MPC Key 61: New FCC Filing From Akai

Anyone speculate on what Fabric and Fabric XL is? Mallets?

And are some of you saying they're trying to come out with their own kind of Kontakt? Would that just mean a better, deeper sampling engine? If so then count me in. I loved my S5000, and if they could get anywhere near that (doubtful) I would snatch it in a heartbeat.

ancaja123 wrote:Anyone speculate on what Fabric and Fabric XL is? Mallets?

And are some of you saying they're trying to come out with their own kind of Kontakt? Would that just mean a better, deeper sampling engine? If so then count me in. I loved my S5000, and if they could get anywhere near that (doubtful) I would snatch it in a heartbeat.

Just speculation, but I think Fabric and Fabric XL are either physical modeling synthesis plugins or ROMpler style plugins that have a wide variety of sounds. It makes sense that they would make an instrument that has more General MIDI sounds.

Also, someone said that Fabric might be another version of Velvet, but I highly doubt it. Electric (the electric Piano plugin we already have) is basically the same as Velvet already, plus they have "Fabric Electric Piano" and "Stage EP" listed as plugins. I don't think that they would make 4 Electric Piano plugins, that's overkill, even for someone like me who LOVES the sound of the Fender Rhodes (and Wurli's).

I think that the "Fabric" versions of these plugins are different from the standard versions (Fabric piano would be a physically modeled piano with different editing options and parameters from the Stage Piano, which would be a more basic version.) Kind of like how AIR makes both Mini Grand and they have multi-sampled Steinway Grand Pianos in Structure. I bet they will be priced accordingly, with the Fabric Plugins at a higher price than the more basic ones, since they have more functionality.

(I haven't heard anything official, these are just my assumptions based on the current plugins and what's "missing" from the lineup.)

As far as InMusic coming out with their own version of Kontakt, that's basically the point of their vst business model. All 8 of the MPC Plugins work standalone on a computer without a DAW, or as plugins within a DAW. I think that AIR will be promoting these plugins to their other brands as well, for example, with their M-audio Keyboards or with Alesis Drum sets. They are trying to be a "One-stop-shop" for all your hardware and software music needs lol.

In regards to a better sampling engine, I don't think so. The keygroup engine has improved with recent updates, but I haven't heard about any changes in 2.11. Hopefully in the future they add a second LFO and a mod matrix to the keygroup engine for proper synthesis.

Anyone done with speculation lol just wait a week from now answers will be in the promo video..

TonyO. wrote:Following the release of the MPC Key 61, assuming it happens this month, how long do you think it will take for Akai to release the 49 and 88 Key models? I’m interested in the keyboard, but I’ll probably hold off for a more compact 49 Key (I’d love a 37 Key!!!). I can’t imagine Akai only plans to offer one keyboard size.

I think they will only offer one size until they know that the other sizes will sell. In 3-6 months, we will have a good idea of whether people actually like the MPC Key 61 or not, which will determine if they move forward with it. I would love a 37 key also, Both of my hardware polysynths are 37 keys, its the perfect size. 37 keys and a battery? Akai can take my money yesterday!

I will say this, though. I think that Akai missed a HUGE opportunity with DAW integration and physical controls for this keyboard. When I first saw the leaked firmware image, I wondered, why didn't they just make an MPK261 with a larger screen? 8 faders and 8 Q-links would destroy the competition and allow for more DAW integration.

I think that people comparing the Fantom-0 to the MPC Key 61 will definitely use that as a deciding factor. Both keyboards have different advantages tho, I just checked out the Fantom-0 at GC and the pads were alot smaller than I thought, so the Key 61 definitely has pads, workflow and I/O as advantages. Fantom has faders, Zen-Core/sound engine and DAW integration (especially Ableton) as advantages. The Fantom doesn't have Auto-Sampler, and the new Plugin instruments are yet to be determined as advantages.


It will definitely go one way or the other, either we see Akai make more of these Keyboard MPC's in different key configurations or this one gets discontinued after 2 years, and the product is a complete failure. ( Just like the MPK Road 88, MiniAK, etc.)

**Bump**

Will There Be A MPC Key 76/88 in the Future ?

40Beatz wrote:**Bump**

Will There Be A MPC Key 76/88 in the Future ?

Even more: will there be an MPC 88 with weighted keys?

KaoticShock wrote:

ancaja123 wrote:Anyone speculate on what Fabric and Fabric XL is? Mallets?

And are some of you saying they're trying to come out with their own kind of Kontakt? Would that just mean a better, deeper sampling engine? If so then count me in. I loved my S5000, and if they could get anywhere near that (doubtful) I would snatch it in a heartbeat.

