5 Reasons Why I Sent The MPC KEY 61 BACK
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- This is what the MPC Key 61 should have been. Add sixteen Q Links along with a larger flip up screen would have been sexy and nice. Here's my 5 reasons why I sent it back. Let's hope in the MKII they adjust fire.
All beats done by me.
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IG: djskillspinz
I am not here to bash your decision to send the MPC Key back. Ultimately a product has to work for you as a producer/musician and if it doesn't you should not keep it. This equipment is to expensive for most people to just have it laying around. I would like to offer a different perspective though on your issues with the unit though.
1. Pads Too Small
It is first and foremost a keyboard. Unlike other MPC's which the pads are the centerpiece of the unit, the Key is designed for keyboard players that prioritize keys over pads. I believe the pads are the same size as all of their MPK keyboard pads that people use without an issue.
2. Screen too small
It is a multi gesture high resolution 7" touchscreen. The Korg Nautilus, Roland Fantom, Yamaha Montage, Yamaha MODX, etc all have 7" screens and they all lack the high resolution the MPC Key has. And most of them are not multi-gesture screens. Not being a flip up screen is no big deal to most keyboard players. It's titled already to help viewing angles. The concern becomes the hinge breaking during travel and gigging. So the mechanism would have to be really robust. The Korg you are referring to PA5X cost over $5000. So...yeah the mechanism is built sturdy but you pay for it.
3. Not enough Q-links.
No other keyboard on the market has 16 knobs equivalent to the Q-Links. Also, no other keyboard has touch sensitive knobs. More knobs adds cost. The Yamaha MODX is much cheaper than its "big brother" the Montage. It has all of the same sounds but far less knobs and buttons to reduce cost.
4. The keys are in your way. You want to move it and get busy with the pads.
It's a keyboard. That's like a guitarist complaining about their strings being in the way of the knobs they want to adjust. The keybed is main feature of the MPC Key 61. If it is "in the way" it's not the product for you.
5. The sounds aren't top notch compared to NI and Arturia
The sounds on the keyboard must fit within the hardware limitations of the keyboard. The latest Arturia V Collection is 32GB of sounds. That is literally all of the internal memory available in the MPC Key. Some of Arturia's sounds use 2.5GB of RAM. That is more than half of what is available in the MPC Key. And more than what the MPC X, Live, Live 2 and One even offer. My NI sounds take it almost a terabyte of space. Many require 4-8 GB and an I7 Intel processor to even play them effectively. Of course they sound better. Larger files carry more information which translates to better sound. Lastly you cannot take Arturia, Native Instruments, etc with you without also bringing a computer with you. None of those VSTs are offered in a hardware keyboard. The Maschine Plus give you some of their sounds but their large Grand Pianos, guitar VSTs are not offered because they are too big.
6. Crashes
Yup you are right. It should not be crashing out of the box. Every MPC that upgrades to the latest firmware will experience the same thing. So that is not specific to the MPC Key.
Lastly let's say Akai did add everything you wanted. Bigger pads, bigger screen, robust flip screen, 16 touch sensitive Q-Links, a "fold-away" keybed, and sounds quality like a Native Instruments or even Omnisphere. It would need at least 16gigs of RAM, 1 TB internal SSD. The processor would need to be upgraded to handle that sonic capability. Something equivalent to an Xeon Intel chip or MAC M1. Has to be high quality stuff so that in one or years it doesn't start doing weird stuff like most cellphones and computers nowadays. How much do you think that would cost? It would be more than the Korg PA5X. Because that keyboard has no where near the internal specs of what you would need to have to run what you want. That keyboard is over $5000. So let's say the MPC Key 61 was $6500. Who would buy it? Most Korg, Roland, Yamaha, and Kurzweil keyboard owners are already skeptical of the MPC Key as is. You think they would spend that kind of money on an experiment? No. Akai is breaking into a new market. They are trying to keyboard players outside of their normal MPC users to take a look at their product. It sounds to me like the perfect product for you is an MPC X with a MIDI keyboard attached to a computer in controller mode. You would then have everything you are asking for.
My man Darrick, I am that Korg, Roland, Yamaha, and Kurzweil guy you speak of and I was not afraid to try the KEY61. You may remember our conversation in the MPC GANG. You have made many true statements above but my argument is that you can not write a full song in midi on the few plugin slots supplied by this thing. Akai leads you to believe that this is a workstation. Maybe for samples but not like my other workstations which also manipulate samples. My workflow is midi first, then audio if needed but it is not needed in most cases because any processing performed on an audio event could also be performed on a midi event with the exception of time stretching. I agree with both of you that this keyboard is not for everyone but I have decided to keep mine just for the touch ribbon. I really like the touch ribbon and features. So now I have a $2000 touch ribbon.
Great points. However I wasn’t asking for a fold-away Keybed on the 61. That would be kind of weird 😂. And yeah that’s why I opted for the X and my midi controller. A flip screen, standard size pads and 16 qlinks will do it for me. Taking everything you said regarding the sounds I agree. As I said in the video, working in standalone with the sounds, I’m grateful for that. The sounds do sound good enough. Thanks for your comment man 💪🏾👊🏾
@@djtruflava 😂😂 a $2000 touch strip. Great points too.
