Akai MPC DRUMSYNTH Review, Pros and Cons // 2.9 update explored (Force got this Drum Synth too)
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- Опубликовано: 23 ноя 2020
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NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
Akai is knocking it out the park this year ..WOW!
A more than welcome addition, specially considering the number of modulation options, allowing you to change these voices into whatever you need. A spot on review as always.
OMG, I'm so excited! Akai just continues to add value to these awesome boxes.
Yep. Korg left a lot of money on the table when they abandoned groove boxes- which they pioneered...
fantastic update and really nice video, thank you!
Yeah! That's really nice, going to install it right now! Thanks for the video!
Outstanding review, as usual. Thanks!
Up to date with the update XD Thank you so much!
Great review as always. Thanks!
Nice walkthrough! I didn't really see such a high use case for this as much as other people. but, a welcomed addition to the AKAI force/MPC for sure. An I have to agree with the cons or "gripes" at the end.
Great sounding addition! Game changing. (BTW - 5:30 A vertical faders mixer! Want to use that for all track types...)
@@BeastlyAnteater A toggle button or preference for faders on the pad levels screen would be great. I'd much prefer to see all my tracks displayed with vertical faders, pan, mute and solo. A simple swipe gesture to move left and right along the tracks.
This is a great addition to the MPC range. And it's a free plugin so that is great. I do wish they would make an SDK Available for the plugin platform so that others could build plugins for this range. I am sure there would be a lot of users out there that would love to build instruments for these.
BRILLIANT REVIEW!!! Wicked drum synth and sonic potential. Very cool instrument and looking forward to using this. Thank you for the wicked reviews. Here's a drink to world peace!!!!
I was waiting so long for this
Great, thank you for your tutorials, its very helping!
Cool, now love my MPC one even more.
The “cons” are easily updatable this MPC series is coming along well can’t wait for the mk2 ..........2🤔21🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Sounds usable to me. They just released a VST and AAX of this called AIR Drumsynth. Looks like Maschine’s drum synth modules a bit. Great review!
I really hope they add choke groups and mutes soon (you can mute from the mixer section by tapping the number by the SOLO switch, but it's clunky). Those just seem like huge oversights in an otherwise great pluggy.
Maybe use the 'dead' pads above as performance mutes and switchable choke groups with a shift function?
Ugh, that dead pad idea js nasty!
Wow. Great addition. I'd love to see a randomizer on those parameter screens.
Good idea
yeah, but there is randomization now in 2.11.
Learn Python and write it yourself.
The drum sounds are impossibly good ! That 808 / 909 kick engine is so warm and pure ~Hit the sweep knob and get punch for days. The Complex hi hat engine instant Debrah De Luca
I thought we’re getting the hype synth...the Drum synth is well appreciated ofc! I agree with all your mentioned cons, let’s hope to get fixed in the 3.0 update :-)
I gotta start using that velocity feature and learned some new limitations from this video
Just installed it on my One. I agree with everything you said 100%. Been waiting a long time for this. Oh I so hope for muting and chokes in the next update.
Thanks for another professional, clear, consistent, and informative product review as always! Your review format is the best out there! Anyone have an idea if an MPC X II is in the works?
Agree completely. These reviews are the "gold standard". I saw several other reviews for this new update. Went STRAIGHT to this one. :-)
Just got my One yesterday, hit it with the update and was like ‘whaaat? A whole drum synth? They’re not playing with these updates! But the real joy was discovering how well refined and thought out the sounds are. They’re so _usable_ and high quality. Right up my street, anyway. The Roland emulations are extremely good, in my opinion. A lot of drum synths sound pretty crap, to me, but this thing is hot stuff. Not to mention the FX, which are also spot on. What a machine. As for the cons, +1 for not changing to the drum pad you hit, and also I’ve found it double triggers sometimes, randomly when hitting the pads, only in the drum synth, and not in the sample stuff, which makes me think it’s not the pads. I might be missing something, of course.
Sounds like your finger drumming has improved since the original MPC One review 🤗🤗
I like how AKAI makes all the parameters of the plugins editable on the machine it self.
Well yes ... but this thing is a hell vor live performing (O.o)
Just add a MIDI controller with some knobs and faders 🎚
I bet you could even connect a TR-8 to it and MIDI map it. Something I am going to try soon
@@FuZZbaLLbee Na i used it and sent it back. I now have the Maschine+. Makes much more sense. All is in reach of a fingertip there. Also the FX are very bad on the MPC.
