MPC Beats Manual? Or which one to use?

I have a bunch of questions, like, how do I assign Fx's Vst's to Vst's, how route sends work, some questions about how non-destructive and extract new samples work, they are too many to post here. I've been having fun with the program I can say, but I need a manual lol.

I looked around and there's no manual for the MPC Beats, which manual can I read that resembles most the MPC Beats Software?

Kaiju wrote:I looked around and there's no manual for the MPC Beats, which manual can I read that resembles most the MPC Beats Software?

Menu > Help > MPC Beats Help > MPC Beat Software Manual

The same menu also has manuals for specific hardware units
There is also a hardware manual with midi controller preset configurations
Depending on what version you have, you might have to do an internet search to find all the documentation

But the lack of shortcuts.

In the Help menu there is a list of Keyboard Shortcuts. Alternatively you can press "Ctrl Shift Alt K" to bring up a searchable list of shortcuts. I would agree however, that there should be more keyboard shortcuts, and those shortcuts should be user customizable.

How the zoom works. How every time you assign a sample you go to the program window and back to the chop window and the sample with the chops you were working is gone and have to click on it again. How there's no way of knowing at which DB's the sound is hitting. How every time I open the program I have to set the route of my samples libraries. May be that I still don't know how to use it or haven't found my workflow. Maybe the complete MPC software works better.

I don't know precisely the nature of those issues you are having, but I'm confident that they won't be issues for very long once you familiarize yourself with the software's options. The Complete software is identical feature wise. The number of tracks available is the only difference between the two.

But I mean, this is an MPC software, seasoned players are behind this. I work faster with my 500 once I have the chops and totally faster with my 1000 from scratch. Come on guys, put some love in this software. Or I still don't know how to use it. I try to say this in the most constructive of ways. This is Hip Hop I'm making here, not using the click button on my mouse at the sound of a beat. All in good spirits.

I understand your sentiments here. I agree that there are definitely some improvements that are needed. However, I've found in my short time using the software and interacting with others who do so, that there isn't a strong shared knowledge base.

As a result, there are a lot of users who are struggling with basic problems that could be avoided with a clearer destination for information regarding the software (e.g. how many people don't understand the pads are mapped according to General Midi and not chromatically, and subsequently report a problem?)

If someone does an internet search for more information on the MPC beats software, they aren't necessarily going to get relevant results due to Akai's nomenclature (and lack of official forums). You're going to get results that have nothing to do with MPC 2.8/Beats software. You are going to get a lot of results with information regarding the hardware units such as the Live or X which may or may not be relevant to your specific inquiry.

My hope is that at least this forum will have enough software specific threads that eventually the above will no longer be an issue.

The Ken wrote:

Kaiju wrote:I looked around and there's no manual for the MPC Beats, which manual can I read that resembles most the MPC Beats Software?

Menu > Help > MPC Beats Help > MPC Beat Software Manual

The same menu also has manuals for specific hardware units
There is also a hardware manual with midi controller preset configurations
Depending on what version you have, you might have to do an internet search to find all the documentation

But the lack of shortcuts.

In the Help menu there is a list of Keyboard Shortcuts. Alternatively you can press "Ctrl Shift Alt K" to bring up a searchable list of shortcuts. I would agree however, that there should be more keyboard shortcuts, and those shortcuts should be user customizable.

How the zoom works. How every time you assign a sample you go to the program window and back to the chop window and the sample with the chops you were working is gone and have to click on it again. How there's no way of knowing at which DB's the sound is hitting. How every time I open the program I have to set the route of my samples libraries. May be that I still don't know how to use it or haven't found my workflow. Maybe the complete MPC software works better.

I don't know precisely the nature of those issues you are having, but I'm confident that they won't be issues for very long once you familiarize yourself with the software's options. The Complete software is identical feature wise. The number of tracks available is the only difference between the two.