Just speculation, but I think Fabric and Fabric XL are either physical modeling synthesis plugins or ROMpler style plugins that have a wide variety of sounds. It makes sense that they would make an instrument that has more General MIDI sounds.

Also, someone said that Fabric might be another version of Velvet, but I highly doubt it. Electric (the electric Piano plugin we already have) is basically the same as Velvet already, plus they have "Fabric Electric Piano" and "Stage EP" listed as plugins. I don't think that they would make 4 Electric Piano plugins, that's overkill, even for someone like me who LOVES the sound of the Fender Rhodes (and Wurli's).

I think that the "Fabric" versions of these plugins are different from the standard versions (Fabric piano would be a physically modeled piano with different editing options and parameters from the Stage Piano, which would be a more basic version.) Kind of like how AIR makes both Mini Grand and they have multi-sampled Steinway Grand Pianos in Structure. I bet they will be priced accordingly, with the Fabric Plugins at a higher price than the more basic ones, since they have more functionality.

(I haven't heard anything official, these are just my assumptions based on the current plugins and what's "missing" from the lineup.)

As far as InMusic coming out with their own version of Kontakt, that's basically the point of their vst business model. All 8 of the MPC Plugins work standalone on a computer without a DAW, or as plugins within a DAW. I think that AIR will be promoting these plugins to their other brands as well, for example, with their M-audio Keyboards or with Alesis Drum sets. They are trying to be a "One-stop-shop" for all your hardware and software music needs lol.

In regards to a better sampling engine, I don't think so. The keygroup engine has improved with recent updates, but I haven't heard about any changes in 2.11. Hopefully in the future they add a second LFO and a mod matrix to the keygroup engine for proper synthesis.

Electric plugin has nothing to do with Velvet.
Velvet sounds beautifully, Electric not.
So could it be that Air just took the original samples used to make Minigrand and Velvet, optimized them to make them lighter and packed them into those "fabric" plugins?
Or could they be keygroups in a plugin format?

Straker wrote:Electric plugin has nothing to do with Velvet.
Velvet sounds beautifully, Electric not.
So could it be that Air just took the original samples used to make Minigrand and Velvet, optimized them to make them lighter and packed them into those "fabric" plugins?
Or could they be keygroups in a plugin format?

"AIR Electric plugin is your total electric piano collection. Choose from a wide array of legendary keyboards like Rhodes, Wurlitzers, FM keyboards, and more developed over decades of research.
Electric proudly builds upon the legacy of excellence of AIR Velvet, considered the reference electronic Piano Instrument for Avids Protools with a new range of powerful features and sounds."

https://www.airmusictech.com/virtual-in ... ctric.html


Hm, interesting....

KaoticShock wrote:

Straker wrote:Electric plugin has nothing to do with Velvet.
Velvet sounds beautifully, Electric not.
So could it be that Air just took the original samples used to make Minigrand and Velvet, optimized them to make them lighter and packed them into those "fabric" plugins?
Or could they be keygroups in a plugin format?

"AIR Electric plugin is your total electric piano collection. Choose from a wide array of legendary keyboards like Rhodes, Wurlitzers, FM keyboards, and more developed over decades of research.
Electric proudly builds upon the legacy of excellence of AIR Velvet, considered the reference electronic Piano Instrument for Avids Protools with a new range of powerful features and sounds."

https://www.airmusictech.com/virtual-in ... ctric.html


Hm, interesting....

...builds upon the legacy of AiR Velvet...
That doesn't mean it's velvet.
It a stripped down version of it.
Which sounds definitely like a stripped down version of it.
I have been using Velvet for years and years before I bought my Mpc.
There is no comparison.
Just play a Velvet on Protools and then Electric on Mpc and tell me.
Some electric pianos on Hype sound more comparable to Velvet electric pianos.

It's the same with Tubesynth.
Is it the same of Vacuum pro?
Not at all.
But it's built upon the legacy of Vacuum pro.
But they sound different, Tubesynth being a fraction of Vacuum pro.

So if Akai wants to make a competitive workstation, it should start thinking about using the real ones, not stripped down versions.

Nice keyboard well looks nice and I'm sure it's going be a hit .. but to make it a true synth you need different choices such as roland cloud Synths.. if akai can bundle this product line then sky's the limit..

MPC KEY 61 anyone?

pitbullaudio.com In stock $1899.

MPC Key 61 is the world's first production synthesizer incorporating modern day vocal FX plugins which can also be used for the most creative sound design.

zangetsu01 wrote:MPC KEY 61 anyone?

I saw this on Facebook I was able to finally zoom in on all the buttons ..looks okay.. if this was my first jump to the new MPCs then yes but most likely a pass after months of flip flooping... $1899 is a good deal why it's cheaper than the X maybe because of the cue links and 8 outs would be my guess..