@@dankefurnichts Well Maschine+ costs 500 EUR more...
@@blazrodic Yes. But it gives you more, too :D And in a few month streetprice will go around a similar price as the other competitors.
Great update. That will make me use my MPC X more than I do. Very odd though that there are no pad mutes. Hopefully they’ll fix that. That would be a great thing to implement on the 8 empty pads when it’s in multi-mode.
Also track view volume editing is missing unfortunately 😞
you can mute and solo by pressing the channelnumbers in the mixer view. S=for solo.
The best update so far! I use it on the MpC Renaissance
Great review. Seems handy for avoiding going on a sample hunt in the middle of a session even if you end up swapping it out later. I'm still hoping they'll open up the One to audio via MIDI.
Thanks! What do you mean audio via MIDI?
@@loopop it was a senior moment 😀. I meant audio via _USB_ ! I'd just been commenting on a Tefty video about USB-MIDI on the One.
Yes ! Been looking forward to this. Just updated my MPC X and in the EFX-sends page of the multi, the Q-links only show drumsynth 1-4 and no way (in this moment) to switch to 5-8... Or maybe jut missing something.
Well that's a nice surprise.
:) I just bought a Nord Drum 3P a Month ago and yesterday the MPC One and now I hear that Akai has included this physical Modelling Drum Synth. Damn! ...o.k.,cool. Now I have two of them. Maybe not so bad.
Hope you can do a review on all the new synths implemented in 2.10 update.
one of the strongest drum machine/sequencers just took a shot of steroids. this is an incredible update. adds a whole new wing of options and most importantly: Fun!
An analyser for eqing is what I am waiting for too.
Akai heard my request..thanks so much!!!
Basically Drum Synth 500 built in on my MPC now. Litty. I hope 3.0 has more plugins. With firm competition from Maschine, I have a good gut feeling about 3.0.
This seals the deal for me! I got a few samplers to offload.....
Just updated to 2.9 and this drum synth sounds great, so much fun! Does anyone else get a strong Nord Drum vibe from the sounds coming from these engines? I had a Nord Drum 2 that I sold and often wished I had it around but I'm feeling like this pretty much fills that void for me.
Having been using this for a few hours now, I can say I agree with you about how you select the drum sound you want to tweak. In multi mode, I'd prefer it if I could select the drum parameters by hitting the corresponding pad rather than the on screen tabs. The screen feels fiddly in it's current layout. It would make more sense (to me at least) to hit the pad and have the additional parameter pages displayed in the first four tabs meaning that the FX and mixer tabs would always be visible in the remaining two on screen tabs. Hope that makes sense.
totally
Seems kind of like like a third party knock
Outstanding addition. Akai Really has come a long way since the MPC5000 fiasco and the burning capacitor and subsequent dimming of the LCD which I caught on tape. I hated them for a long time for that total waste of money I had to go through, but they've won me over since.
I had a burnout during a session as well. Trajic
hating them because of one and very old failed product is jusf silly. Akai delievers, greetings from
a very happy Force owner!
Ha! nice project name “Loopop in the House too” next to the home “house” icon.
Yoooooooo!!! THAT INTRO!
One of my issues with my MPC Live is not having presets of drumkits. Sometimes working on a blank canvas is daunting. I like the ease of the MC-101 with preset kits then changing them. But the drum synth is fantastic, all we need is an 8 note virtual analogue synth and it would be "complete". But yea, for a free update it's like a stranger coming up and saying "hey, have this LXR for free" (I still would not sell my LXR)
I had the Live 2, but got rid of it because of the touch screen menu diving. I may go pick up the One today though now that I see Akai is expanding it’s firmware.
Nice KFM in the background ;)
11:25 how about sampling your drumsynth into pads?
Sure but that misses the whole point of automation, dynamic response, glides
I found the lack of chokes quite limiting for the 808/909 style drum sounds - mainly the hihats. It's something I raised in Beta but no news of yet. I suspect there's someway of dealing with it using the automation but haven't had time to mess around and work out a solution yet.
Finally!! Some other plugin instruments. This was a real bummer when I realized there was only three of them. Brilliant review, hope Akai is listening.
Indeed! More please Akai.