But I mean, this is an MPC software, seasoned players are behind this. I work faster with my 500 once I have the chops and totally faster with my 1000 from scratch. Come on guys, put some love in this software. Or I still don't know how to use it. I try to say this in the most constructive of ways. This is Hip Hop I'm making here, not using the click button on my mouse at the sound of a beat. All in good spirits.

I understand your sentiments here. I agree that there are definitely some improvements that are needed. However, I've found in my short time using the software and interacting with others who do so, that there isn't a strong shared knowledge base.

As a result, there are a lot of users who are struggling with basic problems that could be avoided with a clearer destination for information regarding the software (e.g. how many people don't understand the pads are mapped according to General Midi and not chromatically, and subsequently report a problem?)

If someone does an internet search for more information on the MPC beats software, they aren't necessarily going to get relevant results due to Akai's nomenclature (and lack of official forums). You're going to get results that have nothing to do with MPC 2.8/Beats software. You are going to get a lot of results with information regarding the hardware units such as the Live or X which may or may not be relevant to your specific inquiry.

My hope is that at least this forum will have enough software specific threads that eventually the above will no longer be an issue.

Thanks so much. I have looked low and high for most of those answers. I'm sure the Manual will bring me up to date fast. Googled everything, watched all the vids on YouTube. Still only found super basic stuff.

The short cut list is massive, thanks. There are some functions in the "3 bars" that I guess they're in there, because they're used so frequently. Actually hoping so.

Yeah, the zoom is a problem at least in my computer for now. I guess I can get used to using it. When I'm chopping samples and I go to other window and I come back to that window the sample is deselected. There are a lot of minor issues that I find are crucial for a fast work flow. There's some other stuff like knowing at which DB's my channel is hitting. I can do that by ear, but when I need surgical precision it's a problem. Stuff like that.

I'm guessing the manual will have most of the answers, or I just will get used to how the Software works. In my book the MPC1000 it's flawless. Fast workflow, everything makes sense, it has buttons to change sequences so I can hit them 3 times and know I changed up 3 sequences, stuff like, 2 midi ins and out, 4 (?) outs, stuff like that. I know AKAI it's not really about Hip Hop anymore and I have heard complaints about its users that they don't listen to their requests, specially since the Ren came out. I was and am happy with my MPC500 and my MPC1000 but will continue to use heavily this software. It can be really fun.

There's some stuff that it's not working too well with my Akai MPD32 controller, a matter of calibration, so I'm hoping the Manual has some info on that. I have it mapped, so when I scroll thru the Sequences they scroll super fast, barely touching the fader and they scroll from first to last in one go. Maybe I can calibrate it with the MPD32 software, like limiting the 0-127 cc mesages to 0-64. IDK. But I need a hands of the computer and off the mouse experience. All hands on the MPC it's what I like. I love the sound of the MPC1000 and those before it. Not really a fan of touch screens either, but I could give the MPC Live 2 a go.

I think they would sell a lot more units if they just made a faster and improved MPC1000. Taking in account all the mods that are out there. Make em with super fast loading times, XL screen with better resolution, not for pretty pictures for the Drum Programs, that's distracting. Something closely resembling JJOS. Fat or cork pads, and all the modern ins and outs the new ones have. USB ans SD slots. Two midi ins and outs, six audio aux outs. A serious profesional unit. For my taste the new layout it's not working. It's like pushed to the side, feels weird. I have a long list of stuff that I don't like in the new MPC's lol. I don't mind at all the quirks and "personalities" that all music software's and hardware's have, but some are really difficult to ignore and work with, not talking specifically about the new AKAI's.

Well, that's just my take on it. I'm trying to be constructive, I spend all day and most of the night, most of the days with these machines, others, instruments and music software's non stop since long ago.

Kaiju wrote: I know AKAI it's not really about Hip Hop anymore

bees80 wrote:

Kaiju wrote: I know AKAI it's not really about Hip Hop anymore

lol facts men

Kaiju wrote:
lol facts men

It's an opinion from your perspective.

