Akai Force Forum: Everything relating to the Akai Force, the iconic 64 pad, clip-based standalone sampler/groovebox from Akai.
By JethroJethro Thu May 07, 2026 3:23 am
I think advanced features are largely ignored because most users go with the classic “chop samples and arrange them into a beat” workflow, with the occasional journey into plugin instruments and twist the q links to automate some.

I’m a techno and synth guy and the majority of YouTube videos on mpc aren’t super interesting or useful for what I’m doing which essential is studio in a box for quick experimentation and arrangement. Have most of the plug-in instruments aside from the NI list. Even the younger Akai spokesperson who does fast techno does a mostly a sample based workflow without much if any moving sunths.

Meanwhile, nearly nobody in MPC world is excited envelope followers made it from the Force to MPC. I thought at the very least they be excited about new sidechain ducking abilities with envelope followed since Mother Ducker was previously the only way and pretty limited at that, but nah few seem to care.
By B-Wise Thu May 07, 2026 8:54 am
JethroJethro wrote:I think advanced features are largely ignored because most users go with the classic “chop samples and arrange them into a beat” workflow, with the occasional journey into plugin instruments and twist the q links to automate some.

I’m a techno and synth guy and the majority of YouTube videos on mpc aren’t super interesting or useful for what I’m doing which essential is studio in a box for quick experimentation and arrangement. Have most of the plug-in instruments aside from the NI list. Even the younger Akai spokesperson who does fast techno does a mostly a sample based workflow without much if any moving sunths.

Meanwhile, nearly nobody in MPC world is excited envelope followers made it from the Force to MPC. I thought at the very least they be excited about new sidechain ducking abilities with envelope followed since Mother Ducker was previously the only way and pretty limited at that, but nah few seem to care.


I agree with all this. Akai doesn't do a great job at showing off the more nerdy type shit & most YouTubers don't push it. The only that still makes more advance videos is SnowMetal.
By Wul Sat May 09, 2026 11:22 am
Mpc 3.8 has a scale option for tune in 16 levels, however force does not, have I missed something?
By JethroJethro Mon May 11, 2026 1:35 am
From Force manual

Drum Note Configuration
While in 16 level mode, press and hold Shift and press the Note/Config
button to open the Drum Note Configuration window. In addition to
the standard Drum Note Configuration settings mentioned above, you
can use this to adjust what the 16 level quadrants control.
Use the Top Left, Top Right, and Bottom Right fields to set what
type of 16 Level control is used in each quadrant:
Velocity: The sample velocity increases from lowest (7) to
highest (127).
Tune: The sample tuning increases from the lowest pitch to
highest pitch. By default, the first pad in the quadrant is the
base pitch and the next 12 pads increase by one semitone
each. Use the Transpose field to transpose the original sample
down up to 12 semitones for increased range.
Filter: The cutoff value for the filter increases from lowest to
highest. You can set the filter type for the pad in Track Edit
mode.
Layer: Each row of four pads covers a range of velocity from
lowest to highest: 0-31, 32-64, 65-96 and 97-127. Pads with
multiple samples will play back each layer according to the
Velocity Start and Velocity End settings for each layer.
Attack: The attack envelope of the sample increases from
lowest to highest.
Decay: The decay envelope of the sample increases from
lowest to highest.
Probability: The probability that the note is played increases
from lowest to highest.
Ratchet: The number of note subdivision ratchets increases
By B-Wise Mon May 11, 2026 1:45 am
JethroJethro wrote:From Force manual

Drum Note Configuration
While in 16 level mode, press and hold Shift and press the Note/Config
button to open the Drum Note Configuration window. In addition to
the standard Drum Note Configuration settings mentioned above, you
can use this to adjust what the 16 level quadrants control.
Use the Top Left, Top Right, and Bottom Right fields to set what
type of 16 Level control is used in each quadrant:
Velocity: The sample velocity increases from lowest (7) to
highest (127).
Tune: The sample tuning increases from the lowest pitch to
highest pitch. By default, the first pad in the quadrant is the
base pitch and the next 12 pads increase by one semitone
each. Use the Transpose field to transpose the original sample
down up to 12 semitones for increased range.
Filter: The cutoff value for the filter increases from lowest to
highest. You can set the filter type for the pad in Track Edit
mode.
Layer: Each row of four pads covers a range of velocity from
lowest to highest: 0-31, 32-64, 65-96 and 97-127. Pads with
multiple samples will play back each layer according to the
Velocity Start and Velocity End settings for each layer.
Attack: The attack envelope of the sample increases from
lowest to highest.
Decay: The decay envelope of the sample increases from
lowest to highest.
Probability: The probability that the note is played increases
from lowest to highest.
Ratchet: The number of note subdivision ratchets increases

Why did you post this? - The other poster asked about scales in 16 levels.
But since you did, you can use Tune twice like on Bank A&B or C&D, then change the root pad for both to add more range. I only like using 16 Levels to test out stuff before I make a drum track to have more control of each pad.