Interesting counter argument but let's not give akai excuses. Your estimate of 5000 dollars to deliver a much improved keys 61 is a bit of an exaggeration. The hardware component improvements are not that expensive. For a manufacturer components are cheaper than consumer prices but even at consumer prices the upgrades to the hardware would still be less than 1000 dollars.
32gb of ddr4 ram is about 130 dollars. A 2 tb SSD about 150 dollars . Being that you can buy a whole mac mini for 800 dollars or less the m1 chip and the ram and a 256gb hardrive motherboard and everything else contained in that box would outperform the keys 61 and would be more than enough to run omnisphere and komplete and pretty much any full plugins you throw at it without optimization. If they simply threw the internals of the Mac mini into the keys 61 or any MPC for that matter and wrote a custome firmware to optimize for a standalone music device it would work out to be quite cheap. Using an Intel based platform would be even cheaper. If you look at a lot of the the hardware synths, they produce sound quality that is top draw but the specs of the hardware that they achieve this on is no where near as powerful as the current gen of MPCs. The software has been optimized to run on low spec hardware but because the hardware is dedicated there is no need for massive specs but if we go with your assertion then a beefier spec is not that expensive. I think the reason why akai didn't go for a beefier spec is because then there would be compatibility issues with the keys 61 and the other MPCs of this generation. Akai would have had to have this in its own category and would therefore have to develop everything separately to the rest of the MPC family which is going to be resource intensive. Instead they know by basically taking an MPC one and customizing it to fit inside a keyboard would not only be cheap but also simple to do. Essentially the same as plugging a midi controller into the live one.
I agree with your point of the pads not being the priority for a keyboard player but that is not an excuse for Akai not to include full sized pads. Why not have the bigger pads anyway so then you have a device that works for keyboard players and then allows them to have the full size pads experience of the MPCs. You are creating a flagship device that is not being designed for keyboard players really. A keyboard player would want 88 keys firstly and fully weighted hammer action keys if they are a really keyboard players or semi weighted but again 88keys as a keyboard specialist? The keys on the 61 are not the best keys and many midi controllers have better keys and feel than the keys 61. But let's park that and go on to the qlinks. The cost of the touch sensitive qlinks is not much. How much do you think a touch sensitive qlink costs akai and mounting it to the board. It's a few dollars each for the manufacturer.
A lot of your points are about keeping the cost down or else nobody would buy it. By boosting the spec in ways that I have suggested, basing it on the the MPC X model rather than the mpc one , so larger flip screen, 16 q link encoders, full size pads and better processor more ram and include an SSD as standard would have meant the device would have been sold about 2500 to give a akai a healthy profit off each unit. The beefier spec would have made it an attractive proposal at that price and the keys 61 would have been a go-to for many.
So one of your gripes with the MPC 61 keyboard, is that it has keys?
The unit would have required more depth to add full size pads. The keys take up a little more space inside. and each pad would have needed to be 25% larger. Add that up and look at the keyboard and you will see the unit would have to be at least 3" deeper to fit them properly and make it symmetrical.
Fellas, AKAI just released its FIRST keyboard version of the MPC. Just like any "first", it will have room for improvement based on what users want. Myself, I like 76 keys. Just enough where I can have range without raising or lowering octaves with a button or switch and not have the weight or extra real estate of 88 keys. The gripes & complaints are what makes good products better. Looking forward to more keys!!!
Well said. Thank you for you comment.
You could always use a laptop and keyboard controller for the same price.
This is why you see stores like guitar center still around because You can actually go in the store and try out the gear instead of making guesses by looking at what you see on the internet. I have been through that trial and error before with equipment that’s why when something new comes out I go to my local guitar center/music store and test it out to see if I like it before I order online.
U ain't lieing. I ONLY buy or order from places like guitar center
Thanks for making these valid points! ❤ If I hook an MPC One up to a midi keyboard, what am I missing compared to the Keys?
Pads doesn’t bother me. Screen should have been bigger. 4 q links are ok but the touch strip makes up for them in my opinion. The keys feel great. The keyboard sounds are not to be compared to digital sounds that are in computers . Your dealing with different components, there’s no way they can compete. But the sounds are excellent for a standalone unit. Also it depends on the way you manipulate the sounds. One has to create and put there own twist on them in my opinion . But I think you kind of touched on this. As far as it shutting down, all computers can and or will do this, at some point in time. My key 61 hasn’t done this yet, but if it did, I would not be surprised. My $3000 iMac has done this before. They are all computers at the end of the day. Created by man. Not perfect. No one can tell you how to spend your money. I understand . But I love my Mpc X and my key 61.
I totally agree. The sounds are dope working in standalone and not having anything else to lean on. When I first got it I made a beat in standalone and it came out dope. I opted for the X and hopefully on the next go around Akai will take some of what I said (and others) into consideration and I will most definitely cop the 61 key 2. Thanks for your comment.
@@DJSkillspinz Thanks. keep up the Theodore work
Interesting perspectives.
#1 Pads- I have not had a chance to play the Key 61 in person because the Guitar Centers that I went to did not have a display, but having seen the One pads, I think they would be sufficient for me. I could see how having them off to the top left may not be ergonomic. Maybe a better placement would have been a row right under the screen like the Korg Oasis, M3, etc. But, then it would not be a grid, but probably more ergonomic. They can make a special edition for you with only 6 mega pads😂
#2 -Flip screen would be great, I think 7" is acceptable at the price point compared to other workstation on the market.
