buttons, 16QLink
The One is the little brother for people who want a classic mpc with all the software feature and easily integrate with your DAW workflow, you can use in controller mode or export stem
The Force is the clip style standalone device with MPC engine. Perfect for dj, who likes ableton and modular guy for the step sequencer.
The Live is still the best MPC, portable, additional output if you use outboard, no need of a phono pre amp, probably the best for a lot of people for solo live, you take a midi controller or a mono synth with battery and you bring 3 cable with you. Often I recorded at my friend house his vinyl. The rectangular size is perfect when you sit somewhere. If you work with a label, it's easy to bring the Live with you at the studio,plug in and go. No hustle to sync with Ableton, the additional output are enough to run through some outboard or get some stem. You can easily export your project and leave it there. No computer, no cable.

If the One has battery then it should have more output at that point there's no point in a square shape but also what's the point of the Live then?

Classic MPC with the X/One.
Modern version with the Live.
Different approach with the Force.
And all of them don't cut down in term of technology and features.
I think Akai is doing a great job, nowdays it's really hard to make a "main so brain". Some use outboard, some just a little, some completely ITB. Vst and analogue synth then you got the modular guy, the dj who is not mixing anymore but kind of playing live.
It's perfect we have 3 type of MPC, I would like a Live mk2 with a small 16 step sequencer with arrow page in one row and QLink with oled.