Using MPC Key 37 live: sounds cut out when changing sequence

The subject line says it all: got my first gig this coming Saturday using the MPC Key 37 live but there's this really annoying "feature" that I can't seem to find a way around. I would welcome any suggestions.

So, I'll have different sequences for the sections of a given song and say a string sound on Plugin 01. I'm in the "Next sequence" window, holding down a sustained chord on the string sound as Sequence 01 is playing. I select Sequence 02 to play but as soon as Sequence 02 starts, my string sound cuts out. There's some sort of midi-stop signal sent to Plugin 01.

I've googled and read and searched for a solution for this but cannot find a way to stop this happening. This really diminishes the Key 37's use in a live situation.

The obvious answer is "programme the whole song as one long sequence". But that's not how my band's music works - we don't always play the songs the same way. There are a series of sequences with more or less rythmns/backing etc and I trigger them to play as the band progresses through the piece.

So, I'm having to work around this, being very mindful of what I'm playing when the sequence changes but it is really annoying and it seems quite a bizzare limitation to have in place.

If there is a solution, someone please tell me what it is.

Many thanks,

Mike

This issue has been present on all MPC 3 firmware revisions. I've been vocal about it both here and directly to Akai support.

A few days ago I asked if someone can check if this has been fixed on 3.7 firmware.
Which firmware are you running?

This issue and missing program changes per track per sequence was the reason I downgraded to 2.15 again where everything is as it is supposed to be (apart from the MMC bug, which doesn't affect me)

horisonten wrote:This issue has been present on all MPC 3 firmware revisions. I've been vocal about it both here and directly to Akai support.

A few days ago I asked if someone can check if this has been fixed on 3.7 firmware.
Which firmware are you running?

This issue and missing program changes per track per sequence was the reason I downgraded to 2.15 again where everything is as it is supposed to be (apart from the MMC bug, which doesn't affect me)

It's version 3.7 - I installed it a couple of days ago hoping it would be a solution but alas, no

I did try the downgrading thing in order to fix the time-signatures limitation but I hit other problems (I forget what now), so went back to v3.

It is a real shame: the Akai MPC Key 37 is *almost* good and *almost* perfect for what I need (i.e. a compact workstation/sequencer with a kyboard for playing live). But these odd limitations that seem like a really basic thing to have addressed just persist. I know there is a "fix" for time signatures now but you can only have one time signature for a project, you cannot change time signatures within a project.

I will email the support team as well.

Yeah, I feel you.
I'm also bummed about the missing live features.
It's so close, but yet so far away. I mean they are already on 3.7 and none of the live features have been addressed yet... And I'm guessing Gen 1 devices will be unsupported from 4.X and forward.

Yep, there is a real risk that all sorts of bugs on inconveniences will never been fixed, just like the MIDI bug was never fixed in 2.X ... and just like with 2.X it seems like most MPC users absolutely don't care about these problems. Sometimes I wonder what most MPC owners do with their MPC or something since these bugs don't bother them...

If it were not for the 2.X midi in bug I'd still be on 2.X personally, the most reliable OS version.

mpc_fan_2022 wrote:If it were not for the 2.X midi in bug I'd still be on 2.X personally, the most reliable OS version.

Me too

This is the only/main/priority basic thing that I want fixed too - Hold Notes Over Sequence Changes.

Only thing we can do is keep requesting this fix to Akai Support.

yeah, i've discovered it today. What a Lo-Fi tool with clicks at the end of any sequence with long samples))) anyway, since i'm using this instrument as a midi controller and, sometimes, as effect processor, it suits me fine. But, yeah, WTF, Akai ?

Please all raise this as a support ticket with Akai support. If enough people raise it as a ticket, they will fix it.

I have done so and the response I got is below.

I am leaning towards selling my Key 37 now. It could be an incredibly useful bit of kit to use live but it is just dogged with show-stopper oversights. I would never use it to replace my DAW, which I think is part of Akai's intention for it.

The response from support:


Hi Mike,

Thank you for responding.

Unfortunately, there isn't an option for this, and this is how the workflow operates with the MPC 3 Linear Arrangement. The only other option would be to press 'Copy to Song' while you are in the Next Sequence Window, which will consolidate everything into a single Sequence.

I can escalate this to our development team; however, please be aware that, as part of tech support, we do not have authority over the development of products or firmware, which means we cannot provide updates or estimated timelines.

Should any further changes made, this will always be publicly addressed/announced in the release notes:

MPC Release Notes | Akai Pro
Music Production Hardware & Software | Akai Pro

I'd like to thank you once again for taking the time to reach out.

I will now place this ticket on a soft close; however, if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out, and the ticket will be reopened.

Best Regards,

This is their standard answer. I've received basically the same answer, word for word.

But rest assure. I've at least reported it, and more missing live parts, every 3.X update.