Do you think akai did the X users dirty?

I love my X and all but sometimes I feel a lil cheated I suppose. not even trying to be a hater and shit but I mean even the one got CV and audio interface support, can’t help but feel like I paid a bag more for a tilting screen you know?
that said I am all for accessibility to decent functionality for every budget. wouldn’t want to see a beatmaker with a lower budget go without stuff like interface support for no reason. Still though they could have given the X a little tiny something more just to keep us sweet
do you think they will ever add any unique extras to the X or will they just jam the same software into every box?

The X has always been very overpriced IMO, even when it was just the Live and the X, it was never worth nearly double the price of the Live that they were asking. But if you needed the extra hardware, then it was probably worth it for those producers, the extra Q-links with OLEDs, the significantly better I/O, bigger tilting screen, etc. The MPC One is built to a price and is supposed to be the budget option - no Sata, usb 2, smaller pads, 4 qlinks, smaller screen, no wifi or bluetooth etc. Probably too many compromises for someone seriously considering an X.

The Live/Live 2 always had the same firmware inside as the X, so it seems unlikely that we'll ever see the X getting any special treatment in that respect. Before the One, the option was always there to buy the Live and save yourself $1000, so I think most X buyers knew they were paying a premium for the extra hardware (I think you also got a lot more free content included with the X compared to the One and the Live).

MPC-Tutor wrote:The X has always been very overpriced IMO, even when it was just the Live and the X, it was never worth nearly double the price of the Live that they were asking. But if you needed the extra hardware, then it was probably worth it for those producers, the extra Q-links with OLEDs, the significantly better I/O, bigger tilting screen, etc. The MPC One is built to a price and is supposed to be the budget option - no Sata, usb 2, smaller pads, 4 qlinks, smaller screen, no wifi or bluetooth etc. Probably too many compromises for someone seriously considering an X.

The Live/Live 2 always had the same firmware inside as the X, so it seems unlikely that we'll ever see the X getting any special treatment in that respect. Before the One, the option was always there to buy the Live and save yourself $1000, so I think most X buyers knew they were paying a premium for the extra hardware (I think you also got a lot more free content included with the X compared to the One and the Live).

the man himself! yeah I guess it does have some benefits im not really using, I mean I dont use splice so wifi doesnt do a lot for me. got no internal HD because SD cards are just crazy big now plus USB slots. id miss the q links now ive used them. I think I could get on just fine with a one considering ive got a decent interface anyway. its just a weird gameplan for a company to be honest and makes me wonder. they've got to be the first company in history to roll out all the goodies from the flagship to the entry level unit. id fear they were about to launch an X 2 if it werent for the fact they universally share parts with a whole bunch of other gear. oh well it is what it is. love it regardless always wanted the end game big MPC so I cant really complain too much.

safe to assume youre on the beta of all people? not poking my nose in or anything, just wondering if they are still working on this range. no details just been quiet for a while

I think there are some components under the hood that are different too, iirc i recall someone mentioning the X has a better ADC. I have noticed running MPC software on both the mixstream pro, and the mpc one there's a night and day difference in the sound i believe is akin to the sound stuff. I would love to hear a live, live 2, x and one all in sequence so i could make some determination as to which one sounds best. I wouldnt be surprised if the X wins that category though. even still, now that we have that external sound support it doesnt really matter does it?

Jawbrizza wrote:[not poking my nose in or anything, just wondering if they are still working on this range. no details just been quiet for a while

There's a topic here about the rumours and leaks of the (potentially) upcoming hardware

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=213008

The X is overpriced. This is why when I was still ghetto I racked a Live and sold it to someone to cut over 1000.00 off for an X and thats how I got one, but once again... I was racking everyday, painting graffiti everyday, bout that life. Not really as much anymore... I wouldnt buy the X with my own money. At that price I would probably put more money down and buy a MPC60. I know different sounds, and capabilities but thats probably I would do. I like that 12Bit sound though. My other issue is not really liking the form factor of any of the new mpcs really... The X was closest to something like the 5000 or the 2500 which I used a bunch in the past so. It just made sense for muscle memory...

It definitely is overpriced, however I can't lie it's the easiest to lock into the workflow. It's the swiss army knife "in the studio". I have the One, Live II, and the X.

MPC X you get more interface
Input
Midi in 1, 2.
Midi Out A, B, C, D. (2 Additional ports)
2 Foot switch ports in front (2 Additional ports)
2 TRS jacks in front (2 Additional ports)
2 combi XLR/TRS jacks in back (2 Optional Ports)
2 RCA ports in back
8 CV gate ports in back (4 Additional ports)

Output
3.5mm headphone jack in front (Additional port)
1/8 headphone jack in front
8 mono channels back (2 Additional ports)

Other
Phantom power
More buttons
Peak meter
16 Q-links with OLED readout (12 additional knobs)
10.1 480p screen (Lower resolution than Live II)
Tilt screen.

Live II (Straight to the point to work)
Battery
Speaker
7.1 720p screen.

I have a Focusrite Scarlet 18i20 audio interface so I'm not really missing much if I plug the X into that, but it depends on what you have already and how you work. That interface ran me at 499.99 at the time. Add that up with the 1,299.99 for the live 2 is actually what I bought my X for. "Last year though" . You are getting robbed if you buy it at the MSRP price now. That's 499.99 I savedB-stock on reverb lol. Alot of stuff I don't need right now I'm not fully using all those ports now.

