Good timing to get X?

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.
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Good timing to get X?

By maara Fri May 08, 2020 10:45 am
I am just wondering with Live Mk2 on the horizon, is this a good time to get X?

Thanks for your opinions!
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By NearTao Fri May 08, 2020 12:29 pm
The Live and X are somewhat different use cases.

If you want an X, I'd say go for it. The mk2 is unlikely to supersede the X... and there is no news of an X mk2 at this time...

The new features as we understand it for the Live mk2
* CV jacks - these are already on the X
* built in speaker - I doubt this will be added to an X mk2
* more buttons - X still has more... so less shift keys on X
* Live has ethernet - okay... this is nice, but you can still USB ethernet on the X
* Live mk2 looks to have an arm rest... X already has this

There might be a few new features on the Live mk2 I am missing... but this mk2 is more to bring the Live line in parity with the X/One, than anything to replace the X.

Also... Czech is great... been to Prague and Brno many times... can't wait to go back!
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By maara Fri May 08, 2020 1:07 pm
NearTao wrote:The Live and X are somewhat different use cases.

If you want an X, I'd say go for it. The mk2 is unlikely to supersede the X... and there is no news of an X mk2 at this time...

The new features as we understand it for the Live mk2
* CV jacks - these are already on the X
* built in speaker - I doubt this will be added to an X mk2
* more buttons - X still has more... so less shift keys on X
* Live has ethernet - okay... this is nice, but you can still USB ethernet on the X
* Live mk2 looks to have an arm rest... X already has this

There might be a few new features on the Live mk2 I am missing... but this mk2 is more to bring the Live line in parity with the X/One, than anything to replace the X.

Also... Czech is great... been to Prague and Brno many times... can't wait to go back!


Hey! Thanks for your response! Nice to hear that you enjoyed your visit!! :))
I think the same - the X is here to stay for some time but if there is a new revision, it would be more about its internals what worries me the most (I don’t think I’d miss any features and I don’t find any of the Live 2 new features anyhow interesting but seeing a more powerful cpu and more ram would be disappointing).
I already had Live at the time it was released but I didn’t like it much as that device was really unbaked by that time with its very first firmware. I also didn’t like its form factor, mainly because of its bricky feel and its heavily touchscreen oriented controls so I missed the old 2500 clicky flow... I checked all the new features they added since that and I think that X with its all current features (hw and sw) might be exactly what I am looking for but the real question is how likely is that the current line of MPC will get deprecated once the MK2 series is out...
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By NearTao Fri May 08, 2020 1:26 pm
maara wrote:the real question is how likely is that the current line of MPC will get deprecated once the MK2 series is out...


I don't think anybody knows, but personally I don't see the Live mk2 reducing the value of the X in a meaningful way... it brings the Live series in closer alignment.

My take... it is a great time to get an X... especially with 2.8 around the corner. Maybe keep an eye on the second hand market too?
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By EnochLight Fri May 08, 2020 2:57 pm
NearTao wrote:* Live mk2 looks to have an arm rest...


Huh? NO, it doesn't. I'm not sure why people keep saying this (both here and at GS), when the FCC specs clearly state it has a speaker, and the photos are clearly a grilled speaker. And due to the MPC Live's form factor, I don't think I have ever in history seen anyone come close to needing to rest their wrists/arms on anything when working on it.

But I'd be interested to see if I'm wrong. :worthy:
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By Lampdog Fri May 08, 2020 4:40 pm
NearTao wrote:Maybe keep an eye on the second hand market too?

That’s where I got my mint condition X. $1800.
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By NearTao Fri May 08, 2020 6:37 pm
Got my X for $1700... looked like it was used maybe 15-20 times max... and seller said it was scratched on the OLED display... I figured it was a $80 repair from mpcstuff if I had to buy a new face plate... so not a big deal.

When it arrived, the scratch was on the cellophane that the dude hadn't even removed! X is mint here too...
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By saltmcgault Fri May 08, 2020 7:43 pm
A good friend sent me a link from reverb an open box model from alto music for $1649. Used "once" for a demo and boxed back up. It looked like it was brand spanking new.
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By maara Fri May 08, 2020 8:25 pm
Sadly, I haven't seen a second-hand X for sale in our country for months - they are rather rare in our country and I don't want to get one from abroad (even from EU) as the shipping costs are usually ridiculous (if you are lucky enough and find a seller who even ships abroad)..
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By Hamsta Gangsta Fri May 08, 2020 10:11 pm
maara wrote: but the real question is how likely is that the current line of MPC will get deprecated once the MK2 series is out...


In the worst case scenario if X MK2 somehow drops soon, you can just flip it for the new one. But personally I don't like buying newly released music gear as there are often a lot of problems. I wanted to get the One before getting the X as a cheaper introduction to these new line of MPCs, but it seems that people are having some strange problems with it so I will probably go just straight for the X.
As for where to buy it thomann.de should have it soon in stock and they have a free delivery on orders above €199.
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By Quickstrike2.0 Sat May 09, 2020 1:20 am
EnochLight wrote:
NearTao wrote:* Live mk2 looks to have an arm rest...


Huh? NO, it doesn't. I'm not sure why people keep saying this (both here and at GS), when the FCC specs clearly state it has a speaker, and the photos are clearly a grilled speaker. And due to the MPC Live's form factor, I don't think I have ever in history seen anyone come close to needing to rest their wrists/arms on anything when working on it.

But I'd be interested to see if I'm wrong. :worthy:


seriously you never seen anyone use the arm/wrists rest or is that a joke?
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By Lampdog Sat May 09, 2020 1:32 am
Quickstrike2.0 wrote:
EnochLight wrote:I don't think I have ever in history seen anyone come close to needing to rest their wrists/arms on anything when working on it.

But I'd be interested to see if I'm wrong. :worthy:


seriously you never seen anyone use the arm/wrists rest or is that a joke?

Gotta be a joke.
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By maara Thu May 14, 2020 8:17 am
ok,so I got my X!
I must say that I am very excited by this machine. I really like the hw - its really nice to have so many dedicated hw buttons so I am not using the touchscreen that much (something I didn't like on Live) but still have it there and ready and the screen is amazing - it doesn't even compare to the Live's smaller screen where hitting the right button was sometimes tricky (and annoying).
When I turned it on for the first time, I was kinda meh because the sw felt weird and it really reminded me why I didn't like Live (remember - I had one of the first units that were sold in our country so I remember the very first fw it came with and first 2 updates it received). Then I realized that I forgot to update the mpc it so after going to 2.7, I am really happy by all the features and I must say that its awesome to see how mature the OS got in last 2 years. Can't wait for 2.8!
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Re: Good timing to get X?

By Hamsta Gangsta Thu May 14, 2020 9:40 am
Good to hear you're happy with your purchase.
Where did you get you X from btw? I'm checking various European music shops and both X and One are out of stock :(

Re: Good timing to get X?

By Cockdiesel Thu May 14, 2020 9:43 am
Congrats and enjoy your new machine Maara, it’s a shame the live didn’t click for you. Love mine but I understand.

@tao - nice beat in your tag, I forgot to give you some props on that blog of yours. Been meaning to say something for awhile.
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