#3 - Qlinks -I have never really utilized the Qlinks on my 2500. On my 49 key midi controller, it has 8-10 rotary encoders and they don't really get used, but in theory I could be assigning them to parameters. Having 9 sliders is essential when using them as drawbars. More would be nice, and I suppose if I was using them and assigning them, maybe having 4 would bother me.
#4 Keys - Well it is a MPC keyboard so if you prefer the pads to be the centerpiece of inputing your data, then this probably isn't for you. You got the X now, and maybe a 25 key controller would be good complement. I prefer a 61 key, but at least a 49 key. For me, I believe the MPC would consolidate the workflow.
#5 Sounds - Sounds are subjective and I think comparing it to Native Instruments KOMPLETE or Omnishpere is not really an apples to apples. I think comparing it to what you would get in a Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Kurzweil, Nord, etc is more fair. However, price wise I could see some comparison as the price to add the VST suite to one of the other MPC's is in the same price range as NI, Omnisphere, Arturia, etc. Imagine how omnispere level sounds, KEYSCAPE, etc would eat up the RAM, CPU, etc. Also, think about when you are listening to all those New Jack Swing hits that used the DX7, D50, etc...how many hits still bump today from the Triton, and Motif ES sounds. I think the sounds on the MPC Key are good enough...not saying they are best of best, but listening to the demos, they sound good.
DJ wanted a 55 inch screen on this keyboard😅😂
I keep hearing that this was Akai's first keyboard. But unless my memory is worse than I imagined, I used to own an Akai ax-80. Decent keys, but the digital sliders for analog modulations sounded steppy.
Yeah I recall but that was about 1986, lo res digital faders were everywhere.
That’s when they where in competition with Roland and Yamaha. Also In that time Akai was Akai, and not inmusic etc….
I have the akai x7000
Ya they could have used the MPCX-10” screen [im 70] larger pads like LIVE2, and no guitar samples on a premium sampler? and no 16 Q-Link is a legitimate gripe. The Key61 [with XLR PhantomPower] should be AKAI’s flagship sampling keyboard! I like the X and its features but theres no integrated keyboard and i too thought Key61 bridged the gap but it doesnt. And i HAVE a high-end 76-key ROMer with a nice Tilt-Screen so Key61 should have. OR if AKAI wants to charge “big bucks” they should make a Studio61/76/88 including all of the aforementioned features. AND while i’m at it, there should be DEDICATED pitch/transpose +/- and octave +/- my MX49 have them and use them both ROMpler and MIDI.
i Think my MX49 with a LIVE2 and 2-Mackie M48 battery phantom power units is a better MPC choice; for me. Plus the missing [OEM] sounds can always be sampled into MPC. LIVE2 has backlit buttons great for low light studio & stage environments!
#HHNET
It is refreshing when I hear honest opinions about music products. I do not own MPC products, but thanks to Akai for creating music products for those producers who love them.
Have you ever heard Roland? Top notch ..even tho the Asr10 didn't have pads just keys trust me you wouldn't sell it
What people don’t realize is it has been a while since Akai has released another midi controller Akai has not figured out how to get into the keyboard world. People got extremely excited about this when all they did was add keys to a MPC live. The MPC key is a MPC live combined with a midi controller.
Waste of money.
Waste of money
@@earthquake370 only something a broke person would say. Nothing is a waste of money if you take the time to learn it and enjoy it enough to be creative.
@@souloshinobi7307 I got a turd I'll sell you for $1000, it's a great medium for finger painting.
@@koalemos1679 speaking from experience I see. You a certified turd smuggler?🤣
Bro the keyboard you described would have costed 4,999 😂😂
😂
Well said man. It needed 16 q-links. This is why we need music shops. In the old days you would have seen the problems and never bought it.
Very true and thank you.
@@DJSkillspinz Just a question, why not get the excellent MPC-X and add A.N.Other controller to it? It's what I'll do I think. Maybe you are going to....
About the real estate for more Q-Links, larger Touchscreen etc: you can't really tell from looking at the outside surface if there'd be enough space available for the necessary internal circuitry and components. Might be crammed with other stuff already.
That’s very true but just wishful thinking and hoping on the next one 😆 Thanks for the comment 👊🏾🙏🏽
It's really immersive & I like my MPC Key a lot more than I anticipated I would 💯🎹
And I also have a Live 2 & see the value of keeping them both to have more versatility.
Thanks for this video man. I'm using MPC Beats and finding my way around the file locations and layout is not intuitive for me at all. The drum feel and the drum sounds are outstanding as always but yeah man, they need to get you on the design team right away.
I love it I was keyboard player 1st before I got into making beats so maybe I’m a bit biased but I think it’s an amazing machine once you learn your flow with it.
💯
That’s dope. I’m glad you’re loving it. Akai is doing huge things right now so I’m very excited about where everything is going. Thanks for your comment and enjoy that Key61.
I've just ordered mine. It kinda breaks my heart to hear your opinion, BUT I'm gonna give it the benefit of the doubt and just see how it works out... but I appreciate you my brother. ❤
I'm not really into "just beats" cause I like full orchestration and arrangement.
Sometimes it ain't equipment. lmao😂
Sometimes it’s your face the reason why girls don’t like you 😂
What you're not understanding they can't put everything on the first keyboard you got to leave room for the MPC keys 2 the MPC keys 3 and so on.
