Couple things! New MPCs are likely to be announced in a few weeks at NAMM 2023. Akai has been pretty steady keeping the whole modern MPC line compatible with each other, so what I said will most likely still stand...the software features will essentially be the same (unless I'm completely wrong 😜) Second, I didn't talk price because things will be fluctuating this year with the microchip stuff AND if they do announce new MPCs, then it could effect *new* prices of these machines but will most certainly effect *used* prices of the One and Live2 👍 Thanks for watching! Tefty
I concur, with compatibility! V3 software is rumored as well.. I heard the update from v1 to v2 was a paid update… however the paid plugin paradigm seems to be a motivation to release free updates…. Force features in a v3 would be real nice… arrangement mode, disk streaming, traditional mix view…
Although I already made my MPC purchase, I have to say that this video is amazing helpful. Sidenote: uo until now, I've used the MPC Touch for the past 6 years and I can wholeheartedly say that those rubbery pads hold up. Not a single issue with any of them
I purchased the Key 61 about nine months ago largely on your recommendation from a previous video on your other channel. I was using the Elektron Digitakt, Digitone and Syntakt along with a AEROS Loopstudio and Roland Jupiter XM. I added a TC Voicelive 3 Extreme for vocals and would gig with this setup at a lounge restaurant a couple days a week. It took a lot to carry and was cumbersome to write without a computer. You had mentioned to look at the MPC platform and the Key 61 happened to be released around that time. I was considering adding an Octatrak to my setup and instead I went with the MPC Key 61. I traded in my Digitakt, Digitone, Syntakt, Roland Jupiter XM and Loopstudio and I am much more satisfied with the sound and workflow of the Key 61. I use the audio inputs with vocal pedals with great results and still gig with this keyboard. Writing music with device has been so much easier and a joy. The sounds are fantastic and I honestly prefer them over much of my previous gear. So I wanted to say thank you. I respect your artistic and technical opinion and have truly benefited from your channels. The Key 61 has been a great purchase for me as a keyboardist producer and vocalist. Thanks for another great video and excellent advice. This is why I still enjoy RUclips. Blessings.
Wow you traded you digitone and syntakt . I just ordered the MPC 61 but I wanna get the syntakt and digitone also . Does the MPC key 61 have allot of the features from syntakt??? How did you enjoy all those little devices ?
I played my friend's Key 61 and the keys felt better than I was expecting. I've been using MPCs for 30 years. Plus I've owned the MPC Touch for 6 years. I had almost a full song done in 5 minutes. Never thought I'd see a MPC with a keyboard. Crazy
@@avace917It definitely CAN operate as a midi controller. I've done it personally. It kind of turns off it's own sounds/brains though & the screen does nothing but says "Controller Mode." The other negative is I think you have to have the free MPC software running minimized even if you use a different DAW. I watched the setup vid & it started working after installing, launching, minimizing the MPC software. The issue with that is the MPC software is a DAW & not just a driver. That's a CPU power wasting way to use it. On the bright side it has a ton of keys, buttons, pads, wheels, etc & every last button can be set up to do something in your DAW. It has enough buttons that it can accomplish a hardware press for your entire DAW. This makes it a beastly controller. Even with that though why not buy an flagship Akai Midi controller for an 10th of the price if that's your main goal? Its control mode is so vast w/ hardware buttons I just can't see somebody memorizing what everything does in the controller mode AND that not interfering with reg use in standalone mode.
@@BIGLARRY100your question is valid. I actually bought the MPC One Plus this past weekend and I love it. Smaller than I was expecting but what a beast. Thanks for your input. I just liked the idea of having an MPC and a MIDI controller in one unit
This video absolutely answered my questions and concerns from being torn between getting the MPC One+ and the Key 61. I was trying to see what would be financially feasible for me. In other words, which one can I get the most music production/ creation out of for the buck. I was thinking of getting the MPC One+ and then add two mini 37 key midi keyboards but all-in-all, that wouldn't make a difference between the MPC One+ still having only 2gb vs 4gb of RAM. At least the new MPC One+ has WiFi? LOL. Thank you so much for this video and your passion to share your knowledges and experiences Brotha!
