MPC Key 61: New FCC Filing From Akai

I feel you on the $2000, but if they want this to be taken seriously be professionals it's probably going to need a solid key bed, which certainly isn't cheap. At $2000 I'm expecting it to be above a Casio keyboard feel, by how much I'm not sure though. Personally I'd guess around the $2500-$2700 range if it has solid keys. Tough sell though...

Agree with the price point but im thinking 1500,1600 range....

Also everyone is giving thr lcd screen a pass small really small .. also could see the release of OS 3.0 with more synths.. now since it's a keyboard they must be doing away with key groups if not how many will you be able to load.. I don't use key groups at all just say..

In fact what ever they introduce to Key61 will be in live, one and X so again why buy it when u have a midi controller...

misterflibble wrote:

kday wrote:I think the MPC Key61 will sell for between $2,799 and $2999 to be on par with the big three workstations.

There's no way anybody is paying that much IMO, for what appears to essentially be an MPC Live with a keyboard controller built into it.

If the I/O options are insane and it has an enormous amount of Q-Links and macros, then... maybe they can get between $2,500 and $3,000.

Everybody is gonna pay between $2600 and $3000 that can afford it and want the latest greatest sampling workstation. If the X is $2299 right now, then expect to pay for an MPC X with a keyboard and workstation features in a workstation design. I think $3000. When Inbrand the parent company of Alesis and Akai made the Alesis Fusion workstation, that did a little sampling, they wanted $2699-$2999, so imagine a far more sophisticated MPC workstation. I think $3000

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Everybody is gonna pay between $2600 and $3000 that can afford it and want the latest greatest sampling workstation. If the X is $2299 right now, then expect to pay for an MPC X with a keyboard and workstation features in a workstation design. I think $3000. When Inbrand the parent company of Alesis and Akai made the Alesis Fusion workstation, that did a little sampling, they wanted $2699-$2999, so imagine a far more sophisticated MPC workstation. I think $3000[/quote]

What are these workstation features you speak of that can’t already be done with an X + midi keyboard?

It’s highly unlikely to have a different OS than the current mpcs.

I do agree with you on the price though. Which is partly why I think it won’t be a success. I think there’s going to be a huge misconception about what this is (already seeing some of it here). People are going to buy it thinking it does something different than their mpc which will result in a huge backlash once they realize it’s just a different form factor.

Put it this way: If you already have an mpc but need a workstation too, you’re better off getting something different that adds to the mpc (sounds, features, etc). Why double down on the same features?

Now, I could be massively wrong and they load this thing up with all new sounds, efx, etc but that’ll just piss off the x and live users lol

J.O.BEATS wrote:[


Put it this way: If you already have an mpc but need a workstation too, you’re better off getting something different that adds to the mpc (sounds, features, etc). Why double down on the same features?

Now, I could be massively wrong and they load this thing up with all new sounds, efx, etc but that’ll just piss off the x and live users lol

I think you're failing basic marketing 101. You don't understand what's going on here.

The people that buy the Key 61 which will be many, are people that want a sampling keyboard, period. You asking yourself, what's in for me? Nothing. If you don't want a sampling MPC X, then it's not for you. It's for Keyboard players wanting all in one sampling keyboard workstation, that also plays keyboard sounds from it's own VSTi sounds, etc.

There is a large market for a sampling keyboard out there. If you are satisfied with your MPC + Midi controller setup, then this keyboard is not meant for you. This keyboard will sell many units regardless of your setup. This keyboard is intended for people who want a sampling keyboard, period. There are many many people looking to buy a sampling MPC keyboard with or without already owning an MPC.

What part of that you don't get about Akai marketing and their expectations on who they built this keyboard for, and who may buy this keyboard?

The sampling keyboard community, and you, are two totally different people. They have their market, and you have your beatbox machine market. You're not able to dictate who among the keyboard sampling community will appeal to the Key 61 and buy it. You know nothing of them.

