Akai MPC X VS Akai Force

Have both and use both for real different things. Hard to choose, and I’m not transporting projects between them

Just look at the intefaces & you will see that these are much different machines. While the FORCE has the crossfaders & 8 knobs, the MPC workflow is more in line with the classic MPC workflow. The FORCE clearly targets ABLETON LIVE users with clips/scenes

Reopening this topic....

I have been using an MPC Live for three years now... it's very definitely a love/hate relationship but I have eventually realized that I will never be able to build songs on it - or rather, that it will always be clumsy. It seems to me that the Force is a better choice for building songs. I'm still reading the manual but I wonder...

- The Force can apparently load MPC projects, but what does that mean? How do sequences translate to clips?
- Does the Force have the same MIDI bugs as the MPC (specifically the Note Off bug)?
- Any "fatal flaws" with the Force?

All thoughts are welcome...

MPC project import was added in Force software version 3.2.1. How it works is explained here https://cdn.inmusicbrands.com/akai/Forc ... Update.pdf

You can now load MPC projects into Force
o Each sequence is loaded as a new row in the clip matrix.
o Programs are imported as tracks.
o In an MPC2 project where more than one tracks' destination was the same program, Force imports these as additional MIDI tracks and the Send To field
is used to send the MIDI from them to the first track.

jamos wrote:- Any "fatal flaws" with the Force?

All thoughts are welcome...

I own both (Force and MPC Live 2). Biggest "flaw" on Force I can think of is no tempo change in Force. Your entire Project is locked to one tempo. In MPC, each Sequence can have it's own tempo (and time division). Also, you cannot explode tracks in Force (think Drum Programs, etc).

But... in Force you get an Arranger. And honestly = the Clip Matrix is a far more efficient/logical way of composing than MPC's archaic way ever was (which has largely remained the same since it appeared in the 1980's). #ducks

The Force does do tempo changes as a MIDI clock slave, with an external MIDI clock master.

HouseWithoutMouse wrote:The Force does do tempo changes as a MIDI clock slave, with an external MIDI clock master.

So it doesn't do tempo change since you need a third party device.

Good luck to your no-third-party-devices music production. You're going to need it.

But thanks for pointing out that I only presented a work-around and not a fix. It is possible that there could be a person who didn't realize that.

HouseWithoutMouse wrote:Good luck to your no-third-party-devices music production. You're going to need it..

To be fair, IMHO no… no you really don’t. Force - all in the box - is perfectly capable of doing standalone productions just fine. Add some Jura and Mini-D, with a touch of Fabric XL and a variety of Keygroups and Drum Programs and there’s no reason why a talented musician couldn’t coax some epic bangers out of Force.

Most of my songs are done with only an mpc and a microkorg. *shrugs*

HouseWithoutMouse wrote:Good luck to your no-third-party-devices music production. You're going to need it.

But thanks for pointing out that I only presented a work-around and not a fix. It is possible that there could be a person who didn't realize that.

This is something the Force should not need another device for, that's all. Each scene could have its own tempo when you launch the entire scene, just like Ableton Live. Suggesting to add a second sequencer just for tempo changes isn't a workaround.

And both the Force AND the MPC line should have a tempo track track. The MPC3000 30 years ago HAD a tempo track, and many other features new MPC still do not have, how come? AKAI isn't being serious.

hey producers

I'm currently facing a similar question and wanted to take up the topic again.

I own the Force and would like to be able to be a bit more portable on a regular basis. On the road now is the Live 2.

Much of the discussion has been about the difference between Force and MPC Live 2 (FW 2.X). But what about MPC 3.0? Are the differences still big enough to make both devices worthwhile, or can I part with the Force?

Of course the workflow is different, but I'm still at the beginning and can get used to one of the two - if they are very different due to MPC 3.0.

While MPC 3 brings many Force features, the Force is the only one with a clip-based workflow. If that's what you use/need, then the MPC isn't going to cut it. Plus it's possible the Force will get some of the MPC 3.4 features in return (e.g. tempo automation). Akai have hinted that there is a Force update coming, however it may already be discontinued if the rumours are to be believed (basically, Sweetwater claim it's discontinued)

TecEgg wrote:hey producers

I'm currently facing a similar question and wanted to take up the topic again.

I own the Force and would like to be able to be a bit more portable on a regular basis. On the road now is the Live 2.

Much of the discussion has been about the difference between Force and MPC Live 2 (FW 2.X). But what about MPC 3.0? Are the differences still big enough to make both devices worthwhile, or can I part with the Force?

Of course the workflow is different, but I'm still at the beginning and can get used to one of the two - if they are very different due to MPC 3.0.

TecEgg wrote:hey producers

I'm currently facing a similar question and wanted to take up the topic again.

I own the Force and would like to be able to be a bit more portable on a regular basis. On the road now is the Live 2.

Much of the discussion has been about the difference between Force and MPC Live 2 (FW 2.X). But what about MPC 3.0? Are the differences still big enough to make both devices worthwhile, or can I part with the Force?

Of course the workflow is different, but I'm still at the beginning and can get used to one of the two - if they are very different due to MPC 3.0.

I own the Force & keep up with the MPC updates & I still wouldn't want the MPC even with 3.0. The Force clips matrix makes it so much faster to build compositions. The 64 pads also acts as a 4 octave piano to sketch out ideas that I can later further develop on my full size piano. The crossfader has became a big part of my creative style & having 4 pad banks of samples directly at hand is not easy to give up.

You should wait for the MPC3 to finish it beta mode & for the next Force update before you make your decision.

P.S. I just wanted to point out that you replied to this post exactly a year after the last post.

B-Wise wrote: & for the next Force update