It's pretty much the perfect lineup after 30 years of tweaks. They kind of done it imo. They have a model for every budget & space. They all share the same core OS like Windows or an iPhone. That makes it easier on us & them. That was the building blocks to the current plug-in infrastructure. That was vital to the success f Akai. Provided they make quality plug-in's they have a new, low overhead revenue stream & end users can breathe new life into a device w/o buying new hardware. Look at the One it's a small footprint for a small studio w/ limited budget. Then you have the X which just changes everything if you can afford it & have the room. Ppl gravitate for the Live (& sure if you absolutely must make beats laying in bed go for it) but they dont really get the MPC experience. The muscle memory you develop, the speed, its game changing. When you have a beat done & adjust 16 tracks w/ 16 Q-links each w/ a screen it comes alive. Its 4000 MPC style. Anybody tht says the MP has lost its charm w/ the touch screen probably isn't using an X 😂. Now the Key 61 is an old dream of many 20 years ago. I agree tht the time is finally right w/ the plug-in arsenal. It wasnt ready before. What id like to see is the Key follow the reg box lineup. Release a Key 21 or something tht mimics a One & is like a small midi controller. Then release a Key 88X tht has 16 Q-links the tilting X screen, full size pads, & 88 weighted keys.
I am intrigued with the MPC Key 61 but I wouldn't part with my MPC One. With regards to file transfer, they added USB mount for PC a while back so I just plug the USB B port into my PC and transfer files directly onto the MPC SD Card without moving SD Cards around.
The combo of the Live2 and Mpk Mini Plus works for me. I like the portability and convenience of the Live, and when I’m in my little project studio I don’t really need the extra keyboard.
Good review. Ignoring any new MPCs that come along I would likely get the One over again or the Live2 because I only have enough space in my music room for the one 61-key and one 88-key keyboards I already have. WiFi would be nice though - especially if they also did an update to enable backing up to my network drive instead of having to sneaker-net the SD card to a computer.
Thank you for all the stuff you & Meems make, really appreciate your sharing of thoughts on gear and production process - and your music as well. Is there any chance that you will make a video on the force too? That would wie nice! 😊
I'm staying my MPCX since 2017. I don't even use the internal vst. It's all sampling my Behringer 2600( blips bloops, percussions, synth fx,one shot bass. I really like it. It's my friend
It honestly doesn't seem like the hardware is changing much, so the X will probably be fine for a few more years (if you wanted to stay 'current' with the firmware). Also, love me some B2600. Fun synth to sample.
One note: the MPC Live II Retro edition has more plastic buttons and not the rubber ones. Is chassis is also not rubberized. Also, call me old fashioned, but the retro color scheme just looks proper on the Retro
I come from Ableton Live and now I have an MPC Live 2 but I wonder: Why do you think sequencing on the MPC platform is so amazing? Because for me, it feels like a throwback compared to Ableton Live with its Session View, Scenes, and Follow Actions. MPC's Songmode combined with Mute is probably a quite flexible way of sequencing stuff in the standalone hardware space. But to me, it falls short compared to Ableton and even straight flat on its face when you actually start to arrange a track. Btw, I still love my MPC Live 2 tough. Making beats everywhere unplugged is amazing and directly hooking it up to my SL1200 MK2 to access my 1000+ record collection is insanely fun! I'm basically enjoying a non-stop Rhythm Roulette at home!
Actually I was referring to 'hardware' sequencers. If you look at keyboard workstations they pretty much all struggle to do what the MPC does effortlessly. In terms of DAW, no hardware can truly compete and yeah Ableton is my goto choice 👍
Ordered the Key 61 but cancelled because I have a Force and never owned mpc. So the flow of the Force what I love can't compete for me with an mpc. I hope they Will make a Force key 61
Hey, how's it going! I have a quick question. I have a MPC Key 61 as well as the Live 2. I am using the Key 61 as my main sequencer but I would like to be able to connect the Live 2 (that sits in the other side of the studio) to control the sequence/transport controls also. What do I need to do to enable this in the settings?