House and techno producers have been using mpc's since they first came out. I never saw any advertisement for akai that the mpc are ''for hiphop''. Maybe that's just the circle or bubble you have been in. No offence meant but i just thought it was a funny statement

Sorry to go offtopic.. i had an mpc 1000 and sold it, now got a live. Thinking about selling that too actually..

bees80 wrote:

Kaiju wrote:
lol facts men

It's an opinion from your perspective.

House and techno producers have been using mpc's since they first came out. I never saw any advertisement for akai that the mpc are ''for hiphop''. Maybe that's just the circle or bubble you have been in. No offence meant but i just thought it was a funny statement

Sorry to go offtopic.. i had an mpc 1000 and sold it, now got a live. Thinking about selling that too actually..

Yeah actually you're right. The house movement and all that. People making Drum and Bass with MPC's, loading the wave files in the pads. Or using them as sequencers, because at least the MPC 60 MK2 it's one of the best till this day, I've heard.

I'm thinking that when the 3000 came out they were looking heavily towards what was happening in Hip Hop. A lot of users were on the MK2 and the 60. I might be wrong tho.

What I was trying to say it's that I think they tried to please a big part of the people, of the market, in my opinion actually missing the mark, and riding waves of what was selling at the time, fads that came and went really fast, in my opinion, instead of making their products like before the MPD's. They lost a bit of seriousness and aim. I don't know how to put my finger on the issue, less at this time in the early morn/late night, but It has to do with some of that stuff.

Kaiju wrote:Thanks so much. I have looked low and high for most of those answers. I'm sure the Manual will bring me up to date fast. Googled everything, watched all the vids on YouTube. Still only found super basic stuff.

Happy to help. And you are right, it's really hard to find the information you need sometimes.

Yeah, the zoom is a problem at least in my computer for now. I guess I can get used to using it.

Are you talking about how cluttered and smashed all the elements are on the screen? If that is the case you can disable certain modules in order to give you more real estate to work. For example, you can turn off the inspector on the bottom left and the file/midi browser on the bottom right to give yourself a lot more screen real estate.

When I'm chopping samples and I go to other window and I come back to that window the sample is deselected. There are a lot of minor issues that I find are crucial for a fast work flow.

I don't 100% understand all the details involved in that exact situation but....
I'm 100% certain that you can make this work the way that you want it to.

There's some other stuff like knowing at which DB's my channel is hitting. I can do that by ear, but when I need surgical precision it's a problem. Stuff like that.

If you click on the inspector icon on the bottom left, it should bring up a program and output channel strip with levels. If you have a second monitor, you can even see levels for every pad, program, track, and send in your project by clicking mixer window on the bottom left.

I'm guessing the manual will have most of the answers, or I just will get used to how the Software works. In my book the MPC1000 it's flawless. Fast workflow, everything makes sense, it has buttons to change sequences so I can hit them 3 times and know I changed up 3 sequences, stuff like, 2 midi ins and out, 4 (?) outs, stuff like that.

To be fair, I'm sure there was a learning curve with the MPC1000 just as there will be with this software. I also
think that the software allows for much more functionality. Thus more possibilities and problems along with it.

Also the workflow example you mentioned is applicable to the Beats software as well. You can assign buttons on your midi controller to change your sequence.

I know AKAI it's not really about Hip Hop anymore and I have heard complaints about its users that they don't listen to their requests, specially since the Ren came out.

I don't have a dog in that fight, but I'll comment on something that I have observed. I don't think "users" know what they want. If Akai fulfilled every request that was made, they would spend half of their time adding features that are already in the software.

I just have noticed though reading a lot of user comments and posts, that I wouldn't want the internet at large determining what Akai should be fixing or working on. This doesn't mean however, that there aren't some people out there with really good suggestions, because I have seen that too.

There's some stuff that it's not working too well with my Akai MPD32 controller, a matter of calibration, so I'm hoping the Manual has some info on that. I have it mapped, so when I scroll thru the Sequences they scroll super fast, barely touching the fader and they scroll from first to last in one go. Maybe I can calibrate it with the MPD32 software, like limiting the 0-127 cc mesages to 0-64. IDK.

