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.
By Shima Mon Aug 17, 2026 9:01 am
Hi! I’ve spent quite a bit of time searching through the manual and the MPC Bible, but I can’t find an easy way to record the main output to a WAV file while playing live.

I can export an arrangement, but I’d like to be able to record without having to use the arranger.

There’s probably an obvious way to do this, it seems like a basic feature, but I just can’t find it.

Thanks in advance if you can help! :worthy:
By B-Wise Mon Aug 17, 2026 2:01 pm
Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:Resampling might work for you.

This or send some outputs cables to the inputs & send the tracks you want recorded to those outputs. You can also setup audio tracks for for these outs to record these tracks with the resampler avoiding the sample input. Each audio track can have their own 4 FX like the the sampler.

Another way to record internal audio is via the Looper but It's limited to only 16 or 32 bars or whatever.
By Shima Mon Aug 17, 2026 2:33 pm
Thank you so much for your replies!

Well, I understand that there isn’t a built-in feature like on other grooveboxes (I’m thinking specifically of the Synthstrom Deluge, which I’m familiar with).

As for resampling, I tried it, but it seems like you can’t leave the page without stopping the recording. So it doesn’t work for recording a live performance. But maybe I missed a setting?

The option of running cables from the main output to the MPC’s inputs seems like the easiest way to me, but it’s really weird and feels like a “DIY” solution. I’m going to try to figure out how to configure each track so that their outputs go to an audio track (without monitoring), as you suggested—if I understood you correctly. I haven’t managed to get that option to work yet.

I find it a bit crazy that such an advanced machine (one that seems perfectly capable of doing this from a hardware standpoint) doesn’t have a pre-programmed REC function to record the audio output(s) and automatically create a WAV file.

In the end, the simplest solution is to use an external recorder, but it takes up space, and it’s strange that you can’t just do it right on the MPC.

Thanks anyway!
By fooddude Mon Aug 17, 2026 7:22 pm
My setup is as follows (haven't tried recording a track yet [since I haven't finished one yet] nor tested it; but, recently just connected/set-up all my gear/studio this year, after almost a decade of procrastination):

Before: MPC 60 and all HW synths/fx > old Mackie mixer > cheap Scarlett audio interface > laptop/Audacity

Now: MPC X SE and all HW synths/fx > old Mackie mixer > back into MPC X SE (using it as an audio interface) > laptop/Audacity

That should work right? ...MPC X SE doing two things at once - playing a full track/song/project/sequence while working as an audio-interface to record itself on a laptop/Audacity.

Or, is it better to record the Mackie's/mixer's main-outs inside the MPC X SE instead of a laptop/Audacity?
By Shima Tue Aug 18, 2026 8:56 am
B-Wise wrote:Record your performance to the Arranger then do a audio mixdown or resample that. I don’t know what type of performance your trying to record, but the MPC can record internal audio, but yeah you can't leave that screen, so have all that done first with the Arranger.


Thanks for your reply.
To answer your question, I'd like to record the audio from my jams directly (alone or with a friend joining in via audio) without having to record it in the arranger first.
Usually, I use the clip matrix to build a song; once I have all my clips, I can trigger them “live” and use effects in performance mode. I don’t necessarily want to “set everything in stone” first with the arranger.

I think I’ll use my 1010 Bluebox, it’s simpler. I still find it hard to believe that this isn’t a feature specifically built into the MPC. Maybe someday !