Official: MPC X 'Special Edition' Now Released

did anyone of you replace their X for an SE yet? I would be interested if the screen of the SE is the same or if it is better in terms of being more precise/responsive.
What I noticed when I had the Force a for a test drive a while ago and later got the One was that the 7inch screens are imho way more responsive and even more precise than the 10" screen of the X. So if one of you has both, then I would be interested in an A-B comparison. Thanks in advance

One thing that I like about the MPC is that the effects are honest - they do what they say on the tin - but you can then do things like using send channels to add whole layers of different effects and (OK, a little clunky here) pushing wet and dry levels in different directions for different treatments, and then use levels as macro inputs for automations.

I don't believe that the SP404 can do anything like that.

Koekepan wrote:One thing that I like about the MPC is that the effects are honest - they do what they say on the tin - but you can then do things like using send channels to add whole layers of different effects and (OK, a little clunky here) pushing wet and dry levels in different directions for different treatments, and then use levels as macro inputs for automations.

I don't believe that the SP404 can do anything like that.

You can automate effects on the sp404mk2 as of the last update or so. I havent done it myself yet but I know its possible. I like the mpc for sequencing synths, but I also have a Pro3 that records multiple automations in sequences so I find myself not really needing to use it much on the mpcx anymore. I sometimes resample into the sp404, but I do get some nice results with the gate, distortion and such in the mpcx. It just is not as immediate and usually requires more than one effect to sound good. I know others will know there mpcs effects better than I do.

HouseWithoutMouse wrote:

Monotremata wrote:The stock effects in Logic and Cubase have more 'flavor' than these do.

Have you tried inserting an AIR Flavor after your reverb in the Return channel? Try it, it sounds fantastic IMO. Just browse through the different Flavor model variations and you get a lot of flavor in your reverb. Make the reverb tail very long and add some ducking/pumping to keep it under control.

No, I don't use the MPC for mixing or the 'final product'. I have a full 24 channel inline console, way too much hardware. Absolutely no need to do anything 'in the box' with the MPC when everything can be tracked into Cubase and done properly there. Doesn't even have a 'G compressor' knock off for the 'master glue'..

Monotremata wrote:
No, I don't use the MPC for mixing or the 'final product'. I have a full 24 channel inline console, way too much hardware. Absolutely no need to do anything 'in the box' with the MPC when everything can be tracked into Cubase and done properly there. Doesn't even have a 'G compressor' knock off for the 'master glue'..

Agree with you I'm also a cubase user and use my X in standalone.. I wish there able to have audio over usb or ethernet to be able to track out live 16 stereo or 32 mono.. I dont like to use the software in my DAW..

I think the built in FX's are "flavorless" on purpose since we can use so many of them at the same time. Their good enough to get the job done, but easy not to attached to the sound of them so the FX's are easier to replace with better ones later if needed. I think you're suppose to use them combined with others to get the sound/flavor you want. So maybe look at each of the 4 fx slot as a piece of a whole 4 part custom multi FX.

Life is all about perspective. Remember your initial way of looking at something may not be the only way to see it or it could be far from 1 of the better ways to approach the situation. Always asks yourself questions like:
What's another way to look at this?
Why was this made like this?
Based on what can & can't be done on this device, what's the best to use it to get what I want from it?
How can I use it in a way it wasn't made for? - 1 of fav's
What if I....? - Seems like a simple question but just keep asking that about all kinds of stuff like what if I take a bassline sample &.... Having a creative imagination is key for this question to work well.

I agree.

In fact, I wouldn't call them flavourless. I'd call them pure. They do exactly what you asked for, no more nor less. If you wanted something different, then you should have sent it to a submix and done something different. It's not as if they don't give you distortions and equalisers and filters to play with. You want it to sound like an old rotary phone over a bad line? You can do that. Want to layer a vocal formant filter? Can do. Reverse delay and compression? A few swipes away. Distress it with a bitrate reduction? No problem. Automatically link the bitrate reduction to the volume? You can make a macro for that.

There are presets, but the MPC and Force software is designed for parameter miners, more than preset kings.

Koekepan wrote:I agree.

In fact, I wouldn't call them flavourless. I'd call them pure. They do exactly what you asked for, no more nor less. If you wanted something different, then you should have sent it to a submix and done something different. It's not as if they don't give you distortions and equalisers and filters to play with. You want it to sound like an old rotary phone over a bad line? You can do that. Want to layer a vocal formant filter? Can do. Reverse delay and compression? A few swipes away. Distress it with a bitrate reduction? No problem. Automatically link the bitrate reduction to the volume? You can make a macro for that.