This is a barrier for a lot of people. There are a lot of ways to get your midi controller to interact with the software, so the developer can't just offer you a template that's going to work with your MPD32 even if it's the same manufacturer. Users can configure the software correctly, they way they want, but miss something important the hardware configuration and it doesn't work as expected, or vice versa. I see it causing a lot of troubleshooting issues online.

Do you have your faders mapped to the Q-links? I prefer not mapping controls to Q-links, but sometimes you have to. They work best when mapped to encoders, but sometimes you don't have that option. When mapping some controls to faders or knobs with limits you end up with crappy resolution. This is true for controls with a wide range of values. And example would be Sequence length in Bars, or Sequence Tempo. The 128 values that your fader or knob can send, aren't good for controlling a parameter with 1000 settings.

But I need a hands of the computer and off the mouse experience. All hands on the MPC it's what I like. I love the sound of the MPC1000 and those before it. Not really a fan of touch screens either, but I could give the MPC Live 2 a go.

I feel you on this point. I hate using the mouse too. So I don't.

I don't have an MPC Live. But i'll say that if you don't get along with the software and aren't keen on touch screens, getting the Live isn't going to be a huge improvement.

I think they would sell a lot more units if they just made a faster and improved MPC1000. Taking in account all the mods that are out there. Make em with super fast loading times, XL screen with better resolution, not for pretty pictures for the Drum Programs, that's distracting. Something closely resembling JJOS. Fat or cork pads, and all the modern ins and outs the new ones have. USB ans SD slots. Two midi ins and outs, six audio aux outs. A serious profesional unit. For my taste the new layout it's not working. It's like pushed to the side, feels weird. I have a long list of stuff that I don't like in the new MPC's lol. I don't mind at all the quirks and "personalities" that all music software's and hardware's have, but some are really difficult to ignore and work with, not talking specifically about the new AKAI's.

Well, that's just my take on it. I'm trying to be constructive, I spend all day and most of the night, most of the days with these machines, others, instruments and music software's non stop since long ago.

I think the takeaway is that someone has to put in the work. The best example I can think of is a project template. A user can create a project template that is setup to do exactly what they want, the way they want it done, with the hardware they have. They can end up writing dozens of songs using this template.

The bulk of the work might be spending 200 hours creating and refining that template. To some people that isn't what making music is about. It might turn them off completely. But for some people (and I think I'm one of those people) figuring out a way to get things to work they way you want, or get them to work in a unique way, is a large part of the music creation process.

But there are lot of people who would rather have a framework like this created for them, which is totally a valid perspective. It's just difficult to create such a framework that's going to appeal to everyone. So things get left "open" for more flexibility.

We can help each other out though and that's how you get a more improved unified experience. It's one of the reasons that older hardware is held is higher regard sometimes while being less capable.

bees80 wrote:

Kaiju wrote:
lol facts men

It's an opinion from your perspective.

House and techno producers have been using mpc's since they first came out. I never saw any advertisement for akai that the mpc are ''for hiphop''. Maybe that's just the circle or bubble you have been in. No offence meant but i just thought it was a funny statement

Sorry to go offtopic.. i had an mpc 1000 and sold it, now got a live. Thinking about selling that too actually..

This is funny, I knew it had to be somewhere. The first time I saw someone sampling straight from his drum kit into an MPC was in my early 20's when I was studying Jazz. They had a big room where the big band would sit, we would just move the chairs and fill the room and the kit with mics into a small grimy mixer. Then the master buss into the MPC.

I agree. Lots of Hiphop producers were low key house and techno heads as well. They used different production name because they didn't want to be known as a "Sell Out" for making other music. Crazy right.

These machines have lots of features and lots of ways to use them. As mentioned, people tend to call something broken or a bug because it doesn't work the way, that they want it to work. Finding work arounds, creating templates, and doing a deep dive into their work flow would help.

This is getting complex to answer with all the replies lol. Quick answers . Don't mind the bold letters, it's so it can be readable.