Gotta catch 'em all 🤣 In all seriousness, an 'X' would be sweet, but I'm not sure the extra features would be useful for me in my current studio. We'll see once a new gets announce... I might change my tune 😁
Tough to say! MPC One is great, but the hardware is a bit better on the Key 61. If you like the One and wish it had a keyboard, then yeah it's a no brainer. And that touchstrip is sexy. I'd wait for NAMM in a few weeks to see what Akai brings to the table. Could be a 'One mk2' that's even better.
What are your thoughts on the MPC X? After I got mine, I realized it is a deluxe MPC One and probably should have gotten it first. (I still have both, btw)
Haven't tried the X yet. I like the additional features it has and would totally use them if I had it. But I find myself bringing beats into the studio and then loading the MPC software to parse them out into Ableton. If I was setting up a new studio and needed a centerpiece to organize things around (audio interface etc), then the X could be a solid option.
![[DOKKAN BATTLE] Worldwide Campaign Announcement Video](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zxfEiMksZQs/mqdefault.jpg)
Couple things! New MPCs are likely to be announced in a few weeks at NAMM 2023. Akai has been pretty steady keeping the whole modern MPC line compatible with each other, so what I said will most likely still stand...the software features will essentially be the same (unless I'm completely wrong 😜)
Second, I didn't talk price because things will be fluctuating this year with the microchip stuff AND if they do announce new MPCs, then it could effect *new* prices of these machines but will most certainly effect *used* prices of the One and Live2 👍
Thanks for watching!
Tefty
I concur, with compatibility! V3 software is rumored as well.. I heard the update from v1 to v2 was a paid update… however the paid plugin paradigm seems to be a motivation to release free updates…. Force features in a v3 would be real nice… arrangement mode, disk streaming, traditional mix view…
Let's hope for new MPCs! I've got a One and a 1000! I'd love a new one
Although I already made my MPC purchase, I have to say that this video is amazing helpful. Sidenote: uo until now, I've used the MPC Touch for the past 6 years and I can wholeheartedly say that those rubbery pads hold up. Not a single issue with any of them
I purchased the Key 61 about nine months ago largely on your recommendation from a previous video on your other channel. I was using the Elektron Digitakt, Digitone and Syntakt along with a AEROS Loopstudio and Roland Jupiter XM. I added a TC Voicelive 3 Extreme for vocals and would gig with this setup at a lounge restaurant a couple days a week. It took a lot to carry and was cumbersome to write without a computer. You had mentioned to look at the MPC platform and the Key 61 happened to be released around that time. I was considering adding an Octatrak to my setup and instead I went with the MPC Key 61. I traded in my Digitakt, Digitone, Syntakt, Roland Jupiter XM and Loopstudio and I am much more satisfied with the sound and workflow of the Key 61. I use the audio inputs with vocal pedals with great results and still gig with this keyboard. Writing music with device has been so much easier and a joy. The sounds are fantastic and I honestly prefer them over much of my previous gear. So I wanted to say thank you. I respect your artistic and technical opinion and have truly benefited from your channels. The Key 61 has been a great purchase for me as a keyboardist producer and vocalist. Thanks for another great video and excellent advice. This is why I still enjoy RUclips. Blessings.
That's great to hear John! I've really been enjoying the Key 61. As a keyboard workstation it's honestly amazing. Blessings to you as well 🙏❤️
Wow you traded you digitone and syntakt . I just ordered the MPC 61 but I wanna get the syntakt and digitone also . Does the MPC key 61 have allot of the features from syntakt??? How did you enjoy all those little devices ?
