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 LEFTY.REDPORT Fri Jan 07, 2022 3:37 am
Hello,

I have downloaded the mpc x package from my account.
I cee 4 things:
-Network Midi Control Panel
-MPC X Control Panel
-MPC Expansion Builder
-MPC (Software)

I only intend to ever use this unit in standalone mode but i do have expansion packs, synths and other free stuff i want to install onto my Unit. I also am interested in learning about the expansion builder. With that in mind, I wish to delete the excess stuff from my cpu (especially the software).

The questions i have for the universe are:
1. Which of these will i need / not need?
2. How can i correctly export these expansions & instruments onto my unit (SSD installed & ready to go) without the mpc software?

I am finding a lot of conflicting info out there and its getting confusing. Any wisdom shared would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
By LEFTY.REDPORT Fri Jan 07, 2022 3:51 am
Also... i cee In my account, under the 'Software Downloads' Tab:

The items i refer to are:
-Essential Sound Libraries (MPC X)
-Optional-SONiVOX Virtual Instruments (MPC X)
-Optional-Legacy Expansions (MPC X)
-Air instruments for MPC X

Questions:
1. Which of these, if any, are already installed on my unit?
2. Do i export these onto my machine the same way purchased expansions are exported?


Note: I have the latest firmware and stuff on my unit and am running 2.10.1

Please advise,
Thank you
By SuperKonquer Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:14 am
None. They are all additional and optional. The instruments are vsts so they work on pc only. You install expansions to your pc, then use the export expansion feature to install into your unit.
By LEFTY.REDPORT Fri Jan 07, 2022 6:13 am
Hi. Thanks for the feedback. Help me clarify:

The 'essential sound libraries' contains the 3 expansion packs found on my machine. So im wondering whether the other ones, 'mpc 2.0 demo projects', 'mpc 2.0 deep house', 'mpc 2.0 techno' etc are the templates that we cee on the mpc x at startup.

Are the SONiVOX and Air instruments both vst's?

How would one install the essential sound libraries and legacy 'expansions' [plug ins] on the mpc x without using the mpc software?
User avatar
By 64hz Fri Jan 07, 2022 8:21 am
LEFTY.REDPORT wrote:Hi. Thanks for the feedback. Help me clarify:

The 'essential sound libraries' contains the 3 expansion packs found on my machine. So im wondering whether the other ones, 'mpc 2.0 demo projects', 'mpc 2.0 deep house', 'mpc 2.0 techno' etc are the templates that we cee on the mpc x at startup.

Are the SONiVOX and Air instruments both vst's?

How would one install the essential sound libraries and legacy 'expansions' [plug ins] on the mpc x without using the mpc software?


You need the software, as far as I know there's no other option. It's actually the only reason I used the software lol.
By LEFTY.REDPORT Fri Jan 07, 2022 8:30 am
Thanks man. I have read that there are ways but they lead to problems of some sort. Idunno, but if there isn't a way, that's pretty lame. Hoping a Tutor might chime in on this one.

Do you know about the essential sound libraries? Is that stuff not on my machine out the box?

Do you know about the VST's?

Any information or shared experience helps.

Thanks again
User avatar
By MPC-Tutor Fri Jan 07, 2022 8:35 am
If you only ever intend using your MPC in standalone mode, then you can in theory ignore all that stuff.

As for 'expansions', you can only install 'sample' expansions for use in standalone mode, not plugins (e.g. you cannot install VST expansions like the Minigrand into standalone).

Sometimes you will receive a special 'standalone' version of the expansion, if so, you just copy this to your standalone MPC disk. Otherwise if you just get a computer installer for it, e,g, the Deep House expansion, you will need to install it in your computer and use the MPC Software to export it to your standalone MPC disk.

Here's my guide to expansions, including the Expansion Builder, which you can use to create your own expansions from your own kits:

https://www.mpc-tutor.com/mpc-expansion ... ete-guide/

If you are finding the MPC confusing, consider my MPC Bible as it's a structured, step-by-step guide to everything for standalone MPCs:

https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php/268/mpc-bible/

BTW I have merged your two topics as they are very similar.
User avatar
By MPC-Tutor Fri Jan 07, 2022 8:43 am
But in a nutshell, there are really only two things to deal with:

1) update your firmware to the latest (which you have done)
2) install the 'Synth Content' folder to your MPC disk

Anything else is just noise ATM. You already have plenty of content already inside your MPC, so I would suggest you now spend time learning your MPC rather than worrying about which random freebie expansions to install - you can look at all those things later when you feel more comfortable with the MPC.
By LEFTY.REDPORT Fri Jan 07, 2022 10:01 am
Hello Tutor,

Yes I do plan on buying the MPC BiBLE but I wish to finish with the Manual first. I am a good ways into the tutorial at the moment. I have also now got the synth content installed.

As for the rest of the stuff...
I like to know whats what and what it isn't - which is why i put such questions out there. I just moved and got set up properly in a good environment - I have some time right now and I really wanna get this stuff out of the way before I move forward with the fun stuff. This way I know it's done and I dont have to deal with it again until way later if I choose to. Another thing is that I have purchased three expansion packs and wanna get them onto the drive that I installed. Also, I have downloaded all that other stuff onto my cpu and wanna either put it onto the X or, if it doesn't go on the X, delete it off my CPU. I'm working day and night on this at the moment but with the information out there, it's like putting a puzzle together.

So, If you have a few minutes, I would really really appreciate it if you would please share some intel on...
1. My purchased Expansions - Can I export them to my X without using the software? Will they be fully functional?
2. the SONiVOX insturuments and the Air instruments - is it true that they are VST's for use on CPU only?
3. Essential Sound Libraries - Am I correct when I say that all of that stuff is already on my X?
4. Legacy "expansions" - I understand that these are plug ins - is this true and if so, can I install them the same way I installed the 2.10 synth content?

Again, anything you can give me on this - It would be stellar!

Thanks,
Lefty
User avatar
By MPC-Tutor Fri Jan 07, 2022 10:45 am
LEFTY.REDPORT wrote:1. My purchased Expansions - Can I export them to my X without using the software? Will they be fully functional?


As I said previously, sometimes you get a standalone installer, sometimes you don't, depends on the developer - all my expansions come with these so you just drag and drop onto your MPC disk, but I believe only recent Akai expansions have the separate standalone installer download. If you only have the computer installer (pkg, exe or even XPN) then you'll have to install and export via the MPC Software.

Well, it 'is' possible to do it without the MPC Software, but it's convoluted and pointless if you already have the MPC Software.

2. the SONiVOX insturuments and the Air instruments - is it true that they are VST's for use on CPU only?
4. Legacy "expansions" - I understand that these are plug ins - is this true and if so, can I install them the same way I installed the 2.10 synth content?


All VSTs and the old 'expansion' plugins such as the Bank and the Wub are for the MPC Software only, there is no way to install or export these to standalone.

3. Essential Sound Libraries - Am I correct when I say that all of that stuff is already on my X?


Yes, these are already on your MPC. Those installers are just so you can mirror that content in your computer.
By LEFTY.REDPORT Fri Jan 07, 2022 11:12 am
AWESOME!
one of my expansions had a stand alone installer and i will use the software for the others.

everything else is checked off except for one thing i am not clear on:
Are the SONiVOX Instruments and AiR Instruments in fact VST's?

-Lefty