😂 Right I agree. When they do I’m copping it. Thanks for your comment.
Hey Bro, You just saved me 1400 Euros! Thanks. Is an Arturia High End keyboard the better choice? What did you get instead?
I’m 46 and having the Key 61 and the Live 2, I love they Key 61. I also came from an asr-10 and MPC3000, 2000xl and the 4000. I agree that pads should’ve been bigger, but it definitely wasn’t a deal breaker. What’s up with all these videos of cats buying this keyboard and not even having it for a week before doing these types of videos? This always happens though. Cats will rush to get the latest greatest, and in a week or two eBay and Amazon will be flooded with them for cats to cop on the low lol…
Well i know i preordered mine, i make beats, but desire to be a full on musician and expand my keyboard knowledge so it was a no brainer for me,...
Wow! I wish that I had seen this video a few days ago, as I Just ordered it this past Thursday 011923 I should be getting it in a day or two. I really believe that you made some very credible points and I would have expected more from Akai. I still have the ASR-10 Rack-mount Sampler, I already had too many keyboards, but Glad that I bought the Rack-mount version, And Bought It within days of its debut, I immediately maxed out the ram and made some of my best music with It. I still have the original box, manuals, and the floppy disc, including a ton of expansion discs. My Question To you, And This Will Help me make a decision as to whether I should return mine or not, Is, What did you find that was equal to the offerings of the MPC Key 61 Workstation, that you would have been happy with? Any suggestions for a similarly priced alternative? Or did you just forget about the Workstation platform? BTW, I had to sub. I will be checking out more of your content. Thanks for your honest review.
That's for saving me money 💰 Sticking to my MPC 3000 & ASR10
Still rocking the ASR10? People sleep on that joint. It's one of the best EVER sampling keyboard workstations. No lie.
You make some good points, but I think the layout is good for access and ergodynamics (at least for me) I'm coming from a Yamaha SY77EX (which I love!), a Yamaha EX5 (YUCK!) that was latched to a Roland SP-808. Synth, sample and effect wise, the two worked well together. But both were so intense with the surface layout, and the screens SO small. And it got to where I didn't know if I was making songs or science experiments! So this Akai job still looks good to me after your review - simple surface, a treat of a screen (for a guy like me), pads and strip just right for tapping out ideas and maybe the odd scratch effect. And yes, the sounds look pretty basic and general standards - but I'm armed with a pretty solid DAW on my lappy now as well. So for me, it's sitting at the keyboard - laying down some chords and bass, putting it to a straight forward beat, and strapping on a guitar to play along with it. And I think Akai has read my mind for my needs. Too bad it didn't meet yours, but hey - better than a Roland DJ-70 still, huh? LOL
Thanks man. Even though the 61 didn’t fit my needs I’ve always rocked with with Akai since the 90’s. I’m happy with the X and a midi controller. You make some good points as well. Thanks for your comment bro.
Ironic that Akai made some synths well over 30 years ago, but were never taken seriously. Then when the samplers and MPC's came out, I couldn't take them seriously. Great to MIDI up to in a studio and trigger off a keyboard or MIDI track. Even with my SP-808, I could never picture myself playing it 'live', But is amazing now how many make music today just off pads and little 1 octave keyboards. But great to see Akai has somewhat come back full circle.
No bro. It's a keyboard first with an mpc built in. It's all about workflow. I still have my EPS 16+ and my ASR 10. They can't touch the key 61.
I get the pad thing.... If you got Shaquille O'Neal hands! But the build of the board, the quality of the sounds, and the sequencing capabilities... This ting is tuuuffff!
There’s no comparison between the EPS and the ASR10 with the 61 Keys due to age. I’m sure if Ensoniq came out with a new ASR 10 it would rival the Key 61. The sounds are quality - if you don’t have anything else. I guess I’m spoiled with NI and Arturia but Akai is creeping up on them though. Do you need Shaq hands when you’re working on the X or Live concerning the pads? 😂 I’m a Akai fan boy so it took a lot to say what I thought it should have been (for me). Oh btw, the Shaquille part was funny. My wife was looking like “why are you laughing” 😂 thanks for the comment man.
Shaquille O’Neal 😂 lol
Check this out . In 1993 I sold RZA his first ASR 10 when he came in the store to buy an eps 16+..
I’m sure the EPS or the ASR can’t touch the Key 61 - they’re both over 20 years old. But I’m sure if they made a keyboard today it would rival the Key61. Shaq hands? 😂 With the size of the key61 it should have had regular size pads. If it was a 25key then I could understand it having MPC One size pads. Thanks for your comment.
Stay blessed brother 🙏 and thanks for the video
Just wondering if would be happy to pay like 300Euro ontop if it had the bigger adjustable screen and 16 qlinks? I tested the 61 at a musicstore and i really have to say... i dont see why u would get it when u could get a MPC x and a midi Keyboard. The plugins are cool but i dont know if it would be worth the downgrade from an MPC X ? Still saying akai is great. Had internal errors like 7 times in 2 years on the MPC Live mk1.. One time i really lost 6 Hours of work or so... Sad...
Yeah I opted for the mpc x and I already had a midi keyboard. Loving the X and the plugins.
Regarding the sounds... All my Samplers/ MPC's I got used and wiped... I had to sample & chop all my own stuff. Are people still digging through dusty crates of vinyl and chopping things up? Is this actually a sampler or just another rompler?
