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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By kja Thu Apr 27, 2023 7:12 pm
I think the Andy Mack videos are more about celebrating 35 years and look how far we have come, them trying to pretend it is a new machine. This machine is a celebration of how far akai have come (some might feel the opposite). The x is awesome, this machine is a way of akai getting some more money from it.

It is cringe worthy though.. all akai marketing is.. I don't get why such a awesome company can't get that right.. but they are way behind there.
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By EnochLight Thu Apr 27, 2023 7:16 pm
Uncle Dieppe wrote:We all know it’s just marketing talk….

Here’s how I see the SE

Akai probably had a load of dead/Faulty X s stockpiled in the workshop

“Hey let’s disassemble the dud units,put a new Retro faceplate on it and load them with all the current plug ins add a bit more ram,that’ll work :lol:

Bam….suckers will be lining up for the grey faceplate edition as we’ll cash in on the nostalgia vibe as we know it gets people all warm inside and we’ll mark up the price so they think there getting a ground breaking MPC,oh we’ll also fool them it’s going to be a ltd edition and prey on peoples fear of not getting one later on down the line


I’ll stick with my Key 61


I mean, you're welcome to see it anyway you want from your perspective, but there's "very unlikely" and then there's reality. The reality is that using "stockpiled dead/Faulty X s" isn't a thing. These were all manufactured new (as all of them are), planned for some time, with the latest generation of all the components used inside. And it actually being "limited edition" is very likely (case in point: see the retro Live II which is no longer in production but still sought after, despite the hardware all being the same as the OG Live II).

Clearly there's a lot of anger and frustration from those who expected something completely different, but this lines up IMHO and is completely logical. Small incremental hardware updates - double the RAM and larger EMMC makes complete sense and doesn't require them to re-tool an entire assembly line. None of us are the target audience - this thing was made for new buyers (read: the ones that will actually create revenue) and current users who are willing to add on, or sell their old to get it. Really not a big deal, IMHO. Certainly nothing to get bent out of shape for.

This isn't directed towards you, but worth saying: as for YouTubers - we live in a social networked/social influencer world now. Companies spend far less on advertising when they comp a product in return for a review and let the social influencer's followers get the content. Back in the day, Akai would have to drop half a million USD just on a 30 second TV spot and hope that it generated interest. If you don't want to watch the content, dislike the video or ignore the channel. Simples!
By Certified Beatz Thu Apr 27, 2023 8:33 pm
EnochLight wrote:
Uncle Dieppe wrote:We all know it’s just marketing talk….

Here’s how I see the SE

Akai probably had a load of dead/Faulty X s stockpiled in the workshop

“Hey let’s disassemble the dud units,put a new Retro faceplate on it and load them with all the current plug ins add a bit more ram,that’ll work :lol:

Bam….suckers will be lining up for the grey faceplate edition as we’ll cash in on the nostalgia vibe as we know it gets people all warm inside and we’ll mark up the price so they think there getting a ground breaking MPC,oh we’ll also fool them it’s going to be a ltd edition and prey on peoples fear of not getting one later on down the line


I’ll stick with my Key 61


I mean, you're welcome to see it anyway you want from your perspective, but there's "very unlikely" and then there's reality. The reality is that using "stockpiled dead/Faulty X s" isn't a thing. These were all manufactured new (as all of them are), planned for some time, with the latest generation of all the components used inside. And it actually being "limited edition" is very likely (case in point: see the retro Live II which is no longer in production but still sought after, despite the hardware all being the same as the OG Live II).

Clearly there's a lot of anger and frustration from those who expected something completely different, but this lines up IMHO and is completely logical. Small incremental hardware updates - double the RAM and larger EMMC makes complete sense and doesn't require them to re-tool an entire assembly line. None of us are the target audience - this thing was made for new buyers (read: the ones that will actually create revenue) and current users who are willing to add on, or sell their old to get it. Really not a big deal, IMHO. Certainly nothing to get bent out of shape for.

This isn't directed towards you, but worth saying: as for YouTubers - we live in a social networked/social influencer world now. Companies spend far less on advertising when they comp a product in return for a review and let the social influencer's followers get the content. Back in the day, Akai would have to drop half a million USD just on a 30 second TV spot and hope that it generated interest. If you don't want to watch the content, dislike the video or ignore the channel. Simples!


If you dont own an X and those that do we will say it worth the buy with the added plugins and the 2gb extra ram... as far as the black knows I don't have it on my MPC 3000 nor does my friend who has a MPC60... :o
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By bitermc Fri Apr 28, 2023 8:10 am
2.400€ and it comes with unregistered trials??? :shock:

I've never been much on GAS, but this is going too far. Between this and the overpriced crap TE is selling these days, I'm starting to think this is more about buying gear than about actually making music.

