Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

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Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By theabstract Sun Jul 04, 2021 10:38 am
I just bought an Akai Force, and I had an MPC Live for some time.
For those that have both, which one do you use more, and why?
It's only been a few days with the Force, but so far I don't find it as intuitive as the MPC. I can see promise in the Force, so it's just a matter of working with it and getting used to the button layout and workflow.
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By Ultros Sun Jul 04, 2021 2:27 pm
theabstract wrote:I just bought an Akai Force, and I had an MPC Live for some time.
For those that have both, which one do you use more, and why?
It's only been a few days with the Force, but so far I don't find it as intuitive as the MPC. I can see promise in the Force, so it's just a matter of working with it and getting used to the button layout and workflow.


I dont own a force, but i have the force software running on the mpc half-ways decent. I really dig both. The force lets you lay down a song so fast when you get used to the workflow. I think you'll enjoy it alot more when you get used to it a bit more.

At first when i got it going i was like "this is the dumbest @#$% ever...." now i have a different oppinion. The force could easily replace then mpc for me once the force 6 keyboard arrives.

Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By theabstract Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:10 pm
At this point, I prefer the mpc, but I only had the force for a few days... so we'll see how it goes when i get used to it.
the small keys obstruct playability for the force, also the workflow is very different. also, the full matrix of keys isn't always used well... drum kits are still 16 sounds

that said, the hype plugin is the best one; i know everyone says that, and i'll add my voice to that group

in canada, these thing aints cheap... $1400 for a force, plus tax... so hopefully i learn to like the force as i use it more
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By EnochLight Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:20 pm
theabstract wrote:I just bought an Akai Force, and I had an MPC Live for some time.
For those that have both, which one do you use more, and why?
It's only been a few days with the Force, but so far I don't find it as intuitive as the MPC. I can see promise in the Force, so it's just a matter of working with it and getting used to the button layout and workflow.


I've got both an MPC Live 2 (originally started with the MPC Touch and then the first-gen MPC Live), and I picked up a Force as well a couple of months ago. I prefer... BOTH. :nod: :lol: I mean seriously, it just depends on what I feel like doing. The MPC keeps me focused on traditional hip-hop/sample/chop-based production approaches; the Force keeps me focused on more electronic 4-to-the-floor and clip-based production approaches. I usually end up with a different feel when using one over the other, so it just depends on what I feel like working on at the moment. They are both equally powerful and offer vastly different (but often similar) ways to produce.

I'll keep both, especially since Force is a permanent fixture in my studio and will handle controlling all of my hardware. My MPC Live 2 is obviously portable, and now I rarely hesitate when I want to grab it and go. Before I had to disconnect all of my cables which was always a pain.

that said, the hype plugin is the best one; i know everyone says that, and i'll add my voice to that group


:worthy: I am in 100% agreement. Hype Synth is awesome, especially for a standalone plugin on a device like this! :worthy:
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By Ultros Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:32 pm
theabstract wrote: in canada, these thing aints cheap... $1400 for a force, plus tax... so hopefully i learn to like the force as i use it more


This forum aint big enough for TWO canadians. One us have to die so the other may consume the others power like highlander. "There can only be one." hahah

My mpc one cost me $1128 cad... technically i could have ordered it cheaper from the .com rather than .ca of amazon even with import fees. lesson learned. My cousin is the sales manager at cosmo music in richmond hill. Great business to deal with prices of items reasonable.

EnochLight wrote:originally started with the MPC Touch


It dawned on me that the MPC touch would offer the best experience. You can buy a embedded x86_64 machine then use the pc software with all its extra plugins and stuff rather than use the dwarfed version in ARM stand-alone. $200 bucks for a little box to run it, still saving money and getting a fuller experience. We got hosed if you think about it. The 2.9.1 pc experience is better than their actual device? its bang out of order really. We didnt buy these boxes the use them as controllers and externals and neglect the stand alone side. Why even buy a one, live, live ii or x if we're gonna want to use it as a controller? may as well buy the touch or mpk 249/261. Akai is pure scams thanks to inmusic the worst company ever to reign over all that was once holy.

The force is still cool and i want one, eventually.. really waiting for the force 6.. is it real is it not? I want one so i can stick mpc software on it lol..
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By EnochLight Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:22 pm
Ultros wrote:It dawned on me that the MPC touch would offer the best experience. You can buy a embedded x86_64 machine then use the pc software with all its extra plugins and stuff rather than use the dwarfed version in ARM stand-alone. $200 bucks for a little box to run it, still saving money and getting a fuller experience. We got hosed if you think about it. The 2.9.1 pc experience is better than their actual device? its bang out of order really. We didnt buy these boxes the use them as controllers and externals and neglect the stand alone side. Why even buy a one, live, live ii or x if we're gonna want to use it as a controller? may as well buy the touch or mpk 249/261. Akai is pure scams thanks to inmusic the worst company ever to reign over all that was once holy.