It’s a sampler.
"The sounds are dope if you don't have nothing else " Lmao !!!
Lol I was wrong about the sounds.
I believe the key 61 price range would have jumped significantly for what you wanted . It's already pricey for what it is . Being the flagship it could have easily been 3 to 4 thousand just like it is .
Facts! I sent mine back the same day I got it. Pads are the MPC One pads. I didn’t like them. I agree with all your points.
Thanks man 💪🏾💯
All of your points are valid, however the PRICE TAG on it would have been much higher….did you thought of that?
Hey what up Frank. No I didn’t think of the price being much higher. Technology is so advanced today that they could have done it and probably kept the cost down or maybe same price as the X. I think they didn’t do it so that it wouldn’t compete with the X.
@@DJSkillspinz I’m about to invest in one of these myself. Putting my little studio together…Music for me is a side passion but I’m a faithful believer of going all the way in.
I find your video helpful and objective.
What’s the X?
@@Frankvegastudio so you’re getting the Key61? I say do it. I’m sure you’ll love it. Btw I was wrong about the sounds. They are dope. I hope you enjoy it way more than what I did. Congrats.
It’s dope. I’m keeping it and already own the X. Just always wait 6 months first for software updates to kick in.
What are your thoughts on the 8 instruments track limit?
I have had one for only few days so not much experience but I agree 100% with sounds. They say 6000 sounds but it is like 100 same pianos with different ambient settings. There is not a single good guitar, the horns are only average at best, no good sax. Im still learning the use of it. I can't say anything about the bugs yet. It took a while to get used to the keyboard but it feels ok now. It is not a weighted piano kb though but it is ok. You can express but you probably need to play with the dynamics settings. The slow loading times is not a problem for me as I am not a performing player.
For me the choice was down to money. it was either the Nautilus or the AKAI. Im sure if you put a few grand more you get more. This is sort of economy workstation in proper workstations and Im sure it is a lot of potential for the money, right now. As always technology goes forward and maybe next year there is something awful lot better available at the same price. But I am happy as long as it helps me to try to make some music.
Yeah that’s all that really matters at the end of the day and that’s if it helps you create. Congrats on your purchase. Happy holidays to you.
Yeah, its for piano players actually, however I paid for it and it was on back order and started seeing videos and I decided to buy the X. This is a $899 board. Equal to the NI Series. I agree with everything except the keys. I already have the MPK249, I just bought the MPK261 controller to ride with my X for $499. I'm good now.
That’s great. I did the same except I already had a keyStation 49 midi keyboard. The X suits me well. Way better than the Key61. Thanks for your comment.
@@DJSkillspinz All facts bruh!!
you should have sent it to me I'm dying for this keyboard!!
Haven’t grabbed one myself. Already have a pile of keyboards, 2 MPC’s including the One with it’s SLIGHTLY smaller pads and a Force. I’m used to playing the Force as a Compact 64 key keyboard. Someone made an EXCELLENT point to me, because I too was comparing the MPC Key sounds to NI and Spitfire Audio etc and said but your computer has ALOT more CPU and RAM and Storage ability. Better comparison is to other Workstation keyboards like MODX/Montage and Fantom/Fantom 0 and Nautilus/Kronos etc and from that perspective they fare much better tho hopefully a few dirmware updates will help with load times to be more on par with the Big 3
I can go along with this. I opted for the MPC X with my midi keyboard. Yeah in time the sounds will get better. Thanks for commenting 👊🏾
@@DJSkillspinz I agree, initially the Force was a NAH for me. Then Firmware 3.05 dropped and I went OK now I’m seeing something I can use. I actually prefer Force over my MPC’s
@@Madmohawkfilms I’ve never tried the Force but always wanted to. The next time I’m at a guitar center I’ll try one.
@@DJSkillspinz BEWARE you may be assimilated :) Tho to be fair, I still PREFER the Song Mode of MPC over the Force’s Arranger mode yet MANY MPC faithful lust for the Arranger mode of the Force.
@@Madmohawkfilms is the arranger on the force similar to ableton live?
You do realize that if Akai were to make this keyboard to your specs would have driven the price higher than the MPC X. Then you would probably complain that the price would be too high. You have to realize that Akai is in the business of making money, so engineering constraints have to be taken into account to keep the cost of keyboard down and attractive to most people. Also, the cost of materials such as processor chips are in a shortage and are more expensive to make.
As far as the sounds are concerned, the choice of processor used was a cost-effective approach to provide what you now hear based on a popular Chinese-based ARM processor - so there will be limits to what it can do especially for plugins. In addition, since this is a new product you should expect some escaping defects to show on the product as well.
So to have a screen a little bigger than 7 inch would be asking to much because initially Sweetwater stated it would be 8.5 inches. Adding 16 q links and standard size pads will drive the price insane? Really? That’s all I asked for. I never said I wanted a tucked away keybed. I said I kept wanting to tuck it away as if it was separate. The sounds will get better in time. If they would have added that the price could have stayed the same if not around the X price.
@@DJSkillspinz Apparently, you never have experienced sourcing BOMs for building a product before. That "little" extra size in a capacitance touchscreen is expensive, especially when ordering in large lots. Besides, they have to meet a target budget in expenses and negotiate sales with suppliers in where they can get the best deals vs quality in large quantities, not to mention machining costs of manufacturing needed to support the additional changes. In regards to the price of the MPC you have to figure a give and take on cost initiatives.
