MPC Key 61: Does it sound good?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- In this video I demonstrate an orchestral stack of sounds that I made using the Akai MPC Key 61 sounds. Do you think it competes with other powerhouse keyboards like Yamaha Montage, Korg Nautilus, Korg Kronos, Roland Fantom, etc? Let me know in the comments.
Those are my kind of sounds! Thanks for another great insight into this keyboard Darrick.
Sounds great like a track from an epic movie
Sounds better than the new fantom imo
I agree. Roland is not particularly strong in the acoustic orchestral type of sounds. The real problem I would have ran into with the Fantom is polyphony. This video was done with 7 or 8 layers. If I was using Supernatual acoustic sounds in the Fantom I would have been out of voices and the note dropouts would have been awful.
@@darrickkeels6387 not knocking Roland because Iove Roland but the new fantom just don't impress me much at all , my motif es sounds better imo
I do like the mpc keys 🎹 but I would have to say that what u did was dope, but it would have sounded a lot better coming from the Kronos for sure. But it was a pretty good effort from the mpc key! 🎹
I can't wait to see the next video about this keyboard.
My take about this is that the sound is good enough. it's the software that can become so much better.
Beautiful song, sounded good. I own a MODX and want a Akai MPC ONE to get these type of sound variation. Good job.
Very nice! Sounds like the beginning of Richard Smallwood's tune. Looking forward to your full review.
Which Smallwood tune?
@@darrickkeels6387 "Let Everything That Has Breath, Praise the Lord". "Praise Him with the Timbral and Dance...."
Long time, no see. Nice to have you back. Don’t be a stranger. Real life must be keeping busy. Was looking forward to your perspectives.
For me, it never had to sound better than a Nautilus, Montage, or Fantom to be worth it. My goal for composition was to find a good group of serviceable patches under one roof with a powerful sequencer and sampling that works the way I work. It seems to check that box.
The Key 61 seems to be lacking in some sounds and on par with others. But with sampling, it can sound like anything.
Peace fam. I have the key 61. In my opinion Akai shot themselves in the foot by calling this a keyboard workstation. I see a lot comparisons to the Kronos and Phantom when in reality they are 2 different things. THe key 61 should not be viewed as a keyboard or a keyboard workstation. It is a MPC sampler/sequencer in a keyboard form that comes with sounds in it. If compared to anything, it should be the old school Ensoniq ASR-10. It is the same as the MPC Live and X. Does the exact same thing but just in a keyboard form. In my opinion the bad the reviews that ive seen are due to the misconception that this is a performance keyboard/ workstation and thats simply not the case
I respectfully have to disagree. And I truly mean respectfully. The first workstation accessible to the general public launched in 1988. It was the Korg M1. For the first time keyboard players could track their songs in their keyboards without the use of any external recorders or sequencers because the M1 had a sequencer built in. That is how "workstation era" was born. Twenty years later the Roland Fantom-G launched. The workstation had evolved. The Fantom-G had a 128-track sequencer with 24 audio tracks, a 16-bit 44.1kHz sampler equipped with 16 pads. It had an XLR input on the back which could supply phantom power to a condenser mic. It had a whole suite of effects that could be routed in a multiplicity of ways, a plethora of sound design tools, etc. It was the evolution of the "Workstation." In 2008, workstations were standalone studios in keyboard form. On the Fantom-G, you could record an entire studio project including vocals. That's a workstation. A studio in a keyboard. That's what the Korg Kronos is. A studio in keyboard form. But the DAW has largely replaced the need for workstations, so they have been relegated to "live performance" keyboards. They lost the battle to computers. But in the 90's and early 2000's Producers and Live Performers used to use the same keyboards. Yamaha got out of the workstation game and simply produced a Performance Synthesizer (Montage/MODX). Roland's new Fantom doesn't have a full featured sequencer or sampler like the old Fantom-G. Why? Because people on stage do not need a "studio in a keyboard." The new Roland Fantom prioritizes DAW integration over being a "standalone" or "all-in-one" unit. The MPC Key is more like what workstations used to be. It has a ton of sounds that can be layered, split, and manipulated. It has both pattern sequencing and linear sequencing. It has a full featured sampler that of course puts every other keyboard sampler to shame. It is afterall a MPC. The reason why the MPC X, Live, Live II and One do not qualify as workstations is because they are not keyboards. But they do have what makes a keyboard a workstation instead of a synthesizer. They have a sequencer and sampler. Once you add a keybed you essentially have the Fantom-G. It's not a keyboard's ability to be used live that makes it a workstation. It's the sequencer. That's the fundamental difference between the Roland D50 (Synthesizer) and the Roland XP-80 (Workstation). The ASR-10 was a sampler. Not a workstation. With a polyphony of 31 it could not really be "played" by a keyboard player. So to reduce the Akai MPC Key 61 to merely a sampler does it a disservice in my opinion. In fact the MPC has evolved into an entire music production system. They are no longer simply samplers either.
