MPC X Retro?

I know the retro editions are controversial but I love it. Has anyone mocked up the MPC X in photoshop to a "retro" edition? I'd love to see one.

Hell, I'd love to buy one. I suspect Akai might release a new flagship MPC to replace the X instead of offering a retro version, and hopefully use the Retro livery on whatever the new flagship will be. Still though - would be cool to see a Retro livery X instead of the black/white ones with the vinyl wrap.

It'll probably depend on the One... they *only* changed the skin of it for a retro edition... so if they get great sales... the market is telling them that a retro X (no changes) has a high chance of selling. Otherwise... if the Retro One does poorly... they'll likely move onto either an X mk 2 with new features (think Live mk2, though probably no speaker)... or if they think the market would bear it move to a new platform.

I'm interested to see what they do... but I feel like there is still legs on the current platform for another year or two at least... so my eggs go into a Retro X or an X mk2 before we see a new MPC platform.

You can bet your bottom dollar that the X retro will come ... 100%
They have seen how easy they can boost sales with little extra costs, not too mention that every facelift gets a LOT of media attention, wether it's from the fans or haters, in the end the exposure is there and it's free.
I forsee that the Retro X will be there around the end of this year, during the holiday season.
Covid has done the instrument branche a great favor as many people were at home more than ever and it reflects in sales, even in the used market. Their marketing team sees this and this is the reason that they have released so many iterations in such a short time (One, Live 2, One Gold edition, Live 2 retro, and now the Retro One) All these products within just over a 14 months !!!
Akai is making bucks and after many years of the opposite they are not going to stop.

The X retro will most likely be the final MPC of this generation and then they will start working on the next gen version which probably come out at the end of 2022 or early 2023.

Keep in mind, the money is in the hardware. They are not making much on just software as people will use that for years and creating updates and fixing bugs is just costing them money.
GAS is what they rely on the most, and therefore you need new/facelifted hardware regularly.

I've had a Live and a Force sold them both but with the increases Midi functions to control all my external gear I'm looking at the X again. The X is the only one without a retro style so may get it, kind of a cheap non-upgrade that gets a bit of media coverage. I am however in two minds, the X is getting old, although I suppose as it's based on Windows 10 so without a major rewrite of the core system I'm unsure what could be added to a X mark 2? Speakers - not sure on this one! I've always felt better editing, mouse and a HDMI to see the screen in large format would help. There again I'd dump the turntable inputs but some would say that would not make it an MPC!

CFM01 wrote:... I suppose as it's based on Windows 10 so without a major rewrite of the core system I'm unsure what could be added to a X mark 2?!

Not based on Windows 10. Linux, like all the other standalone mpcs.

CFM01 wrote:I've had a Live and a Force sold them both but with the increases Midi functions to control all my external gear I'm looking at the X again. The X is the only one without a retro style so may get it, kind of a cheap non-upgrade that gets a bit of media coverage. I am however in two minds, the X is getting old, although I suppose as it's based on Windows 10 so without a major rewrite of the core system I'm unsure what could be added to a X mark 2? Speakers - not sure on this one! I've always felt better editing, mouse and a HDMI to see the screen in large format would help. There again I'd dump the turntable inputs but some would say that would not make it an MPC!

It's simple.
A next gen X or any other MPC for that matter would need a modern soc with much more ram, faster storage and more internal storage space.
That's all.
This way the device could run powerfully 3rdparty plugins and have reserves for any future updates.
HOWEVER, 3rd party is not going to make dedicated plugin versions for this proprietary system as they have them for MacOS and Windows already and it's costing too much.
So what we will see is an upgrade X with more features (3.0 ?) better
Hardware and some more inhouse plugins that are more powerfull.
The touchscreen will probably be updated and if they are smart they would include IPAD support to allow that Device to run the 100s of sound apps and plugins. This platform already has the software in place and no need to wait on 3rd party software.
This would really make a HUGE difference and change the game.

Bombbeats4000 wrote:It's simple.

What it is is extraordinarily obvious that you have no software or hardware development experience whatsoever.

The concept is simple bro. Never did I say I was an engineer, but I am sure we all have an idea to where it needs to be heading in order to make it worthwhile.

Amazing the negativity and animosity that always seems to be present here.

Lampdog wrote:3rd Party plugins inside mpc standalone would be a huge mistake.

Because ?

I think a full line of Retro MPCs will be the norm for 3.0, maybe newer ergonomics with button and pad placements.

Hey, they did it with the Touch. These retros might be the window to the next line.

Bombbeats4000 wrote:

Lampdog wrote:3rd Party plugins inside mpc standalone would be a huge mistake.

Because ?

Because of the lack of resources (cpu/ram), quality assurance, the need for 3rd party devs to have toolchains and working knowledge if the units internals and having to support some kind of 3rd party plugin loader that in theory may not work with all 3rd party plugins.

If you're a linux developer theres nothing holding you back from currently developing your own 3rd party plugins. It's just an epic waste of time. It's not akais obigation or desire to invite aliens to their dev-party.

If the MPC user base werent so ignorant with linux and programming they could have this stuff on their own but instead people sit around with their hands out whining about how its not enough for them rather than being pro-active.

This isnt intended to be a harsh statement, rather a matter of fact. If you want it so bad code it yourself otherwise be happy with what you have.

I've suggested Akai should have the Ability to Swap out Their Plug-ins. Meaning...having the choice to leave TWO (or More) empty Slots in the Plug In Section. That would allow them to develop and load a More Variety of Akai "Branded" Plug-ins. That would Save Real Estate inside the MPC allowing better RAM management also...(IMHO)

It's slave work. you'd wanna make it easy on yourself and use the juce framework, and try to source some good plugins then reverse one of the akai soft synths figure out how its bound within the program on load time so you can figure out how to insert and plug your own module. Plus what about ui? you gotta port the entire user interface to an mpc software compatible user interface also for which none of us have the source. So it's back to reverse engineering their code in assembly form which is hell in itself.

We want us the PRECIOUS. give us a virtual cv rack with endless modules lol let us waste our ram frivilously! I would be fine with that.

We should be chanting that @ akai slamming or forks and knives on the table.

Except RAM doesn't really have anything to do with running plugins at all. The thing doesn't have a Xeon under the hood, its a shit Rockchip SoC with 2GB of RAM. Its not even up to par with the Rockchips we use in our 'network media players' we make at work. Just because Akai can optimize their code here and there and manage to squeeze a couple of their own homegrown plugins inside, doesn't mean it has the horsepower to host VST instruments. There is no way in hell you're going to run things like the Arturia collection or Serum or Massive X or any of it. Hell Waves Abbey Road reverb would melt the thing down, an i7 barely runs that thing.