Yeah I'm not really on board with that at all. I'm pretty happy with the direction Akai are moving now despite InMusic ownership, especially with the upcoming updates everyone is supposed to not know about but actually does. :lol: Also, the MPC Touch just felt "cheap" to me, despite sharing a lot of the Live/Live 2's ethos. I am absolutely 100% satisfied with my MPC Live 2 in standalone, and never - ever - use it in Controller Mode with my computer, nor do I have any desire to do so. I feel being limited as an artist forces you to be creative - I literally walked away from producing on a computer due to choice overload.

The force is still cool and i want one, eventually.. really waiting for the force 6.. is it real is it not? I want one so i can stick mpc software on it lol..


No clue if Force 6 is real, but I am 100% satisfied with my existing Force and feel it was one of the wisest studio purchases I have made this year. Super solid built piece of kit, and I love working on it.

Listen, I know you love to flex and show off your programming skills, but have you considered stepping back and just use your MPC (and if you buy a Force) as it was intended? I know it's tempting to root them and slap whatever software you want on them, but I think you're missing out on a lot of fun, and most important - being creative and producing some music. Just wondering! :)
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By Ultros Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:26 pm
EnochLight wrote:Listen, I know you love to flex and show off your programming skills, but have you considered stepping back and just use your MPC (and if you buy a Force) as it was intended? I know it's tempting to root them and slap whatever software you want on them, but I think you're missing out on a lot of fun, and most important - being creative and producing some music. Just wondering! :)


You got me all wrong, i use my gear all the time. I just think having a combo keybed/launchpad with mpc or force would be a really nice thing to have.

I dunno why you think i'm trying to "flex" or show off. I am just trying to have fun and bring joy to other people. Why you gotta take it there? Obviously I use my gear for music, why the hell do you think i do this crap.

I dont know why you seem to be so bent out of shape whenever we interact is there no way to remedy this?

Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By theabstract Tue Jul 06, 2021 12:09 am
Ultros wrote:
theabstract wrote:This forum aint big enough for TWO canadians. One us have to die so the other may consume the others power like highlander. "There can only be one." hahah

True.. 2 Canadians in a room.. the one that out nices the other wins :)
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By Lampdog Tue Jul 06, 2021 12:27 am
EnochLight wrote:I feel being limited as an artist forces you to be creative -

I feel my best beats are made when I’m only using piece of gear.

Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By DokBrown Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:16 pm
These are distinct machines with distinct purposes.
While the MPC LIVE will always be my favorite, the FORCE clearly REPresents

I may be in the market for a 2nd MPC live or ONE to circumvent certain recording limitations without using my laptop. I am delaying making the purchase b/c I may get a FORCE to compliment the LIVE instead. That crossfader and ableton LIVE pad matrix are something else. I also dig the knobs with the OLED displays.

inMUSIC has done a B+ JOB. The return to standalone was critical. They appear committed with steady updates & the AIRFX rock. I say B+ b/c No 1 is perfect . . . . . . . except for maybe ELEKTRON.

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/u ... ey=unodrum
https://www.elektron.se/products/analog-rytm-mkii/

A lot of these limitations y’all complain about can be overcome by simply having 2 of the same machine synced via MIDI. I want to be able to blend analog & digital sounds with my UNO like the way more expensive ELEKTRON RYTM. The EZ solution is to get 2 UNO & then use a basic mixing board to blend their outputs before they hit my MPC. the MPC samples the blended kicks and snare loops & I didn’t blow $1k on a used RYTM. Just $150 for another used UNO drum.
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By EnochLight Tue Jul 06, 2021 9:02 pm
Ultros wrote:You got me all wrong, i use my gear all the time. I just think having a combo keybed/launchpad with mpc or force would be a really nice thing to have.


I hear you. Yeah, a combo keybed/launchpad would be sweet.

Ultros wrote:I dunno why you think i'm trying to "flex" or show off. I am just trying to have fun and bring joy to other people. Why you gotta take it there? Obviously I use my gear for music, why the hell do you think i do this crap.


It's all good. Not taking anything anywhere - just see you posting a lot about modifying your MPC and tooling around with the firmwares. Never knew if that was a full-time gig or not. 'Aint no thang.

Ultros wrote:I dont know why you seem to be so bent out of shape whenever we interact is there no way to remedy this?


Huh? :hmmm: Not sure why you think I'm bent out of shape. Relax man - it's all good.
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Re: Akai MPC & Force : >> Thoughts

By Ultros Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:09 pm
My bad.. I read too far into that haha. I do talk alot about technical crap but I assume thats what folks would rather know. I dont mean to be all "lookitme!". I guess I've always just been a bit quicker and picking up computer things, I dont dedicate my life to nerd stuff. Ultimately I just get so excited by poking on the weekends or afterwork and finding out the mpc will indeed do the things people claim it cant that i want to share it.
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