For example, the MPC Key 61 has a keyboard which needs a keybed, different housing, and keyboard controller, just to name a few items that the MPC X lacks. On the other hand, MPC X has the 16 encoders but does not have the support hardware needed for a key bed.
As an aside, I'm not trying to start an argument or be an a**, but do you seriously think adding these upgrades to the keyboard that you're asking for is going to be cheaper than the MPC X?
Maybe in the near future, Akai may be able to make some of the changes you're looking for, but I would not hold my breath waiting for that to happen. You have to keep in mind that Akai is in the business of making money as would any other company. I feel you for what you are saying. There's plenty I would like to have seen done as far as upgrades on this keyboard is concerned.
I think Akai also needs to recoup on their R&D engineering costs in these newer devices too which is why they probably have not upgraded the hardware (such as the processor) in a long while.
Sorry for the long passage - my apologies.
@@fmagic2000able I appreciate the comment. You don’t have to apologize. That’s good stuff. They should allow us to at least update the ram on our own like you could with the older machines like the 2000. I’m having issues with the X keeping up with all the new plugins. I can only use so many sounds in standalone before I get the message I’m running low on memory 😂👊🏾
@@DJSkillspinz Thanks. I completely agree with you. It would be nice to be able to upgrade the ram.
Unfortunately, they chose to use Radxa Rock2 system-on-modules which comes in 2 flavors with a fixed amount of RAM onboard, i.e., 2GB (MPC X/Live/One/Force) and 4GB (MPC Key 61).
I'm not surprised that you're running into resource problems, it is bound to happen given the many options in effects and vst plugins available. With so much going on, it is inevitable that the processor will struggle to keep up and use up more ram in the process - here's to hoping for a better hardware upgrade. I guess I'll just stick with my MPC One/X on this one until something better comes along. 😥
@@fmagic2000able exactly. Me too. Hopefully on the next go around I’m sure we will get more ram on the X, One and live. I know Akai is aware of this. Fingers crossed 🤞🏽
I here ya it’s not my cup of tea. As much as I can’t say I don’t want one I would stick with what I’m comfortable with a square box with pads lol. But my gripe with akai is they should give all the models a flip screen that looking down shit is killing me lol
Right. Neck be hurting from looking down 😂
@@DJSkillspinz For aesthetic purposes the Mpc's look better with flip screens.
For a 61 key keyboard, those pads are average or even larger than average. You could see In the promotional images at launch it had a fixed screen. You can see how many Q-links it had in the promotional images.
True, and the smaller pads are better than most other keyboards. Imo the best, but I haven’t tried all keyboards.
I feel you on all your gripes brother.
For me personally, if the Key 61 had 16 q-links (a must for such a big and expensive MPC) and more IOs it would be worth buying even with the smaller pads and smaller screen etc. Along with the X, the Key 61 could have been Akai's new flagship MPC if they just would've added a few easy-to-add-on features. I think Akai absolutely dropped the ball with this one. I'll wait for the MKII and hopefully, they will get it right next time. Until then, I think that an X, a Live, or a One with a separate midi keyboard controller is the more reasonable way to go.
Exactly. I opted for the X with a midi keyboard I already had and it fits my needs. Definitely when they come out with a mkII with those features I’ll get one. But like you said they could have easily added 16 qlinks and a flip screen. I think they didn’t want people choosing between the X and the 61. I was wrong about the sounds though. Thanks for your comment.
I just got 1 2 days ago I traded my asr 10 in for it I thought the sounds were going to be banging but the sounds in the mpc software are just like reasons 5 the sounds disappear when u hit 808s the base gets lost I fill like I'm om an mpc reason
hahahahahahahah this guy designed their keyboard on the spot. I screamed so hard LMAOOO
Let me guess you got it again right ?
That's why I bought the komplete kontrol S49 Mk2. Almost all of your same reasons why didn't buy the MPC61 key. Plus I have the MPC touch and the MPC Studio2.I also like NI sounds better.
U RIGHT ABOUT THAT FLIP UP SCREEN WE NEED DAT ASAP
Thanks for your honest opinion, it's helped me to reconsider my options once more...
I agree with thing sounds not being great. With some sound design they can be good but i found in comparison to my usually vsts, the akai ones sound kind of cheap without any processing
You said it all! Excellent point! I feel the same! MPC key 61 2 will be better
I’ll tell you why they didn’t go all out, with the screen, qlinks etc because they’re thinking ahead to the mpc key 61 mark 2 when they need so,etching to make you shell out another couple g’s.
I feel that.
I miss my Ensiniq It was so easy to use
Dope machine, but also valid points especially the Q link and the awkward layout
Thank you 🙏🏾
Maybe they are planning a limited run on an 88-key to put them 16 x Q-Links, flip screen on. 8 x Individual outputs, 2 x main outputs, 2 x midi in, 4 x midi outs, SD card slot, in Black, Retro and/or Gold edition would be interesting. “$ ka-ching $”. Just thinking out loud here. Who knows??? An MPC Live 2 + Yamaha Motif XF + Tascam model 24 is working nice together right now for me.
The fact they never kept the external SD card slot was a burner for me. Have the MPC X and having that option is huge. 👊🧡👍
This is a great keyboard for the money! It’s a KEYBOARD
Flip screen??