The number pad is really not needed, but I guess its for the OG's. In all fairness the MPC was always a pay to play machine in the past.

The live II there's all this double tapping and holding or working off of the pad shortcuts. The workflow on the One is better in that respect and it kind of stays with the layout of the classics vs the live II somewhat. The One definitely pulled me in though. I didn't want any of the classic MPC's.I went from that to the X, but after the X, I wanted the live II.

I have Live II and X and the difference in how you work with each IMO is substantial - when working on the X more features are available easily and therefore are used more often:
- all q link operations, using custom q-links settings for the project or using pad/program based ones - on live it's a more work
- using locate and << >> buttons to navigate across sequences
- using function buttons beneath screen
- using cursors
- using numeric pad to input values faster
- having dedicated knobs for input gains and monitoring it (in Live i need to either set it up in audio track or sampler to hear the input all the time)
- using two line inputs at the same time + additionally being able to use intrument/line inputs in the front of the unit
- slightly more I/O in general (though there are less line outs than in older models)

In general being able to not use touch screen and be faster by doing so, it always blows my mind when i see videos of people operating X just by touch screen.
IMO if you insist on using touchscreen only there is much less gain there, but if you dig into it there is a big difference.

About the price, It's not cheap, but i don't get why people **** about the price for X or this generation of MPCs in general if you compare how older MPCs were priced.
Especially in the US the ratio of income to price is probably the most optimal in the world and it seems much easier to get better deals on it - in Europe at least it's not as affordable, but i bet in other places it's even worse (for the entire lineup).

About being overpriced - for this generation of MPCs it's a bit less obvious if we take into consideration free firmware updates and how much we got from them. I bet developing them is not a cheap/easy operation. Also historically this generation is most affordable ever additionally being least dependent on a need to buy additonal gear (audio interfaces/mixers/turntable preamps etc).

Just bought an immaculate (nearly) X for £700……yay which was just a 10 minute cycle away from my house (thanx FB classifieds!!!!!) Ive already taken the sides off and blacked out the ugly red Akai logo on top left
It is now the Center of my very stripped back minimal studio.The 16 Qlinks,large tilting screen,inputs and outputs with knobs,visual audio meter,full solid transport controls,full curser,numeric pad and extra buttons which seems to be laid out pretty well,palm rest and general old school desk size!!!!!!!! Are well worth even paying even at the more regular price with some deal imo.Nothing else really does what this does outside a laptop and thats not nearly so tactile.ain’t a bad looking machine now ive got rid of some of that red……

Now,here’s the thing.If this machine starts to go flakey on me,Unstable ect it will be out the door in no time.So i really hope it holds up.No problems so far.I really do miss some of the character and features from my 4000 tho theres more than enough new things to compensate.

dryad-66 wrote:Just bought an immaculate (nearly) ain’t a bad looking machine now ive got rid of some of that red……

What did you to replace it? ;> I'm considering some visual modding!

handthrow wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:Just bought an immaculate (nearly) ain’t a bad looking machine now ive got rid of some of that red……

What did you to replace it? ;> I'm considering some visual modding!

I just removed the sides (opened her up underneath and 2 screws either side and they slot out) I much prefer it like this.Those sporty red wings make me cringe.And actually for now cut a piece of sticky aluminium tape to cover the red Akai Logo……Looks kinda cool.The rest i can deal with.Just a big black square now lol

Thanks, got it!
i was also considering removing sides, so for i've unscrewed them, but i think about some DYI side panels to cover up holes on the sides of the unit.

Jawbrizza wrote:I love my X and all but sometimes I feel a lil cheated I suppose. not even trying to be a hater and shit but I mean even the one got CV and audio interface support, can’t help but feel like I paid a bag more for a tilting screen you know?

This didn't make any sense.

You should become satisfied with what you buy and use, and not become disgruntled with what a company is selling in a lower priced smaller package.

that said I am all for accessibility to decent functionality for every budget. wouldn’t want to see a beatmaker with a lower budget go without stuff like interface support for no reason. Still though they could have given the X a little tiny something more just to keep us sweet
do you think they will ever add any unique extras to the X or will they just jam the same software into every box?

They gave early buyers of the MPC X tons of extra stuff that even to this day new X and One or Live buyers never received.

Being disgruntled over the X is foolishness. It's worth every dime, and many people would've paid more to get it, and they would've still sold a lot of them. It's not overpriced in my opinion considering what they sold the original MPC for nearly $5000 dollars years ago, and what it's worth. aside from being the hub of a midi studio setup, you can make a whole record on it that could net you millions of dollars. If that's not enough, just go with more affordable sequencer beat box sampler combos or Fruity Loops or some other DAW and see if that satisfies you, or if you feel like running back to the X and spending your money?

BeatWilson wrote:The X is overpriced. This is why when I was still ghetto I racked a Live and sold it to someone to cut over 1000.00 off for an X and thats how I got one, but once again... I was racking everyday, painting graffiti everyday, bout that life. Not really as much anymore... I wouldnt buy the X with my own money. At that price I would probably put more money down and buy a MPC60. I know different sounds, and capabilities but thats probably I would do. I like that 12Bit sound though. My other issue is not really liking the form factor of any of the new mpcs really... The X was closest to something like the 5000 or the 2500 which I used a bunch in the past so. It just made sense for muscle memory...

Whatchoo write?!