I played my friend's Key 61 and the keys felt better than I was expecting. I've been using MPCs for 30 years. Plus I've owned the MPC Touch for 6 years. I had almost a full song done in 5 minutes. Never thought I'd see a MPC with a keyboard. Crazy
So it CAN control another DAW. I'd heard you couldn't which was a serious deal breaker for me
@@avace917It definitely CAN operate as a midi controller. I've done it personally. It kind of turns off it's own sounds/brains though & the screen does nothing but says "Controller Mode." The other negative is I think you have to have the free MPC software running minimized even if you use a different DAW. I watched the setup vid & it started working after installing, launching, minimizing the MPC software. The issue with that is the MPC software is a DAW & not just a driver. That's a CPU power wasting way to use it. On the bright side it has a ton of keys, buttons, pads, wheels, etc & every last button can be set up to do something in your DAW. It has enough buttons that it can accomplish a hardware press for your entire DAW. This makes it a beastly controller. Even with that though why not buy an flagship Akai Midi controller for an 10th of the price if that's your main goal? Its control mode is so vast w/ hardware buttons I just can't see somebody memorizing what everything does in the controller mode AND that not interfering with reg use in standalone mode.
@@BIGLARRY100your question is valid. I actually bought the MPC One Plus this past weekend and I love it. Smaller than I was expecting but what a beast. Thanks for your input. I just liked the idea of having an MPC and a MIDI controller in one unit
This video absolutely answered my questions and concerns from being torn between getting the MPC One+ and the Key 61. I was trying to see what would be financially feasible for me. In other words, which one can I get the most music production/ creation out of for the buck. I was thinking of getting the MPC One+ and then add two mini 37 key midi keyboards but all-in-all, that wouldn't make a difference between the MPC One+ still having only 2gb vs 4gb of RAM. At least the new MPC One+ has WiFi? LOL.
Thank you so much for this video and your passion to share your knowledges and experiences Brotha!
It's pretty much the perfect lineup after 30 years of tweaks. They kind of done it imo. They have a model for every budget & space. They all share the same core OS like Windows or an iPhone. That makes it easier on us & them. That was the building blocks to the current plug-in infrastructure. That was vital to the success f Akai. Provided they make quality plug-in's they have a new, low overhead revenue stream & end users can breathe new life into a device w/o buying new hardware. Look at the One it's a small footprint for a small studio w/ limited budget. Then you have the X which just changes everything if you can afford it & have the room. Ppl gravitate for the Live (& sure if you absolutely must make beats laying in bed go for it) but they dont really get the MPC experience. The muscle memory you develop, the speed, its game changing. When you have a beat done & adjust 16 tracks w/ 16 Q-links each w/ a screen it comes alive. Its 4000 MPC style. Anybody tht says the MP has lost its charm w/ the touch screen probably isn't using an X 😂. Now the Key 61 is an old dream of many 20 years ago. I agree tht the time is finally right w/ the plug-in arsenal. It wasnt ready before. What id like to see is the Key follow the reg box lineup. Release a Key 21 or something tht mimics a One & is like a small midi controller. Then release a Key 88X tht has 16 Q-links the tilting X screen, full size pads, & 88 weighted keys.
I am intrigued with the MPC Key 61 but I wouldn't part with my MPC One. With regards to file transfer, they added USB mount for PC a while back so I just plug the USB B port into my PC and transfer files directly onto the MPC SD Card without moving SD Cards around.
The combo of the Live2 and Mpk Mini Plus works for me. I like the portability and convenience of the Live, and when I’m in my little project studio I don’t really need the extra keyboard.
I use the MPC 2 software on my MacBook pro and a alesis vi25 because it has 16 pads like the mpc along with keys .
Great video man! I’m surprised that you don’t have the Akai Force given that you work in Ableton.
Great comparison! FYI, I bought a Samsung T7 portable hard drive, and it works great for my MPC key 61 and to transfer files and other devices.
Good review. Ignoring any new MPCs that come along I would likely get the One over again or the Live2 because I only have enough space in my music room for the one 61-key and one 88-key keyboards I already have.
WiFi would be nice though - especially if they also did an update to enable backing up to my network drive instead of having to sneaker-net the SD card to a computer.