In todaya news of flip flopping..

I'm still going to buy it

If Key61 can come with 8 outputs or audio over USB without having an extra interface.. throw in 3.0 software I will pay upwards of $2,500.. My MPC3000 cost me $3300 with dust cover from Daddy's music back in the day....

Back peddaling swine!

The funny part we are talking about a keyboard when we should be asking where is a firmware update been months.

May the bugs of 10,000 mpc units infest pete goodliffes arm pits! A curse upon him! God wills it!!

I really like the idea of a modern MPC keyboard workstation! I really hope they make a 49 key version as I have limited space on my desk and prefer more compact gear. I was recently considering purchasing an ASR-10 but don't want to invest in a vintage workstation that runs hot and may wind up becoming a maintenance headache. This product makes perfect sense for someone like me because I don't have much available space on my desk, so it would be ideal to have one keyboard, drum machine, and sequencer bunched together. Also, I would love a stand-alone unit so that I can make beats with the computer Daw turned off!!!! but I also hope this MPC integrates well with Daw allowing for easy file transfer and a built in arranger. I hope Akai focuses on quality and gives this keyboard an excellent-feeling keybed, top-of-the-line A/D D/A converters, and I hope they make this their flagship. I'm not a fan of MPC Live or MPC One because the converters don't sound right to my ears, and a lot of Akai's Numark MPCs feel cheap and plastic compared to the Roger Linn OG MPCs I'm a fan of. My point is I'm willing to spend up to 3k if Akai makes this a flagship quality piece. If they just use throw the same tech from the MPC Live and MPK into this trying to make this a budget piece, I'll have to pass. I'm prefer to save up money and buy a quality piece that can last years as opposed to getting a cheap bargain product that feels cheap and plasticky to work with. Lastly, Tilt-Up screen is critical and I'd actually prefer for it not to be a touch screen. I feel like touchscreens always get smeared and I prefer the old-school way of menu surfing using buttons and a jog wheel like how the vintage MPCs were navigated. Can't wait for the MPC Key to be released! One more think, please make it a solid black color or a solid color like the classic MPC color!!!! I hate the 2 tone design of the Blue and White MPC 4000 or the Red and Black MPC X for example. Don't mess up the color Akai, please!!!!

If I don't get the MPC Key 61 Standalone and MPC X Standalone to play at the same time though the MPC X's audio output then at least I know they Ableton Sync and to add the SSL Big Six.

Can two MPCs stay in standalone mode and one be the audio interface?

MPD MPK RAY wrote:Can two MPCs stay in standalone mode and one be the audio interface?

No.

Fine. I'm selling my UAD Apollo Twin Solo for cash to afford the SSL Big Six.

My line up:



(But Retro: Classic 2000XL Style maybe)

STANDALONE FOREVER.
I'm a Ford Bronco Raptor only with manual transmission only type of guy

Certified Beatz wrote:The funny part we are talking about a keyboard when we should be asking where is a firmware update been months.

Ay Yo Akai! Where's my 2.10.2/2.11/3.0 Firmware update? There I said it.

I can't believe we've had to wait this long. Every other update was released in 3-6 months. This means it better be solid, stable, and include some killer useful features.

Basically Akai cannot win. If they rush out a buggy firmware update to meet this suddenly expected 3-6 month release cycle, everyone accuses them of rushing out a poorly tested firmware. If they take their time to ensure the next release is stable, they get accused of dragging their heels.

I think it's important to remember that Akai don't owe anyone updates, they could have chosen the same model as the legacy MPCs (new features only come with a new hardware model, old hardware abandoned). The amount of updates you have received in the past 5 or 6 years if you purchased an MPC Live/X (or even Touch) has been pretty amazing, albeit rarely bug free. I really don't know of any other hardware box that is getting this kind of ongoing attention.

Also, 2.10.1 was released less than 6 months ago.