@@darrickkeels6387 I dig that. To be clear, Im not knocking it. I love it. Im a keyboard player so im, familiar with the other boards that you mentioned and even tho they have sample/ sequencing capabilities, They are not on the level of the mpc when it comes to chopping and editing samples. The reason I dont view the mpc as a performance keyboard is because you cant cycle through sounds as seamless in real time like the other boards mentioned. I dont deny the fact that it has some great sounds in it tho. Me comparing it to the ASR 10 was not to minimize its capabilities. I was lowkey saying its the ASR 10 on 1000. LOL. Yes the mpc has evolved but it has stayed true to form in a lot of ways. Primarily the foundation of its sequencer. The mpc studio and ren screens look just like the screens of the mpc 60 , 200xl, etc, etc. But for the most part the mpc is what its always been,,,,a dope sampler/sequencer. Youll have to forgive me fam. Im a 46 yr old, old school hip hop head who is sample based, so i tend to look at things a little different. Lol. I respect your opinion and appreciate the response and look forward to your next vid on the key 61. Thanks for sharing
@Darrick Keels and @Amadi…sorry to jump into it but this convo was so dope lol! I actually see both of your angles and as a matter of fact, I literally just told my son today that the MPC Key 61 is like the ASR-10 times 10! I absolutely love it and there is actually a way to set it up for live performance that outshines the issue with being able to cycle quickly through sounds during live shows by simply setting up presets with your show sounds already loaded. Works for me but honestly I really use it mostly for boom bap hip-hop production. Just my 2 cents…you guys be blessed!
@Amadi Salute! I feel u 100%!!! Sounds like we’re both from the same era. @Darrick Keels ur vids are always dope Bro!
I have a side hustle and now thinking about selling my Juno DS88 and moving to this, the fantom 0, Modx+; Korg pa1000, or something else used. I’ve wrestled with this for a long time or going midi controller. Possibly 61-76 key keyboard and 88 key midi controller. Or keep my 88 key as my midi controller and get the 61-76 key synthesizer/workstation. I love the fact that the mpc has all the basic gospel sounds. Especially since I like the drawbar organ option too. Also with the usb hub and audio io. I saw someone doing vocal harmony on this board also which is one reason I consider the pa1000 as it has organ and harmony also. My perfect one man band keyboard would be the pa5x. The polyphony gate is another thing that makes me want to go all computer. 😃 I love my Juno but age has me struggling with the non touch screen menu diving and sound setup for gigging. I’m going to wait to see your new video first unless someone put this keyboard on a crazy sale. 😃 It would be nice if you do a live discussion one day.
yo the key 61 sounds crazy dope...
I think it is just as good sounding as the other keyboards on the market. They all have their "good and bad" sounds but overall I think it competes with Korg, Yamaha, Roland, Nord and Kurzweil.
My gripe is that strings out of the box don't sound quite right - still to artificial. By the way, are there any equivalent ensemble strings patches, similar to Hollywood Cinematic Strings that you see on the Korg Nautilus? That sounded epic. No one seems to have demoed a full ensemble string sound on the MPC Key yet.