Fiyah content 👊🏼💥🎹🥁🪇
Thank you for all the stuff you & Meems make, really appreciate your sharing of thoughts on gear and production process - and your music as well. Is there any chance that you will make a video on the force too? That would wie nice! 😊
I'm staying my MPCX since 2017. I don't even use the internal vst. It's all sampling my Behringer 2600( blips bloops, percussions, synth fx,one shot bass. I really like it. It's my friend
It honestly doesn't seem like the hardware is changing much, so the X will probably be fine for a few more years (if you wanted to stay 'current' with the firmware).
Also, love me some B2600. Fun synth to sample.
Great comparison!
Thanks Marc!
One note: the MPC Live II Retro edition has more plastic buttons and not the rubber ones. Is chassis is also not rubberized. Also, call me old fashioned, but the retro color scheme just looks proper on the Retro
I do like the retro look!
I come from Ableton Live and now I have an MPC Live 2 but I wonder: Why do you think sequencing on the MPC platform is so amazing? Because for me, it feels like a throwback compared to Ableton Live with its Session View, Scenes, and Follow Actions. MPC's Songmode combined with Mute is probably a quite flexible way of sequencing stuff in the standalone hardware space. But to me, it falls short compared to Ableton and even straight flat on its face when you actually start to arrange a track.
Btw, I still love my MPC Live 2 tough. Making beats everywhere unplugged is amazing and directly hooking it up to my SL1200 MK2 to access my 1000+ record collection is insanely fun! I'm basically enjoying a non-stop Rhythm Roulette at home!
Actually I was referring to 'hardware' sequencers. If you look at keyboard workstations they pretty much all struggle to do what the MPC does effortlessly.
In terms of DAW, no hardware can truly compete and yeah Ableton is my goto choice 👍
And that’s why akai made the Force. For those who like the ableton way of arrangement and sequence in standalone mode.
Ordered the Key 61 but cancelled because I have a Force and never owned mpc. So the flow of the Force what I love can't compete for me with an mpc. I hope they Will make a Force key 61
Hey, how's it going! I have a quick question. I have a MPC Key 61 as well as the Live 2. I am using the Key 61 as my main sequencer but I would like to be able to connect the Live 2 (that sits in the other side of the studio) to control the sequence/transport controls also. What do I need to do to enable this in the settings?
I hope the new MK2 has a songmode just like a DAW
Just need the MPC X now
Gotta catch 'em all 🤣
In all seriousness, an 'X' would be sweet, but I'm not sure the extra features would be useful for me in my current studio. We'll see once a new gets announce... I might change my tune 😁
I own a MPC one but really want the MPC Key 61 should I get one it just looks bad ass and epic the key 61
Tough to say! MPC One is great, but the hardware is a bit better on the Key 61. If you like the One and wish it had a keyboard, then yeah it's a no brainer. And that touchstrip is sexy.
I'd wait for NAMM in a few weeks to see what Akai brings to the table. Could be a 'One mk2' that's even better.
The one mk2 should be released around NAMM with wireless cards…. So the rumor is(verified by fcc filings)
Nice! Looking forward to what they bring with a mk2.
Which to choose: Keystep or mpk mini or mpk mini plus ( or something else?) as a companion to a mpc one?
Nevermind… 😂 I decided its not worth figuring out and bought the Akai LPK25 for portability and will instead spend money on a full-sized controller
What are your thoughts on the MPC X? After I got mine, I realized it is a deluxe MPC One and probably should have gotten it first. (I still have both, btw)
Haven't tried the X yet. I like the additional features it has and would totally use them if I had it. But I find myself bringing beats into the studio and then loading the MPC software to parse them out into Ableton.
If I was setting up a new studio and needed a centerpiece to organize things around (audio interface etc), then the X could be a solid option.
One thing I have noticed is that you will never need a ethernet cable while you are in controller mode!!!!
Does your MPCKey 61 have Live Control in the menu? Mine does not. My ONE does. Strange.
Hmmmm yeah I might've over looked this. I need to investigate further.
Did we just become best friends?
En 2000watt vifteovn er kun en 2000watt vifteovn når de gjelder å varme opp et rom.
They are all the same and don’t sound very good.
Hey I saw this email if any one interested MPC ANNIVERSARY OFFER: was $1,899 now $1,499.