The Ken wrote:

Kaiju wrote:Thanks so much. I have looked low and high for most of those answers. I'm sure the Manual will bring me up to date fast. Googled everything, watched all the vids on YouTube. Still only found super basic stuff.

Happy to help. And you are right, it's really hard to find the information you need sometimes.

Yeah, the zoom is a problem at least in my computer for now. I guess I can get used to using it.

Are you talking about how cluttered and smashed all the elements are on the screen? If that is the case you can disable certain modules in order to give you more real estate to work. For example, you can turn off the inspector on the bottom left and the file/midi browser on the bottom right to give yourself a lot more screen real estate.

No. I grab the zoom and a small movement makes it go wild. Even with all windows closed. Goes far up and down, and in sample mode just off the grid. I'll learn how to use it or change mouse. But it's different from all zooms I have used.

When I'm chopping samples and I go to other window and I come back to that window the sample is deselected. There are a lot of minor issues that I find are crucial for a fast work flow.

I don't 100% understand all the details involved in that exact situation but....
I'm 100% certain that you can make this work the way that you want it to.

For sure

There's some other stuff like knowing at which DB's my channel is hitting. I can do that by ear, but when I need surgical precision it's a problem. Stuff like that.

If you click on the inspector icon on the bottom left, it should bring up a program and output channel strip with levels. If you have a second monitor, you can even see levels for every pad, program, track, and send in your project by clicking mixer window on the bottom left.

I mean like having a meter saying like "Peak -03 DB", which is how close is to zero or clipping point. Since I'm sampling there as well to load it in my MPC's and Sp04SX I don't have it in 32 bit float but in 16 bit. I haven't seen a meter like that in the software. Probably there is one. Thanks for the manual, if there is one, that will tell me

I'm guessing the manual will have most of the answers, or I just will get used to how the Software works. In my book the MPC1000 it's flawless. Fast workflow, everything makes sense, it has buttons to change sequences so I can hit them 3 times and know I changed up 3 sequences, stuff like, 2 midi ins and out, 4 (?) outs, stuff like that.

To be fair, I'm sure there was a learning curve with the MPC1000 just as there will be with this software. I also
think that the software allows for much more functionality. Thus more possibilities and problems along with it.

Also the workflow example you mentioned is applicable to the Beats software as well. You can assign buttons on your midi controller to change your sequence.

I tried assigning it to a button, as welll as the banks, only works on faders and knobs. I have it currently on a fader. I think it's because the MPD32 works differently from the MPD232 series and the newer ones. The buttons of the MPD232 can be assigned to banks and I guess to change sequences as well. Anyways I have to spend more time in that field

I know AKAI it's not really about Hip Hop anymore and I have heard complaints about its users that they don't listen to their requests, specially since the Ren came out.

I don't have a dog in that fight, but I'll comment on something that I have observed. I don't think "users" know what they want. If Akai fulfilled every request that was made, they would spend half of their time adding features that are already in the software.

I just have noticed though reading a lot of user comments and posts, that I wouldn't want the internet at large determining what Akai should be fixing or working on. This doesn't mean however, that there aren't some people out there with really good suggestions, because I have seen that too.

True. I was saying that because there was a big rokus in the Ren community over a bug in the MPC software that was holding people back from making music, and that took like two years to fix lol. That rokus spread over here at mpc-forums as well.

There's some stuff that it's not working too well with my Akai MPD32 controller, a matter of calibration, so I'm hoping the Manual has some info on that. I have it mapped, so when I scroll thru the Sequences they scroll super fast, barely touching the fader and they scroll from first to last in one go. Maybe I can calibrate it with the MPD32 software, like limiting the 0-127 cc mesages to 0-64. IDK.

This is a barrier for a lot of people. There are a lot of ways to get your midi controller to interact with the software, so the developer can't just offer you a template that's going to work with your MPD32 even if it's the same manufacturer. Users can configure the software correctly, they way they want, but miss something important the hardware configuration and it doesn't work as expected, or vice versa. I see it causing a lot of troubleshooting issues online.

