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.
User avatar
By Perrin&Tonic Fri Jun 19, 2026 11:26 pm
FIRST OFF, it has been years since I have been on this forum. It's good to be back. I F'N love you guys for always being sincere, and offering inspiration and legitimate support in this community. THANK YOU!

So, last year I fell for it and bought the LIVE3 right when it came out. Foolishly I sold my LIVE2 to finance the LIVE3...BUT not so foolishly I returned the LIVE3 (full refund) since Akai ruined the classic MPC workflow I had been using for so long.

After being MPC-less for the last few months, I snagged a LIVE2 (for about what I sold my old one for), which should be here next week. Not sure what firmware it will be running when I receive it...but, does anyone have a download or a link for "the best" version 2.0??? Is this available on Akai's website? What do we think was the best before the 3.0 came along?

Otherwise, is there a thread dedicated to trashing the LIVE3 workflow? I don't mean to be pessimistic or negative...and I'm sure Akai made some tweaks since last year...but v3 just wasn't for me. I tried and after 40+ hours, I realized I did not like it. In fact, it pissed me off...anyone else with me?

Anyway, So glad to see we are still bangin it out!

RESPECT
User avatar
By mr_debauch Sat Jun 20, 2026 2:02 pm
well 2.15 is the last version I went to. I feel that one was fine. apparently someone tried putting it on a live 3 when it came out and they bricked the machine.
User avatar
By personM Sat Jun 20, 2026 7:34 pm
do you have a link to the brick-story of this person? would love to read about it. suggests some things im curious about.
User avatar
By Lampdog Sat Jun 20, 2026 7:44 pm
When L3 was released, several places on the web it was stated Live 3 wasn't compatible with v2 and yet someone still did it out of curiosity. :Sigh:
User avatar
By Lampdog Sat Jun 20, 2026 9:04 pm
I know, I "reddit" when it first happened, and thought, welp....
Image
User avatar
By Perrin&Tonic Sun Jun 21, 2026 12:56 am
Who has experience running v3 and reverting back to installing v2 firmware on a MPC Live2? Any concerns?

The seller snubbed me on Reverb, so now I am back looking again for a live2. Nervous about getting one that's been updated to running v3 and having to reinstall v2? I'd rather just avoid the hassle and find one still running v2. Knowing my luck something like this would happen...
mr_debauch wrote:well 2.15 is the last version I went to. I feel that one was fine. apparently someone tried putting it on a live 3 when it came out and they bricked the machine.
By B-Wise Sun Jun 21, 2026 1:22 am
Perrin&Tonic wrote:Who has experience running v3 and reverting back to installing v2 firmware on a MPC Live2? Any concerns?

The seller snubbed me on Reverb, so now I am back looking again for a live2. Nervous about getting one that's been updated to running v3 and having to reinstall v2? I'd rather just avoid the hassle and find one still running v2. Knowing my luck something like this would happen...
mr_debauch wrote:well 2.15 is the last version I went to. I feel that one was fine. apparently someone tried putting it on a live 3 when it came out and they bricked the machine.

They meant to able to be switched. Just find & load the OS you want. Most of the used MPC have touched by that 3.0 D, pretty hard to a virgin box, especially after the bigger & better 3.9 just came out. :lol:

Don't over think this.
User avatar
By Lampdog Sun Jun 21, 2026 1:28 am
On Key61 I've gone from v2 <--> v3, back and forth several times without flaw.
By Certified Beatz Sun Jun 21, 2026 2:41 am
On my X i put the original firmware 2.0.3 from 3.6 at the time as we speak went from 3.9 to look for something and now back to 3.9 with zero issues didn't reset preferences..
User avatar
By mr_debauch Sun Jun 21, 2026 3:18 am
obviously id be happy with my old live mk1... i bought that before there were pluggins and ever since day one i viewed every update of value (the ones i found valuable) as a bonus. (my live is acting up and isn't really working properly anymore which is a shame)

but i find the 3.0 has really changed the architecture of the machine to something else..... but also i feel like they removed a system that didn't have real issues when it comes to the way it was set up. I scratch my head when i think an executive at akai decided that the mpc sample needed to be reduced to one single track.... every mpc i have ever owned had the possibility of dozens of tracks..... this feels like some roland influenced shit.

or how about removing programs in 3.x? huh? this is a 40 year old feature almost.. actually not almost... they had programs in the s-series samplers of 40 years ago and almost that long in mpcs. i am all for innovation and modernization as well.... however the system actually still worked pretty great and quite flexibly. Akai is still claiming that you get the classic mpc workflow on the marketting for the new mpc one mk2 series.. which is not at all true.

this is not a complaint or bitching, it is me scratching my head wondering what was to gain by scrapping an already working good thing
By Certified Beatz Sun Jun 21, 2026 3:31 am
mr_debauch wrote:obviously id be happy with my old live mk1... i bought that before there were pluggins and ever since day one i viewed every update of value (the ones i found valuable) as a bonus. (my live is acting up and isn't really working properly anymore which is a shame)

but i find the 3.0 has really changed the architecture of the machine to something else..... but also i feel like they removed a system that didn't have real issues when it comes to the way it was set up. I scratch my head when i think an executive at akai decided that the mpc sample needed to be reduced to one single track.... every mpc i have ever owned had the possibility of dozens of tracks..... this feels like some roland influenced shit.

or how about removing programs in 3.x? huh? this is a 40 year old feature almost.. actually not almost... they had programs in the s-series samplers of 40 years ago and almost that long in mpcs. i am all for innovation and modernization as well.... however the system actually still worked pretty great and quite flexibly. Akai is still claiming that you get the classic mpc workflow on the marketting for the new mpc one mk2 series.. which is not at all true.

this is not a complaint or bitching, it is me scratching my head wondering what was to gain by scrapping an already working good thing


Agree with you try getting your hands on the original OS that was shipped with first Gen mpc live and X no plugins and still the 1995-2008 feel.. for decades I made 8-10 sequences the create a song in song mode. It was nice loved the work flow.. but i have to say I also wanted to us my mpc with a PC ..

yes old PIII slow as computer.. with horrible vsti's in those days.. I have to say the new OS i create all in one sequence and arrange in the arranger add, delete and copy bars on the fly .. the added plugins and effects does get overwhelming.. makes u lose focus at times..

but i now dont have to turn my PC on which does suck because I love omnisphere and kontakt.. so thats why with usb c I create in standalone and then still stay in standalone open cubase add tweak and complete..

that being said hundreds of beats later I still haven't post one .. so I guess with all being said im still doing nothing :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D
By B-Wise Sun Jun 21, 2026 3:50 am
Programs are still there, they are just part of the drum track. What is different is that you can only have 1 per track across all 128 sequences. The drum program synth engine is more powerful than ever before, especially with 3.9. You can still have multiple tracks share 1 program via MIDI Send which works with drum, keygroups & MIDI tracks.
User avatar
By zangetsu01 Mon Jun 22, 2026 5:51 am
I also saw the post of someone bricking their Live III with 2.xx firmware. But I'm not buying that story. After countles hours of trying to hack the Gen2 MPC's I know that the the Gen2 MPC's will not accept any firmware update without the Akai's new private key.

So for to me it sounds like someone who just wanted attention.