You gotta be a pro writer or something or maybe you just finish binge-watching "Bag Gear"

Koekepan wrote:There are presets, but the MPC and Force software is designed for parameter miners, more than preset kings.

Yup. I think they know their customs better than we give them credit for. They know that the type of person that willing chose to use a piece of hardware like the MPC/Force in modern times must really like doing things the hard way. So yeah, Akai could make better FX's, but they know us hardware types like it when they make us suffer first & create the desire to want them to be better, by giving us these "pure" FX's first, that you need to use creatively to get something "good" out them. The presets are just a formality.

B-Wise wrote:

Koekepan wrote:I agree.

In fact, I wouldn't call them flavourless. I'd call them pure. They do exactly what you asked for, no more nor less. If you wanted something different, then you should have sent it to a submix and done something different. It's not as if they don't give you distortions and equalisers and filters to play with. You want it to sound like an old rotary phone over a bad line? You can do that. Want to layer a vocal formant filter? Can do. Reverse delay and compression? A few swipes away. Distress it with a bitrate reduction? No problem. Automatically link the bitrate reduction to the volume? You can make a macro for that.

You gotta be a pro writer or something or maybe you just finish binge-watching "Bag Gear"

Koekepan wrote:There are presets, but the MPC and Force software is designed for parameter miners, more than preset kings.

Yup. I think they know their customs better than we give them credit for. They know that the type of person that willing chose to use a piece of hardware like the MPC/Force in modern times must really like doing things the hard way. So yeah, Akai could make better FX's, but they know us hardware types like it when they make us suffer first & create the desire to want them to be better, by giving us these "pure" FX's first, that you need to use creatively to get something "good" out them. The presets are just a formality.

u prolly over analysing; it could just be that they are bland fx, cos the presets on flavour pro are more coloured and creatively useful, yes u can tweak but the presets are good as is and the tweaking seems to have a more dramatic impact then tweaking with the standard fx , so that flavour pro is proably the best fx they have done alsong with the xy fx

Granulator is epic..

That is all I have to say about that..

Returning to the topic of the SE, I think that this may be a hint (along with the Keys) of a direction for the future: a continuation of the existing form factors, plus or minus a few details like button selections and I/O, but with beefed-up internals. I could easily see a new hardware generation combining a couple of USB 3 connections with USB C, an octocore (or bigger) chip and 16GB of RAM. The software could just have an update that recognises which platform it's running on, and if it's tough enough then a bunch of limits (such as number of plugin tracks) get raised. Keep updating the software family, and it's a much lighter lift than creating a whole new line from the ground up.

jpeg wrote:u prolly over analysing; it could just be that they are bland fx, cos the presets on flavour pro are more coloured and creatively useful, yes u can tweak but the presets are good as is and the tweaking seems to have a more dramatic impact then tweaking with the standard fx , so that flavour pro is proably the best fx they have done alsong with the xy fx

You're kinda still saying the same thing. Their bland so you can add flavor in a more controlled way without each fx fighting for attention. I like this approach because it give us the opportunity to highlight what's needed at the time & you still have the ability to add exotic spices from external FXs.

Also, don't sleep on the marketting research of a company that's been in business for as long Akai have. I could be right about them knowing their customers. But I learn my lesson arguing with you so I'll leave it alone. It's not that deep.

In my other efx get the job done and when don't sound great I have my DAW .. MPC's are beat maschines we are making it into a one stop production tool..

Certified Beatz wrote:In my other efx get the job done and when don't sound great I have my DAW .. MPC's are beat maschines we are making it into a one stop production tool..

mpcs stopped being just beat machines long ago they are full fledged workstations now and will soon be a dwa by the time 3.0 roll around

Koekepan wrote:Returning to the topic of the SE, I think that this may be a hint (along with the Keys) of a direction for the future: a continuation of the existing form factors, plus or minus a few details like button selections and I/O, but with beefed-up internals.

u made no points about the form factors what does SE have to do with form factors and the direction of future products? nothing that we did not already know there has always been flagship MPCs in th eX form factor so nothing new was learned from the SE.

Unless ur missing using the term form factor and are instead refering to the teach spec? form factor denote the dhape of the device, but ur post spoke of the actual spec.