What happened to the word “Tilt”
Mpc one with a midi is a keys 🎹 61 lol for a quarter of the price, and the new sounds are cool but way over priced it’s a sampler I’ll just make my own , I don’t mind the pads on the one but I feel ya if they had the Real estate they definitely should have more q links and buttons on the keyboard
Exactly lol
Lol!! Funny people think just because there is space on the top panel there must be room to add complicated electronics.. it is not just drawing pictures.. q-links and flip up bigger screen take additional electronics to make them work, have you seen in it? How do you know there is room inside for that?
I don’t know if there is room and it could or could not be but, I’m hoping in the future they would think about it in the next round if they decide to come out with a mkIi. Thanks for your comment 🙏🏽
They could have made smaller q links and add 16 but they obvious used their technology they already have and slap a keyboard together. I think there are so many midi controllers on the market with tons of knobs they could have put something together with more q links but simplicity was the obvious objective with this first release
@@azikiwezig that’s so true. I didn’t think about that. I bet they didn’t want to rival their flagship MPC X but as I said before I don’t think it would not have. They are two different beast. Thanks for your input 💪🏾👊🏾
Can you sample into this machine and save the samples?
Yeah I took mines back too
This could be your asr10 i never thought about that great comparison
If you redesign this keyboard for real, I’ll be your FIRST buyer!!
They saving all the super features for the next size(s) up.
Good call bro! However, lets be fair. If it had X/Live pads, an X sized flip screen, & 16 Q's it would not be $1500 or even $1800. Even if they could afford tht & make a (smaller) profit you'd be killing sales of the X/X SE. All tht physical hardware costs money & thts why the X is $1k more than the Live. It's honestly amazing it does all it does at it's price as is. It took high sales of current gen MP's & then re-using the One pads & Live/One screens & internal boards to meet it's price. I personally find the strategy smart because it has better pads, a better screen, & a better sequencer than its keyboard workstation rivals for less money. Tht's it's hook as it knows it's behind on the sounds. Ur reason #4 is mad real & ur choice is smart to get it gone. Ur other requests are a bit unfair imo. Ofc they realize they have room to add Q links but at some point u gotta make biz choices. I could see them check every box u want for $4000. They'd need better industrial ram for nore read/writes, at least an i7 for sounds, & plus the extra cost of the hardware. I'd love it but i aint spending $4k. Also, Akai is known for a box w/ pads so I dont know tht they'd want to make the Key u & i dream of based on optics. It would replace the X as the overall company flagship. Kinda like if Chevy made the Camaro more expensive & more loaded than the Vette. They could, they know how. Prob dumb biz. Same w/ Akai. Still love the vid as I love my Key 61 but I daydream of ur same wishlist. Where we differ is Ive had MP's throughout my life cause I make sample based hip-hop. I always end up on a DAW or some lesser known unit because i just cant do much w/ tht square pad grid. I'd try an MP every 5-10 years & end up selling it because while it does what i want as a sampler i just do better w/ a keybed come time to lay it down. Im basically the opposite of ur #4. Id want the X w/ a keybed. Doubt ill get it ever & certainly not at $1500
This mpc keyboard is for music theory pianist/keyboard based producers. Outrageously big too. We saw the reasons not to pick this up immediately
8gbs ram is a joke on these machines if you wanna use all the inbuilt synths and effects and get more than 10 tracks .
You said a mouthful. They need to make it user friendly where we can update the ram like they use to on the mpc2000(XL) etc. That’s an issue I have now using my X in standalone.
I think your perception of the key 61 was a bit petty but I respect your opinion
but it looks like you kept the poster?
😂 i bought that off of one of my homies for a few bucks (I’m a collector lol) but to be honest I thought about it. But I would have been mad if I bought a new Key61 and it didn’t include everything😂 Thanks for your comment.
I am with you, smaller pads, smaller screen , pads and note repeat are placed to the left of screen, the screen is flat and reflects room glare, I found it awkward in comparison to the MPC x workflow so I sent it back and will keep the X , it’s a downgrade ……Although in the workstation category it’s not the same thing as the other workstations and I think apples and oranges ,
I just couldn't use it when i went to guitar center they gave the room for an hour by myself since i bought stuff.. but it wasn't for me
That screen is probably coming on the update!! I’m sure Akai is aware of these but will bring them in slowly to keep the money flowing 💯
Yeah, hopefully in the next firmware update they put motors in the screen so it can recede back and forward like they advertised 😂🤣
@@haloeg3911 💪🏽💯
I agree w everything you pointed out + A few things U didnt
Like the rear panel not having everything the X has plus a few other features th@ should have been implemented @$ well ,, i feel like akai cut a few corners or didnt have the team creative ingenuity to make the key61 the best it could have been ‼️
Great thoughts, sticking with a MPC Live II
Yeah I’m with you on the tiny a$$ screen. It needs to be twice the size.
The pads were ok though. The rhodes and wurli were the best I’ve ever heard. Other sounds were very good.
This features really don’t justify not buying it, performance is what matters, size of screen size if pads is all minor stuff, remember it’s their first release of a all in one workstation, don’t be too harsh, they will improve
I agree that they will improve. I opted for the MPC X. Thanks for your comment.
Sorry on your first point what do you mean it's a big keyboard they have enough real estate to put full size pads? Bro there is no space for bigger pads, look at it 😅
If they were to do it the keyboard would need to be MASSIVE to fit 16 MPC X sized pads.