I guess it's always been that way, now it's just so much evident, so much in your face...
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By kja Fri Apr 28, 2023 10:10 am
I think the way used prices have dropped have distorted pricing. MPC's have always been expensive and creating the one and selling it on promotion for $600 did them no favors. Now people see them different and this is gonna be a hard hard sell.
By jpeg Fri Apr 28, 2023 10:50 am
64hz wrote:Look at all the girls being mad at the influencers. :lol:


i think its mostly jelously; there is a perception that influencers have not paid dues and are just jumping on the bandwagons and doing whats trendy.

that may be the case in most instances but there are alot of influencers who been grafting for years making beats and now they have found a way to monetize their passion so that should be commended.

I am certain had yotube been around 20 years ago alot of forum members would have been infleuncers also

also maybe some people are mad that influencers get the gear scoop early; maybe they get free gear or discount price gear( or do they just demo and send back?)

but I got to say while its just a paint job it does look way better then the X in black; I would buy just for looks and aextra buttons ( and the luxury layout) as have had my live 1 since 2017; and the bettery is dead, and the internal drive is full, but might just wait till end of the year and 3.0 which will probably be next year before getting the X SE.
By Uncle Dieppe Fri Apr 28, 2023 11:57 am
If anyones lusting after the new X Just give it a couple of months when the hypes died down they’ll be reduced in price,the MPC key dropped by a couple hundred within a few months of me purchasing mine,and they’ve dropped even further in the UK stores,Akai are just chancing their arm with this model,they know there’s fanboys who love a bit of akai retro charm.

I originally purchased the X but had issues with the OLEDs so sent both units back and had the Keys version instead,but I have always wanted a dedicated MPC form factor unit,I love the MPC slab on my desk,that’s why I’ve kept my 4000,there’s something good about working on a proper MPC form,and I did dig the X when I had it briefly

I do like the look of this newer model as it looks great but I’ll hang fire on it for a while,I suspect this will be available for a while yet,I don’t buy the limited edition run crap they’re promoting,just a spin to generate desirability for it.

There just isn’t really any additional features with the SE to make me trade the keys model
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By MPC-Tutor Fri Apr 28, 2023 12:09 pm
I'm mostly seeing people calling out (some) influencers for just sounding like shills. We've discussed this before, some of these guys are pretty shameless - not all of them, some seem more than capable of providing balanced and thoughtful reviews.

However, some of these guys are acting like this SE model is the second coming and it's a little bit embarrassing. Maybe I'm all 'uptight Englishman' and anti-gush, but as I've said before, I can watch guys like Loopop all day, absolute quality and if I was a gear manufacturer he would be first on my list, but some of these others guys :smh:

BTW, don't get me wrong, I completely understand the effort and time these guys must put into making these vids and building their followers, I couldn't do it. But it's just a shame they can't be a bit more critical when it comes to the actual reviewing aspect, it's like failing at the final hurdle. All that effort and they go and spoil it.


jpeg wrote:
64hz wrote:Look at all the girls being mad at the influencers. :lol:


i think its mostly jelously; there is a perception that influencers have not paid dues and are just jumping on the bandwagons and doing whats trendy.

that may be the case in most instances but there are alot of influencers who been grafting for years making beats and now they have found a way to monetize their passion so that should be commended.

I am certain had yotube been around 20 years ago alot of forum members would have been infleuncers also

also maybe some people are mad that influencers get the gear scoop early; maybe they get free gear or discount price gear( or do they just demo and send back?)

but I got to say while its just a paint job it does look way better then the X in black; I would buy just for looks and aextra buttons ( and the luxury layout) as have had my live 1 since 2017; and the bettery is dead, and the internal drive is full, but might just wait till end of the year and 3.0 which will probably be next year before getting the X SE.
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By zangetsu01 Fri Apr 28, 2023 12:38 pm
People are taking about haters and jealousy.. Look at this video, everything that he’s doing can be done on the normal X and he’s acting like it’s all new and shiny:



That’s the reason I told him that I used to love his video’s but this was way too cheesy and it looks like he got sugared to do this ridiculous review..
By jpeg Fri Apr 28, 2023 12:57 pm
MPC-Tutor wrote:I'm mostly seeing people calling out (some) influencers for just sounding like shills. We've discussed this before, some of these guys are pretty shameless - not all of them, some seem more than capable of providing balanced and thoughtful reviews.

However, some of these guys are acting like this SE model is the second coming and it's a little bit embarrassing. Maybe I'm all 'uptight Englishman' and anti-gush, but as I've said before, I can watch guys like Loopop all day, absolute quality and if I was a gear manufacturer he would be first on my list, but some of these others guys :smh:

BTW, don't get me wrong, I completely understand the effort and time these guys must put into making these vids and building their followers, I couldn't do it. But it's just a shame they can't be a bit more critical when it comes to the actual reviewing aspect, it's like failing at the final hurdle. All that effort and they go and spoil it.




fyi was not talking about ur critique tutor cos u have valid points and I understand that ur level of knowledge of mpcs is way higher then most so u would have higher criteria by which u evaluate these influencers, so that understandable (side note i still dont get how u aint an influencer doing vids on youtube etc, I feel Akai should of given u a unit for all da work u put in over the years)

but my comments was directed at others who seemed to have unfounded critiques.