@Andrew Mwah But is it easily can be much more than sampler & sequencer, so why not?
First-world problems
That’s like saying that a toolbox is only good for screwdrivers. MPC is a fantastic production instrument and the growing package is always welcome when using it as a standalone dawless setup IMO.
@@Heathcliff_hensel What are you even doing watching this video, if you have more pressing issues to solve? ;)
Aight time to buy an mpc one
Idk what the cons are, but I really like the sounds these synths produce
?? I have to agree with loopop this really helps with spontaneous beat creation. But is there any way to change the mapped MIDI note of each synth in the Multi plugin? I really want to be able to use a General MIDI-like mapping with my kick on C0, etc. I don't see any way to do that which means this is not useful for my existing drum tracks from other drum machines, etc.
Could you do a updated walkthrough on the akai force since there's been so many major changes.
yes, that would be awesome
I'd love to see that too! I'm torn between the force and an mpc.
If they add a wave table synth I may never look at my computer again
They have already~ more or less~ You can let it make wave tables from hardware synths or even VSTs. Autosampler. That's what pushed me over to order one last week.
@@athopi - how do you use autosampler to do wavetable synthesis?
and it's there (hype with 2.10)
Great drum sounds! Good job Akai!
Btw. it is a shame that there is still no pitch envelope for samples!
ummmm there is a pitch envelope...
@@AveMcree in the new update?
This is the ONE thing that has killed me with using this thing. I use pitch envelopes on my samples CONSTANTLY in Live and Renoise and the fact that there's no way that I can find to do it on these heavily sample based boxes is a crime.
Does anyone knows if there’s a way to export the drum synth sound as stems, well a short cut ?
Nice! Can you bounce out each individual drum synth sounds and /or the fx sends as their own individual tracks?
yes, but it will "cost" you one of 8 available plugins.
Alright very fair on the cons
I’m the most excited that the pads are on the left hand side. I really hated how Maschine MKII was laid out.
Does the new Firmware add the new USB Drivers from 2.8.1?
I have not been able to operate the "X" in Controller Mode since 2.8 and had not found a way get it since then.
Good review! I've been waiting for something like this on the MPC line. Is there a way to convert a sound to a sample? Maybe I missed that?
You can always do a short recording internally and use it as a sample I think. I haven’t tried it but I bet it’ll work.
Internal Resample
A very important thing to fix in my opinion is the fact that in Track view mode you can only mute or solo the track that contains a drum synth plugin but you cannot change the volume. Since it’s very useful to mix volumes in track view I hope Akai will fix it! Yes you can change the volume in the synth program view but it’s annoying
Hi @loopop thanks for your reviews which convinced me to buy the MPC One. I have a question. I have assigned the main (mixer) fuctions of the one track DrumSynthMulti to my LaunchControl XL (mute, solo, pan, reverb and delay) which makes the drum machine even more attractive. I just cant find out how to assign the volume controls (or gain) of the individual instruments to the volume sliders of the LC. The parameters do just not appear in the assign menu.
Would you know of a work around (besides using 8 tracks)?
Is it possible to route the different tracks from One inside the software/plugin to the outs of an audio interface?
i need this thing
Does anyone know how to assign an external controller (for example nanokontrol or Beatstep knobs) to the drumsynth mixer?
@loopop have you noticed any meaningful differences in the integration on Force compared to MPC? For example, choke groups, muting, pads refocusing the screen to their samples, etc.?
I've not had time to try this on Force unfortunately
That was quick I only got the email about the update around 4 hours ago lol
This was 3 years ago, has it since been upgraded? I got my mpc Christmas 2023 I just tried using drumsynth last night. Pretty cool!
Yes it has been upgraded quite a bit - they issue a new version at least every year
How does the Drumsynth compare to the Nord Drum in terms of flexibility/sound plasticity? Just the actual synth engine and not the instrument ui, pads etc :)
Nice ,FM synth next please Akai
Hi...There’s an FM synth inside this new Drum synth update.
Let's be more specific... DX7 patch compatible FM synth.
@@cds8137 - a very limited FM synth that gives you a 100th of the parameters necessary for anything beyond the percussion it was designed for.
🙏🏻
im hoping this can replace my nord drum 3
Is there a way to highlight drums 5-8 with the q-link button in the fx/sends screen? It only seems to want to highlight 1-4.... which is sorta lame. Please tell me I'm missing something obvious.
