New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

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.
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Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By Kaffimusic Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:02 pm
I think the plugins are nice, but way too expensive. I have a MPC One. I listened to them for a while and I find the sounds good, but not that overwhelming. Every 10-20year old workstation can do that. You might get used a lower-range one for the same price as the bundle or at least not so much ahead of that 500,-
People who own a modern workstation-style synth know their instrument sound clearly better than that, can generate more full range sounds the same time, has most likely no breakups when switching and (maybe) cost the same as the new MPC keyboard - depending on what model we are talking about. I have a Kurzweil PC4, it definitely does all that and cost the same (now a bit less).
But, yeah, I understand, it´s not the same, the whole beatmaking-system is not there and quite a different workflow.
I think for the people who already own a MPC hardware and paid for that should get that cheaper. That business is not a nice move. Things like that are remembered.

Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By SuperKonquer Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:21 pm
Uggh I m not crazy about the price but where the MPC plugs shine is they are in the box. Sounds are always at your fingertips and you can directly integrate fx plugins with them and automate parameters, savable, recallable, all in the box, all at your fingertips. The utility of having quick access, and a plethora of ways to shape and modulate your sound is being totally ignored in the discussion of their value. If MPC ever gets macros and envelope followers from the Force, the possibility with just these plugs is are infinite.

Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By DerpAdoo Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:40 pm
I mean… years of free updates and now all we remember is that they charge for stuff and seem to be following industry standard price and possibly promotion discount models?

I’m also really shocked that people are saying stuff about Roland because last time I checked they have a bunch of models they sell on standalone Jupiter series for like 149-200 (you can only see the price through Roland cloud not on website). They have JD800, vocal suites, a few others and a bunch of free stuff. Seems like the most accurate comparisons I’ve seen so far, and those packs are only like 400mb because of limited internal storage (only like 1gb max).

Also, as an owner of an MC101 And MPC Live II, I completely disagree about the sound quality being on par. Take the new piano for example, the best equivalent sound I could get from the 101 sounded like the “workstation” model on this new piano plug-in. All the others on MPC sound way more like real pianos with real dynamics. Fabric alone shreds the 101 to pieces, it’s not even close! I think fabric worth like.. 149, 249 does feel a bit steep but again I expect discounts and offers to make the price right for me.

I just don’t think all the comparisons for standalone are fair given that the Roland example is the closest apples to apples I’ve seen so far in this thread and these prices are on par with that. The vocal suite for Jupiter only had like 10 patches for 149, super let down but my MPC I got the vocal suite free!!! 8) 8)

Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By fishermens friend Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:57 pm
great new stuff with excellent integration, you have tweak your own sounds. some digital weird plug in is missing to create experimental stuff as well a drum plug in with samples plus virtual synthesis. for op4 and fabric i would give 100€, 400€ is too much.

Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By pixie42 Fri Jun 24, 2022 7:37 pm
I think we all agree on the excessive pricepoint. I'm not sure akai will sell the expected volume of licences.
Time will tell.
What disapoint me the most is the quality of the aforementioned plugins.
Most of them are fine, Ok, I get that, and I would gladly buy them for the variety they bring.
But certainly not at this ridiculous price point.
Seriously, sound engines are not on the same league as the other big players. Montage, Fantom, Kurzweil, Kronos are not to be threatened soon.
Call me a snob, but a Rompler is not what I'm expecting from a flagship synth. C'mon, VA synths are already 20+ yr/o. I'm not using VST, but I know what modern plugs are capable of.
I'm not expecting a Virus or a Nordlead equivalent, but a least a good VA on Mininova or Blofeld's level would be a start.
Tubesynth is more or less a 4 voice Substractor with an ugly GUI. Hype is... well... different, to say the least.
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Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By Lampdog Fri Jun 24, 2022 8:06 pm
SuperKonquer wrote:Uggh I m not crazy about the price but where the MPC plugs shine is they are in the box. Sounds are always at your fingertips and you can directly integrate fx plugins with them and automate parameters, savable, recallable, all in the box, all at your fingertips. The utility of having quick access, and a plethora of ways to shape and modulate your sound is being totally ignored in the discussion of their value. If MPC ever gets macros and envelope followers from the Force, the possibility with just these plugs is are infinite.


All of this. 1000%

Way back when there was just tube synth I told peeps mpc is encroaching on Fantom and Kronos synth territory. Then came Hype, now Fabric and others.
OPx-4 is beastly, don’t let the boring grey or presets fool you (big mistake).

No, new Akai doesn’t have more solid OS than these companies, but, mpc is trying and testing that, successfully so far, in a hardware/software (sf fail imo) arena. We are seeing a technology catch up game in real-time. I’m not a fan boy, my peeps know this, but, look at what is being presented to consumers, progress is being presented. Yes bugs, yes, progress, yes small, medium and large devices are being presented. I have doubts, just like everyone else. Reality is, mpc has grown.
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Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By jabberwalky Fri Jun 24, 2022 8:15 pm
This one might be the final big update I'm fearing. I can see the direction. These plugins (the sample based one) are pretty chunky. They all tend to take about 10% ram per instance, and use more CPU as well. The old MPC hardware might be on it's last lap.

Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By fmq75 Fri Jun 24, 2022 8:47 pm
I really don‘t get the expectation why any „old user“ should get them discounted or even for free.Are they overpriced?Yes,absolutely (in my opinion) but it does not in any way affect what you already got for FREE with updates for one or live.Of course,it was mandatory to deliver on that front (if you look what you get with Maschine+) but they gave us a nice bunch of stuff already and i also don‘t know why so many complain about the quality…i had a One first,replaced it with maschine+ ….and replaced it with the One again.And although i think the expansions are MUCH better in the NI ecosystem and the synths are more complex…i actually like the SOUND of the synths more on MPC. NI always had a slight plastic and flat 2D taste to me, don‘t know how to describe it.Now Akai started to offer ADDITIONAL stuff,which is great.Again,it‘s optional.No one is forced to buy it nor does it cripple the functionality of what you already got (which is not too bad).I hate this“everyone expects everything for cheap or free“ mentality.Just don‘t buy it and get over it.I‘m very interested in the FM synth and the strings but i have zero problems to wait for a sale now.What‘s going on in some peoples mind is beyond me…
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Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By Lampdog Fri Jun 24, 2022 9:37 pm
fmq75 wrote:I really don‘t get the expectation why any „old user“ should get them discounted or even for free.Are they overpriced?Yes,absolutely (in my opinion) but it does not in any way affect what you already got for FREE with updates for one or live.Of course,it was mandatory to deliver on that front (if you look what you get with Maschine+) but they gave us a nice bunch of stuff already and i also don‘t know why so many complain about the quality…i had a One first,replaced it with maschine+ ….and replaced it with the One again.And although i think the expansions are MUCH better in the NI ecosystem and the synths are more complex…i actually like the SOUND of the synths more on MPC. NI always had a slight plastic and flat 2D taste to me, don‘t know how to describe it.Now Akai started to offer ADDITIONAL stuff,which is great.Again,it‘s optional.No one is forced to buy it nor does it cripple the functionality of what you already got (which is not too bad).I hate this“everyone expects everything for cheap or free“ mentality.Just don‘t buy it and get over it.I‘m very interested in the FM synth and the strings but i have zero problems to wait for a sale now.What‘s going on in some peoples mind is beyond me…


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Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By nkozyra Fri Jun 24, 2022 10:00 pm
fmq75 wrote:I really don‘t get the expectation why any „old user“ should get them discounted or even for free.


I have a Live 1 which I bought the week it was released. I don't think I'm entitled to this for free.

But the plugins are so half assed I just found the price funny. Hopefully people wait for good deals, cause otherwise ... woof.

That said, I spent $1200 on this and absolutely love it. It's driven our live shows for years and been a champ. Reliable, fun, extensive.

But if they're getting into selling plugins I wish the platform were open. I wish we could develop or buy our own. I have written a number of VSTs and standalone audio apps and would love to extend it. I don't like that plugins available and wish I could build what I want into the Mpc.

Re: New Plugins Available to Buy From Akai

By KaoticShock Fri Jun 24, 2022 10:28 pm
kja wrote:I think they sound awesome..



I agree. Someone else was comparing the sounds of the new Plugins to the sounds in the MC-101 and I would agree that the AIR plugins actually sound better than the Zen-Core engine. It's definitely interesting to see peoples opinions on the price of the plugins. (I also understand your logic about the plugin count, Tutor, but Akai is marketing the Key 61 as having 25 plugins, so are they counting Fabric as 1 or 4?)

After installing them all last night, I was very Impressed by the Steinway in Stage Piano, definitely reminded me of the Steinway in Structure. The Rhodes preset in Stage EP was also very impressive, brought back memories of the Vintage Case preset from the Yamaha Motif. The presets were definitely very dynamic, responsive, and expressive. There's definitely a noticeable difference between the HYPE Pianos and EPs vs the new plugins. It's a pretty impressive feat of engineering that inMusic was able to bring such high quality sounds to the standalone hardware.

Obviously Fabric XL and OPx4 are the most impressive, but I was definitely inspired by the others, especially the studio strings, very interesting take on having options for sections, players, and articulation.

I honestly feel like the price of the plugins was worth it, and I still hope that Akai fixes the bugs, brings the Z-series and 4K features to the Firmware (including a more sophisticated keygroup engine), fixes the mixer screen, and gives us Master automation at some point. I'm content with where the MPC range and Akai's direction is at right now, it's a solid balance of workflow enhancements and premium features for power users. These machines have come a long way from 2017.

And just to reiterate, I love the way the new Instruments sound, I can't stop thinking about that Steinway.....
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