Do you have your faders mapped to the Q-links? I prefer not mapping controls to Q-links, but sometimes you have to. They work best when mapped to encoders, but sometimes you don't have that option. When mapping some controls to faders or knobs with limits you end up with crappy resolution. This is true for controls with a wide range of values. And example would be Sequence length in Bars, or Sequence Tempo. The 128 values that your fader or knob can send, aren't good for controlling a parameter with 1000 settings.

I have some stuff mapped to the endless knobs, and other stuff I had to map it to faders. But it's a work in progress. The MPD232 series works almost flawless with MPC Beats as far as I know but the MPD32 series doesn't as well

But I need a hands of the computer and off the mouse experience. All hands on the MPC it's what I like. I love the sound of the MPC1000 and those before it. Not really a fan of touch screens either, but I could give the MPC Live 2 a go.

I feel you on this point. I hate using the mouse too. So I don't.

I don't have an MPC Live. But i'll say that if you don't get along with the software and aren't keen on touch screens, getting the Live isn't going to be a huge improvement.

True. I mean, I'm a heavy Ableton user. If I'm getting an MPC, it's gonna be the 2000XL. As soon as I can. I meant that I didn't mind trying the new ones. But what I'm asking and I want to know, is who is going to fix all those touch screens when they start failing? lol The MPC parts and mod stores are gonna make the big bucks lol

I think they would sell a lot more units if they just made a faster and improved MPC1000. Taking in account all the mods that are out there. Make em with super fast loading times, XL screen with better resolution, not for pretty pictures for the Drum Programs, that's distracting. Something closely resembling JJOS. Fat or cork pads, and all the modern ins and outs the new ones have. USB ans SD slots. Two midi ins and outs, six audio aux outs. A serious profesional unit. For my taste the new layout it's not working. It's like pushed to the side, feels weird. I have a long list of stuff that I don't like in the new MPC's lol. I don't mind at all the quirks and "personalities" that all music software's and hardware's have, but some are really difficult to ignore and work with, not talking specifically about the new AKAI's.

Well, that's just my take on it. I'm trying to be constructive, I spend all day and most of the night, most of the days with these machines, others, instruments and music software's non stop since long ago.

I think the takeaway is that someone has to put in the work. The best example I can think of is a project template. A user can create a project template that is setup to do exactly what they want, the way they want it done, with the hardware they have. They can end up writing dozens of songs using this template.

The bulk of the work might be spending 200 hours creating and refining that template. To some people that isn't what making music is about. It might turn them off completely. But for some people (and I think I'm one of those people) figuring out a way to get things to work they way you want, or get them to work in a unique way, is a large part of the music creation process.

But there are lot of people who would rather have a framework like this created for them, which is totally a valid perspective. It's just difficult to create such a framework that's going to appeal to everyone. So things get left "open" for more flexibility.

We can help each other out though and that's how you get a more improved unified experience. It's one of the reasons that older hardware is held is higher regard sometimes while being less capable.

None could have said it better. If it's a hardware and a software in a computer meant to work together, there is enormous room for companies to let people customize their work spaces, software and hardware. Unless is something like Maschine that is very complex with lots of functions, lots of knobs that do all the jobs imaginable and precisely, but I think you can even map some stuff in the Maschine Software. Check out what they're doing with high end consoles and the 500 series. Buy a console, place in which ever 500 series you want in any channel, and in the master buss. That is really important because it enhances peoples workflows and important stuff like connectivity and signal routing in a home or professional studio. So it can be easily suited for what your doing without spending big bucks or without having that option. A lot of companies are focusing in letting their users customize their stuff to better suit their workflow and signal flow, without spending big bucks. As far as hardware goes, sometimes I just want them to work fast and do their job. Like the MPC1000. I can make beats so fast with that machine, one after the other that I just love to use it, or to sample while listening to music. Same with the Sp404SX. As you said earlier is a matter of spending time with the Software and or the Hardware. For example in Ableton I have tons of mappings and had scripts but got lost in a HD failure, all which I use with my MPD for different situations, all made by me. The 1000, I'm happy as it is.