Say Whuuuuuuut. Thanks Bro🎼🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Cool
Very nice! Hopefully the FM synth and/or Hype comes to MPC in 3.0 :)
Is there an FM synth in the works for the MPC??!!!! It is at the top of my wish list right now! :-)
@@andersjeppsson8499 There was a leak few months ago showing DrumSynth, FMX and several other more 'traditional' plugins for pianos, strings, etc. So I'm hoping we'll at least see some of them in v3. I also hope for Hype from Akai Force.
@@Artek604 Thanks!! Exciting
Can you sample these internally? Would be awesome if you can stack fx and then just bounce to a new pad
yes you can!
@@loopop thanks so much!
Can you flatten those drum sounds to the pads to save computing power? Like you can do with samples you've tweaked and put effects on etc. ? That would actually make it way more usable for my taste and would also bypass the pad mute problem.
sure just resample them
@@loopop You mean by physically routing output to input and record it? I meant more like the internal flatten option which the MPC has.
@@MrJemabaris indeed that would be better
What I want to know is can you run these 8 plugins along with other plugins because I read that the MPC have a limit to 8 plugins at once. Anyone know?
Is it possible to make feels natural sound battery?
hey Loopop, i know you usually work with hardware, but i have a request for a video. I trust you, and i know you try not to be biased when you do a review, which i appreciate.
Here's my problem i'm a beginner in music and i was looking at 2 plugins for creating music, Scaler and Captain Chords, would you mind doing an honest comparison between the two? Or similar programs that actually can help you write stuff. Thx in advance.
Thanks for the kind words! I actually am trying to find time for that exact video
@@loopop no hurry take your time m8
Thanks for this Loop Pop! Where would I find this, our Akai portal for download? Thx!
I got the beta from Akai but yes it should be there
loopop thx very much, have an awesome Thanksgiving, cheers.
It seems like MPC now beats Maschine's drum synths. At least I appreciate the amount of parameters Akai is providing for fine tuning.
Yeah, maschine's drum synth is nice but not as many parameters as this
@@jsutton241 fewer is not necessarily a bad thing many sweets spots on MD and fast to get there.
@@koshimazakisound I think in this case it is, I have maschine and mpc and right now the mpc drum synth seems much better because of the added parameters
@@jsutton241 i mean I am always happy to go deeper but it has two sides, perhaps Machine algorithms are not designed that well if you feel the need for more parameters ;) I used Machinedrum for ages so I am biased. But because there is few parameters you have to push it harder to get good sounds but its capable of awesome ones. Limitation is good sometimes.
@@koshimazakisound I don’t want to push hard, I want to lay down the sound in my head. And what get me there is good with me. Now don’t get me wrong the drum synth on maschine is dope, but limited compared to other drum synths including the new mpc one. I also own hardware drum synths and maschines drum synth alway felt a little incomplete.
And I just ordered a drum synth
Me too, got a second hand TR-8, because I like the knobs and faders.
That said I can also midi map them to this drum plugin.
@@FuZZbaLLbee you should make a tutorial of this ... I’d watch
@@livinproof718 me too, I plan to do this if I buy the ONE
The drum synth mixer screen has mutes and solo BTW
it wasn't on his spread sheet lol
The pad mute button is non functional. Not sure what you mean by the spreadsheet comment - you’ll need to explain that hilarious joke but if tapping multiple times to get the to mixer screen and then tapping the little mute buttons is acceptable workflow... then by all means enjoy the workflow
@@loopop correct the mpc pad mute screen is not functional but you can mute drum synths in the mixer window within the drum synth edit pages.
maybe akai made the drum synth for the FORCE first and migrated it to the MPC so some workflow updates may follow
@@loopop If spread sheets are what makes you're reviews so flawless, then by all means: KEEP MAKING SPREAD SHEETS! ✌️
@@AveMcree Your MPC fanboy ass just salty you didn’t get sent an MPC huh?
Mutes/solo on the mixer page at the top
Indeed - I meant that the pad mute function is disabled for drumsynth multis - at least as of this version
Not the WAP tho! Very clever.
🙌💯💯💯💯💯🙌
Opens the video with WAP.... Nice....