Hi Darrick, great video, specially the comparisons with others Keyboards. I usually download midi files from third parties to play along. I use logic, and it assigns each instrument to each track automatically, I think it uses some kind of AI to do it. Can I open midi files in MPC Key? Is it assign each instrument to each track automatically? In my country Modx is widely available and Akai is not available, so does Modx do the same? (The songs are short, 4 minutes, so I think will be ok to Modx pattern limitation) Any help is very welcome! Thanks
Neither keyboard reads logic files. I organize all of the files in Logic and save them as WAV stems.
@@darrickkeels6387 Can it read midi files (.mid)?
Sounds good! Do you have any thoughts on which keyboard would be good for someone to play old school funk and prog rock?
If I was playing Prog Rock and Funk live, I would pick a Korg Kronos for that task. Or possibly a Roland. They CAN all do it. But for Prog Rock (like Jordan Rudess) the Kronos is really hard to beat.
DK...how do I copy and edit sustain pedal information on the MPC Key 61? Thanks!!
Strange. When I copy the MIDI data from one track to another, the sustain pedal MIDI information transfers too.
@Darrick Keels Wow DK...IT does not work when I copy the midi information from one measure to another measure further in the track...However the note info does .
I maybe doing something wrong when I copy and paste...please help this old man to cross this bridge. Thanks, Sir!
@@darrickkeels6387 DK, thanks for responding...I'm not talking about copying it from one track to another track! It does not copy the sustain pedal information from one measure to another measure further within the same track in the 61. Peace!
@@darrickkeels6387 DK...Thanking GOD!!!!!!!! For letting me figure this out!!
I had to go to edit - sequence - copy all events (sustain info) and then place it in the track or measure that I wanted...Peace!!
Darrick Keels
sounds great.
Nice video as always man. In my opinion Akai sounds lacks lustre compare the sound found on Kronos from 13 years ago which is still the best. the orchestra sound on Korg is detailed and full
Always good to see you stopping by my channel. Thank you for watching!
Korg uses the same samples with a lot of processing and effects..not natural sounding..have to disagree on this one good brother
The Kronos does sound very good. Korg in my opinion has VERY GOOD effects. I came to this realization back in the day when I had my Korg Karma. They really are out front in COMBI mode. Go into PROGRAM mode and turn off the insert effects on a single patch on Korg boards and you will see some differences.I haven't really dug in with the Kronos in Program mode because I don't really use the sequencer, but I remember how much Korg dressed up the pianos in the Triton era. Turn off the effects and --->😯
👍🏾
Whats the name of that flute patch in ur stack? I havent seen too many flutes in the mpc plugins
I used the flute from the Mellotron plugin and then modified it.
@@darrickkeels6387 Thank you. Akai needs to come out with a winds instrument asap I feel like thats the only sounds its lacking
@MAX2K10 Indeed they do not have many woodwinds. And what is there isn't the greatest. But I think the same can be said about other keyboards too in various. They all have their areas where they lack quality sounds.
Would have sounded a lot better coming from an orchestra! But how much would that have cost?
Oh yes a real orchestra is definitely better! 😄😄
Performance at its best. thank you. sound wise. not bad. but not as good. it is minus some quality the others like korg roland pocess. not a fan Yamaha.
Shout out to everyone still calling it the "Phantom" in 2022😅😅😅😅😅 We are only like 20 years in now, LOL!
😂😂
@@darrickkeels6387 2004..."Should I get the Phantom or Triton?".....2022....Should I get the Phantom or Key 61?"....🤣🤣🤣
Does the mpc key have sound engines like the korg nautilus and can it simulate a piano with coins on the strings or a rubber band and can you adjust the different Mike positions of the piano from different perspectives I know the Kronos and nautilus can
Keybed sucks, cheap cheap cheap build quality. They could of killed the game, but got greedy. Numark, what do you expect.
I don't think the build or keybed is any worse than the Yamaha MODX or the Roland Fantom-0 but to each their own.
@@darrickkeels6387 I agree they are terrible as well.
@@darrickkeels6387 come on man, that keybed is horrible.
@@darrickkeels6387 I would rather use my minifreak than the mpc key 61 and that's minikeys.
@@darrickkeels6387 numark, Enough said.
No pen in this video...no 7-3-6-2-5-1.....next time🤣
😄😄