MPC Key 61 and future Plugin support (Air Hype)

osquare wrote:Hi, I'm mostly a synth player but have some experience with samplers like the MPC Live. I have a budget now for a new synth and wanting to add a workstation-style keyboard to the setup I stumbled on the MPC Key. It looks interesting with the powerful sequencing of the MPC live setup.

The current plugin lineup in the MPC Key is nice, for the purpose of a workstation. But I was wondering if it's possible to add other Live plugins, specifically the Air Hype to the plugin library of the Key?

The Hype page on the MPC site (https://www.akaipro.com/mpc-air-hype-synth) doesn't specifically state the Key is supported but it would be strange to me that you couldn't add it to it since it's essentially the same hardware/software?

LivePsy wrote:In my view a Kronos far exceeds the 61's plugins for, well, anything. Superb pianos, strings, synths, rompler. Compliments with MPC One or Live perfectly. They pair as a DAW. The Kronos is the quality plugin and song length audio/midi recorder while the MPC is the creative sampling and pattern expert.

While that cost is stratospheric, its the big picture. The MPCKey61 plugins and MPC software plugins strike me as the B grade sold on those VST sites or Magix. Not bad but not worthy of full cost either. In my view there's better 'value' and potential in a good workstation and a pad based MPC.

osquare wrote:Hi, I'm mostly a synth player but have some experience with samplers like the MPC Live. I have a budget now for a new synth and wanting to add a workstation-style keyboard to the setup I stumbled on the MPC Key. It looks interesting with the powerful sequencing of the MPC live setup.

The current plugin lineup in the MPC Key is nice, for the purpose of a workstation. But I was wondering if it's possible to add other Live plugins, specifically the Air Hype to the plugin library of the Key?

The Hype page on the MPC site (https://www.akaipro.com/mpc-air-hype-synth) doesn't specifically state the Key is supported but it would be strange to me that you couldn't add it to it since it's essentially the same hardware/software?

kday wrote:…..when you can sample even better sounds that the Kronos doesn't has right into your Key61.

kday wrote:

LivePsy wrote:In my view a Kronos far exceeds the 61's plugins for, well, anything. Superb pianos, strings, synths, rompler. Compliments with MPC One or Live perfectly. They pair as a DAW. The Kronos is the quality plugin and song length audio/midi recorder while the MPC is the creative sampling and pattern expert.

While that cost is stratospheric, its the big picture. The MPCKey61 plugins and MPC software plugins strike me as the B grade sold on those VST sites or Magix. Not bad but not worthy of full cost either. In my view there's better 'value' and potential in a good workstation and a pad based MPC.

The Kronos it seems has better synth engines, and a better Keybed. But you're paying top dollar for Kronos quality, but having better stock sounds than what's in a sampling Keyboard instrument like a Key61 would no longer mean nothing, when you can sample even better sounds that the Kronos doesn't has right into your Key61.

I usually deal with sampled sounds, and the Key61 VST synths engines are pretty good, of course not the best but very good, the other features would weigh in on what's the overall best for the workflow. I't would be wise for Akai to come out with many more synth engines since they built up a large user base with the Key 61 and MPC community. And I know there will be new synth presets coming out from various companies, but I hope they come out with more synth engines instead of waiting until the next MPC product release in a few years.

kday wrote:

LivePsy wrote:In my view a Kronos far exceeds the 61's plugins for, well, anything. Superb pianos, strings, synths, rompler. Compliments with MPC One or Live perfectly. They pair as a DAW. The Kronos is the quality plugin and song length audio/midi recorder while the MPC is the creative sampling and pattern expert.

While that cost is stratospheric, its the big picture. The MPCKey61 plugins and MPC software plugins strike me as the B grade sold on those VST sites or Magix. Not bad but not worthy of full cost either. In my view there's better 'value' and potential in a good workstation and a pad based MPC.

The Kronos it seems has better synth engines, and a better Keybed. But you're paying top dollar for Kronos quality, but having better stock sounds than what's in a sampling Keyboard instrument like a Key61 would no longer mean nothing, when you can sample even better sounds that the Kronos doesn't has right into your Key61.

I usually deal with sampled sounds, and the Key61 VST synths engines are pretty good, of course not the best but very good, the other features would weigh in on what's the overall best for the workflow. I't would be wise for Akai to come out with many more synth engines since they built up a large user base with the Key 61 and MPC community. And I know there will be new synth presets coming out from various companies, but I hope they come out with more synth engines instead of waiting until the next MPC product release in a few years.

LivePsy wrote:The Kronos interface is indeed horrendous, my biggest complaint about it. But it offers linear song recording (to use alongside the MPC patterns), full 8 stereo audio tracks, DAW like mixdown and plugins far exceeding the MPC. I think they complement each other very well. Neither is a complete creative space on their own.