Been thinking about getting the MPC One or the Digitakt. I know there are some videos out there that compare the 2, just was wondering anyones thoughts? Thanks
I had that same decision to make about 6 months ago and I bought the MPC One and certainly don’t regret it. The MPC One is much more powerful, but it really depends how you plan on using either of them. Before this update I think the Digitakt compared well as a drum machine, but now I am not so sure. As a sampler the MPC One is superior in every way. The only thing I can think of that the Digitakt does better is probability; there is a work around for the MPC but it’s not obvious. To a degree probability is less important on the MPC as you are not limited to a 4 bar sequence. The main difference is the workflow and it could be you may prefer the Electron.Both have learning curves but MPC is steeper because it can do so much more.
Short version: MPC for linear, Elektron for pattern-based. MPC youtube tutorials be like: “yo dawg, boom-bap!”, Elektron tutorials have a faint swedish accent. MPC has the MPC bible. Elektron: ....
@@peterjessop1878 I really think the Digitakt is a joke compared to the One. I sold my Digi a few months ago, and just got a One a few days ago - there's really no comparison and they're almost the same price. I mean, it's not surprising - Akai have huge R & D and manufacturing resources that mean they can produce this for a reasonable price, plus years and years of experience in professional audio, particularly sampling drum machines. If Elektron made the MPC One, it would cost about 3 times as much as it does from Akai, simply due to economies of scale.
is this is a standalone plugin whats the price
Yes Thank You A.K.A.I
Hold up , Did Akai supported these kind of plugins before.
ive had the mpc one for about a year now and it just sits on the shelf gathering dust. i bought it for drums and they do sound crisp but the workflow for making a song is really long compared to how fast i can work in ableton.
So by that rationale, what would your opinion on the Akai force be?
I ask because I'm looking for my 1st standalone DAW in a box...
And of course never having used ANY of the products I'm about to name...nor have any experience in anything beyond Reaper and MAGIX(giggle)... I'm basically clueless...
Looking at...
MPC One
Akai Force
Machine +
Polyend Tracker
🤷🏻♂️
@@BendApparatus interesting list. maschine is fast to learn and you can be building songs within a few days. the mpc world has huge sequencing potential not only that but it has CV/GATE ports. the force also has midi thru as opposed to just midi in/out.... if you want to go down the route of pure dawless synth sequencing the poly end tracker is much loved by its fan base. id join a few of the facebook owners groups for each device and talk to people who own them. if you dont own any other hardware synths or drum machines you could do worse than pick up an mpc one and see how you get along with it. also look at devices with built in sequencing like elektrons model cycles and digitakt.
my best tip here is to go check out the "loopop" youtube channel, his break downs of music making equipment are second to none. good luck brother!
@@nobbystyles4807 Thanks for the info.
I actually do own a plethora (?) Of hardware. Modern sythns and vintage , modular and semi. As well as drum machines and samplers.
But so far it's been nothing but twiddling and noodling noise.
I'd like to put something together.
But keyboards and mice annoy my hands and patience...lol
I like the looks/sounds of the Tracker.
But I want to make sure that if I was in the situation where it'd be the last piece of gear I got for the foreseeable future...and a hurricane (FL amirite...lol )blew out all my gear...it'd have everything to noodle, twiddle as well needed to get the job done stand alone.
Loopop
Bobeats
Starsky
KeenOn
Hell even Gave Miller...
I watch them all...😁
@@BendApparatus well why ask me if your that clued up. jesus
@@nobbystyles4807 lol
You have an MPC One!
You're one up on me as far as experience with that piece of gear.
You also mentioned Ableton.
The Akai Force is touted as Ableton in a box.
Just looking for opinions.
And don't think that just because I have a handful of gear...I somehow know how to compose a song.
If you're completing tracks on Ableton...you got another up on me in that regard as well!
Any plans on reviewing 2.10?
No, Akai I did a really good job covering it on their site, and I couldn’t find any flaws compared to the pros of having such a comprehensive update, so basically I have nothing to add…
in the 3.0 update, this thing better make me toast
They did that on 2.7 bro catch up
*turns on MPC One* "Cup of tea?"
Since MPC hardware runs Linux, you can add this feature yourself. Just make sure your toaster runs Linux too! 👌
Sounds like the mpc forum
@Rachid Idrissi Exactly what I thought when I read the other comment!
hey there,
are there any drum PATTERN PRESETS onboard? thank you!
Yes there are full patterns in each genre already pre loaded.
@@conspiracybar7747 cool! thank you.