Akai makes desktop VST/AU versions of MPC's standalone synth

Well this just happened:

https://www.airmusictech.com/virtual-instruments.html

Looks like Hype, Solina, Odyssey, Tubesynth, and the rest (except for Drum Synth ** EDIT: not to be confused with the already existing Drum Synth 500) are on sale right now. I think the improved GUI's are a massive plus.

Thoughts?

Apparently all mpc users get 50% off with promo code, MPC50 until April 19th

Force users on Facebook kicking off as they think they should get it for free.

Just noticed that it's only mentioning Intel mac support, no M1. Monterey supported though.

Looks like Akai polished the user interfaces on each plugin as well, hopefully we'll see the same on the next standalone update.

MPC-Tutor wrote:Just noticed that it's only mentioning Intel mac support, no M1. Monterey supported though.

These run so light, running via Rosetta on M1 should be pretty flawless IMHO.

Gearwacz wrote:Looks like Akai polished the user interfaces on each plugin as well, hopefully we'll see the same on the next standalone update.

I feel the way the existing GUI/UX is on the standalone units works as well as they can. Personally I doubt we'll see these changes anytime soon.

Maybe we will see import/export presets at some point on standalone

Air effects still not work on MacOS?

MPC-Tutor wrote:Apparently all mpc users get 50% off with promo code, MPC50 until April 19th

Force users on Facebook kicking off as they think they should get it for free.

Just noticed that it's only mentioning Intel mac support, no M1. Monterey supported though.

Can someone explain me as a MPC Owner why should I pay again to get the right to use Tubesynth or Hype as a standalone VST when I already paid for MPC Software which contain Tubesynth or Hype?

AKAI business model is so shady. Let's not act like AKAI is doing anybody a favor with a discount on software we've already paid for as MPC Owners, just to get the right to use these plugins outside MPC Software. Maybe AKAI should have fixed MPC Software mediocrity so that producers actually want to use it instead of another DAW...

ace_of_dub wrote:[
Can someone explain me as a MPC Owner why should I pay again to get the right to use Tubesynth or Hype as a standalone VST when I already paid for MPC Software which contain Tubesynth or Hype?

AKAI business model is so shady. Let's not act like AKAI is doing anybody a favor with a discount on software we've already paid for as MPC Owners, just to get the right to use these plugins outside MPC Software. .

Until yesterday those plugins were accepted as being baked into the MPC OS, no one even considered that they could be offered outside the MPC environment. No one bought an MPC expecting these synths to ever be available that way. In fact, most people here bought their MPC without Hype, Odyssey, Solina, Mellotron inside, they were given those synths 100% for free at a later date (in fact many of us didn't have tubesynth, bassline or Electric when we bought our MPCs).

So, you want to give Akai grief for charging for these very optional VST editions of plugins that they already gave, in MPC Format, to all MPC users for free in the first place?

I think the People in the AIR Dept, have their back against the Wall. The Parent Company InMusic (who owns Akai, AIR, Numark, Denon, Alesis, etc) are putting pressure on them boys to Bring in More Revenue. Its Beyond Akai. We still stuck on Akai being responsible

Akai is probably in the Mindstate of....If it doesn't Make Dollars, It Doesn't Make Cents!

(For Example)
Akai Catering to Users who want Pre-Made Presets and Sounds without puttin in the work and creativity is a Recipe for getting cut off by InMusic!
They Figure if you guys want Arranger Mode...Spend that Bread and get the Force! Why put it in the MPC, when they make more revenue selling the Force. Putting it in the MPC is like A Force Castration! Making Potential Force Revenue go down the drain!

"I Demand Chevrolet Put 4WD In My Chevy Impala! I Don't Wanna Purchase A Suburban"

Its All About Economics You Guys!

Sorry for the Rant

ace_of_dub wrote:Can someone explain me as a MPC Owner why should I pay again to get the right to use Tubesynth or Hype as a standalone VST when I already paid for MPC Software which contain Tubesynth or Hype?

You paid for your MPC Software?!!! It comes 100% free with any current gen-MPC. Should have bought an MPC instead.

MPC-Tutor wrote:Until yesterday those plugins were accepted as being baked into the MPC OS, no one even considered that they could be offered outside the MPC environment. No one bought an MPC expecting these synths to ever be available that way. In fact, most people here bought their MPC without Hype, Odyssey, Solina, Mellotron inside, they were given those synths 100% for free at a later date (in fact many of us didn't have tubesynth, bassline or Electric when we bought our MPCs).

So, you want to give Akai grief for charging for these very optional VST editions of plugins that they already gave, in MPC Format, to all MPC users for free in the first place?

^^ THIS X 10000 ^^

All Air Music VST plugins sounds compressed and tiny, the sounds seems small and narrow compared to other digital synths. Digital already sounds more compressed and anemic and tweezy in comparison to analog, but all of the Air effects and even that Drum Synth makes some of the most toy quality sounding sounds I ever heard.

And it's not hard to fattened the outputs on their VST sound engines with some chorus and a stereo widener etc, but they didn't. They leave bringing the basic fat sound quality of a synthesizer to the user.

No idea what you're talking about. They don't sound any tinier/smaller/narrower than most other virtual synths on the market to my ears (with the exception of hardcore analog emulations from U-he, Synapse Audio, etc). Also, one of the biggest complaints I've seen about some of their synths (especially Hype) is that there's too many effects pre-chained! Anyway, nice to see people's thoughts on these new desktop versions. I guess if you didn't like them before, a new coat of paint by way of an improved GUI/UX won't change your mind.

Still looking for that Air Flavor plugin. Hope it lands on the MPC next time.

I’m waiting for Akai to make a plugin that loads drum and keygroup programs. That way I can load my MPC samples in another DAW.

Also +1 on the flavor plugin. That would be great.