What I take from this, is keep making music, never stop learning, and if you do it everyday then you know more than last week.

CharlesRandolph wrote:I agree. Lots of Hiphop producers were low key house and techno heads as well. They used different production name because they didn't want to be known as a "Sell Out" for making other music. Crazy right.

These machines have lots of features and lots of ways to use them. As mentioned, people tend to call something broken or a bug because it doesn't work the way, that they want it to work. Finding work arounds, creating templates, and doing a deep dive into their work flow would help.

Totally. Or embracing and using an actual bug or the "broken part", that has been the history of personal signature sounds and personal techniques over a century of music recording lol

Kaiju wrote:Totally. Or embracing and using the bug or the "broken part", that has been the history of personal signature sounds and personal techniques over a century of music recording lol

Exactly. The quirks and flaws is what gives it personality. All I know is making it easier to create MIDI maps would've been blessing in standalone. I created a 8, 16, and 24 track Midi Mapping template, with 8, 16, 24 faders, Pans, Solo, and Mutes for just just tracks. Just to make it easier to mix in the box, without having to constantly touch the machine.

After doing it, they definitely could've made it easier, by licensing Mackie Control protocol. Every person on the planet with a control surface would eat it up.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Kaiju wrote:Totally. Or embracing and using the bug or the "broken part", that has been the history of personal signature sounds and personal techniques over a century of music recording lol

Exactly. The quirks and flaws is what gives it personality. All I know is making it easier to create MIDI maps would've been blessing in standalone. I created a 8, 16, and 24 track Midi Mapping template, with 8, 16, 24 faders, Pans, Solo, and Mutes for just just tracks. Just to make it easier to mix in the box, without having to constantly touch the machine.

After doing it, they definitely could've made it easier, by licensing Mackie Control protocol. Every person on the planet with a control surface would eat it up.

Yeah. Companies sometimes seem to be very petty with that stuff, or can be legal issues. Anyways I think they can do a better job. Again looking at high end recording equipment companies, seems like they woke up, and are really placing time into product development and actual meaningful relationships with clients, so they know what they need. Stuff I don't necessarily see with companies that sell equipment that isn't as pricey. I'm talking here 24 thousand dollar recording mixing consoles. They are doing amazing stuff with customization and routing, relaxing a bit their legacy or traditions and expanding, professionally, their products to better suit, again, professionally, the users. Of course there are exceptions like always with companies that sell not so expensive products. But some stuff like what you just mentioned about not licensing the protocol leaves us wondering wtf why? lol

Kaiju wrote:
Yeah. Companies sometimes seem to be very petty with that stuff, or can be legal issues. Anyways I think they can do a better job. Again looking at high end recording equipment companies, seems like they woke up, and are really placing time into product development and actual meaningful relationships with clients, so they know what they need. Stuff I don't necessarily see with companies that sell equipment that isn't as pricey. I'm talking here 24 thousand dollar recording mixing consoles. They are doing amazing stuff with customization and routing, relaxing a bit their legacy or traditions and expanding, professionally, their products to better suit, again, professionally, the users. Of course there are exceptions like always with companies that sell not so expensive products. But some stuff like what you just mentioned about not licensing the protocol leaves us wondering wtf why? lol

Yeah, those companies were forced to change. Software was/is eating them alive. I could buy a rack of Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor for 11K or buy a EL plug for $300 and get 97% there is a no brainier. SSL knew the writing was on the wall, so they made the smart move.

This generation shifted away of having tons of gear. We don't need 500K+ console to make quality recordings anymore. I don't need a separate, sound proof, AC cooled room to run the power supply for my desk. The loudest thing in my studio were my MPC 4000 fans and swapped those fans out.

But certain things have become a standard, like surface control, digital i/o, network storage, audio over IP. All of these things, Akai Pro is not using. They updated the software, so an external class compliant usb hack that, @QuickStrike found no longer works.