Thanks for this! I might hold off on getting it
I waited 2 months for mine and I love it. Your trippin on the pad size? You don't like the screen size? There should be more Q links? I understand why you dont like it, its because you dont know how to play keys. First of all, you can use it as a controller and access your vst's through the Mpc 2 program. You trippin on the sounds that come with it, then dont use them but for out the box sounds they sound good. Im a keyboard player and I beat the pads so I love the keyboard. You can always sample your own sounds in it. Your a beat maker so you shouldn't use keyboards. Ive never had an error issue since I've got it. I think if you make a video about a product you should do your research before you post a video. You just gonna go grab another one after you realized you've made a mistake.🤣🤣
First off let me say I’ve been a MPC owner and user since the early 90’s so this was not my first rodeo with the MPC. I’m not a beat maker, I’m a established producer and dj. I’ve been fortunate to produce a song on GhostFace Killahs (wu-tang) Theodore Unit album, Play (kid n play) etc. Secondly I won’t be grabbing another one but you’re right as I was tripping about the sounds and therefore made another video explaining that I was wrong regarding that. I know my way around the mpc with using vst’s and or Audio Units with the program. With that being said I opted for the MPC X along with my midi keyboard I already had. My days for wanting a asr10 are long behind me lol. Thanks for your comment. I appreciate that.
great video, very useful, thanks!
Thank you 🙏🏾
What size was the screen on that asr keyboard you was referring to🤔
You want to try the pads on the sp404 which by the way work perfectly!
Man shave that beard and stop flowing!
Screens that flip up, keys that flip up and move, sounds amazing but an engineering nightmare.
To be honest. most of your complaints are nitpicks and with time you could've got used to or found a work around for it. The last 2 points (which were the sounds and the machine cutting off) I could understand. But who really thought the sounds were going to be that great from AKAI compared to synthesizers from Yamaha, Korg or Roland? Hell, from a lot of these VSTs for that matter? You should expect the sounds in the MPC Key to be a bit lackluster. Also, with the machine cutting off, I've learned to never get any tech or things with moving parts when it first comes out. (Game consoles, vehicles, cellphones, keyboards synths etc) They almost always got kinks in them. That's why I wait for them to work out the kinks before I buy.
My $0.02.
Who’s here after the MPC 37 release?
The Key 37 is dope.
At first you say the mpc key reminds you of the asr10, and first issue you complain about is them small pads. Forget them pads bro just use the keys. Im getting one today
😂😂😂 I hope you enjoy it and congrats. Thanks for your comment.
Would you like some cheese with that whine? lmao😂
I'd say if Akai would fix all 5 issues or even 6 issues - key 61 would cost a grand and a half more. But the biggest issue now with keys 61 is bad firmware.
Man I want an ASR 10 oof. Almost even bought an ancient EPS to get me there
you just added another 600-800$ to price tag. Cause they have to make money too. Besides all that, you're right.
1400 dollars? What more do you want for the money?
Since then I’ve updated this video because to be honest I was wrong about some things. I’m not ashamed to admit I was wrong lol.
Respectfully how did ANY of these issues catch you off guard? There were so many video tutorials and reviews - which you claim to have seen - I can’t understand how you weren’t better prepared before you dropped $2K. Dude …a flip up screen?! The sounds? And why complain about # of Q links when you can see only 4 knobs plain as day?
Smart move bringing it back because maaaan you weren’t ready😂
Akai Force is the least-supported, best kept secret at Akai anyway….
As I said in the video I only watched videos of the sounds basically because that’s what Akai was promoting most. Everything else I went off of Sweetwater because they are a trusted source and I’ve been a customer for years. I wasn’t caught off guard but it’s just like when you finally get it home and you realize it could have been better. Well this is one of those times for me. I see a lot of people rocking the Key61 and that’s dope but I opted for the MPC X.
Five good enough reasons. I bought the MPC Live when it came out and it was so clumsy and faulty I immediately returned it. And yeah Maschine is better in all those respects. That thing of default instruments being all effected just shows there isn't a musician on those design teams. Even if they can all make beats. No-one really into an acoustic or electric piano is gonna want to deal with all those effects when he first hears it.
MPC One all day.
Yup
If you are using NI and went and bought an Akai keys then the question is why did you bother in the first place?
Clearly you feel or felt something was missing with your NI setup?
Comparing NI based on a PC to a hardware workstation with limited resources is plain fooling 🤷♀️
Bottom line, you bought a keyboard felt that weight coming out of your wallet had buyers and remorse and you sent it back. The excuses or reasons that you use for why you didn't want it...four out of five of them don't even make sense. However I do think if you producing music, the equipment that you're using need to fit you. But, I mean you looked at the keyboard before you bought it you seen it it only had four q Link knobs you also should have been able to notice that they weren't full size pads. I don't know I think you're grasping for straws here.
Also, I bought a keyboard and I want it to be a drum machine.
One of your gripes is that the 61 Keys has a keyboard? Really?! 🤣
That wasn’t a gripe. I said that I kept wanting to put it away because I’m so use to only working with previous mpc’s like the 2000(XL), 4000 etc. It’s like muscle memory So I couldn’t get past that in my mind 😂. But wanted to give the 61 a shot because I’ve always wanted a asr-10. Thanks for your comment.
They should of been those mpc 4000 pads 😂