Fun fact: you can auto-sample your favorite or all of the Nord stage 4 sounds (or any synth) into the mpc key 61 (with or without effects) and layer the sounds to your heart's content.
50+ old geezer chiming in here. I come from the same background as you, pretty much could not afford the cool-kids toys back in the 80s, best I had was a Yamaha DX7 and it was my life. I always dreamed of the Fairlight synth workstation, but that cost the price of a house. Now I have a lot of those cool toys you and many of us in our age now can afford and enjoy, and yes, they're professional stage instruments, and their sounds are pretty much up there in our dreams. But the thing is, when the MPC Key 61 was introduced, it was the modern Fairlight I've always dreamed of owning. Sure, Ableton, Cubase etc. totally took over for most, but it still wasn't the real hardware feel deal, and the MPC Key 61 covers a pretty unique hole in the market (or my heart), and that is the Fairlight. It has those "on-the-fly" possibilites of just about everything including sampling, VST's, filters, DAW like, Mixer, Recording Studio All-in-one, turn it on and you're nearly DONE magic. And pure magic it is. When I got mine when it was launched, it was like a dream come true. Sure, I have professional instruments like the Yamaha Montage and many more, and they cover that "fantastic sound" section when you need that ultimate-quality edge. But - and there is the big BUT - the Key 61... really IS the Fairlight of our dreams. It does everything, and you can just fire it up in 15 seconds, sample, re-sample, it can control your ENTIRE studio including analog synths, it has VSTs, 100s of filters, 128 channel Midi recording, regular old Midi recording, Mic in and even drumpads, all of which you can use on-the-fly. And did I mention the Record-Dub-Play And rewind buttons? And endless Undo + retro active recording? I mean come on... this is by far the most user friendly, get-up-and-produce music in minutes (literally MINUTES) to finished production there is. I would buy it again, and If I had to chose ONE instrument, I'd get this one even if I would miss my stage instruments, hands down - the best music tool ever created ihmo.
I am glad it’s working out for you but Fairlight is not an MPC, just like Synclavier the converters on those machine is what you paid for that is why you saw in pro studios. Yes and I have the chance to work on both of those machines. Like I said all they have to do is put in a better converters, Moog does it, Yamaha does it, shit Dave Rossum just did it again with the Sp-1200. I am sure you know that the MPC X SE has different slight better converters because the other chip maker burn down, so yeah they know they cutting corners. Jesus just hear how good the Pioneer Toraiz sound, so it can be done. Also it is useless to have multi sampling on Akai when even your trusted Juno 60 sound like thin on it. Just look at the new update the USB class complaint mode is not working on the machine that it was working last update from 2.8. They are giving features and optimizing the sound for their plugins. Akai is a software company, I wasted 2 years trying to get libraries that sound amazing on ASR 10 to sound remotely usable and it’s did not work. It’s is bad internal design but a great software
I'm 73.. and remember hauling a B3 and Leslie , Fender Rhoads , arp 2700 etc. doing gigging.. Also had a Studio with keys everywhere , and Racks loaded with fx , compressors, etc. I can track now with all the fx , weighing in at 9 lbs. These Machines are Beast..
@@andybond5002 no, it's totally different sample quality. the mpc sounds like a $300 entry level home organ. The good thing is you're not bound to stock MPC sounds
@@wirklich_niemand The leslie sim on the MPC is terrible. I have a Key 61 and I love everything about it EXCEPT for that. What I've ended up doing is disabling the leslie sim, then routing the blank organ sound out of a separate mono output (output 3), running that into my Neo Ventilator Leslie pedal, been running the stereo out of that back into inputs 1 & 2 on the MPC's audio interface, then using an audio track to play the organ. The difference is NIGHT & DAY. It's obviously a bit more of an involved set up but I think it really highlights a) how great the ventilator pedal is and b) how woefully bad the internal leslie sim is 😂
the Leslie sim isn't as deep on the MPC & he forgot to turn the percussion & reverb off. if you run that through a Neo Ventilator or better, you'd never miss the Nord
WOW. With the sound customizations and tweaking of today's software and more, you can make a $1700 keyboard sound exactly, if not, better than a $6,000 keyboard! In this case, between the Key 61 and the Nord Stage 4, the tweaking would be very minimal and the $1700 keyboard would go neck-to-neck with the Nord Stage 4! Excellent video Brotha!
The MPC key 61 is probably the best value for money of anything on the market today. The touchscreen interface is incredible as is the depth of control on plugins like Fabric xl, hype and Opx-4.
Thanks for making this video. The head to head nature of comparison is valuable. I use my Key 61 in a band to play some keys parts in 80s tribute songs (Flock of Seagulls, Devo, U2) songs and to trigger some intros and SFX. It does a nice job and one day I'll get around to figuring out the sequencer.
What AKAI should really do: release the very same machine with a weighted keyboard. Because otherwisely it's an absolute beast and a steal for the money!
I’m looking at simplifying my studio space down to one keyboard, but I’m looking to do that with a keyboard that lets me rapidly get to the sounds I care about. The Stage 4 is currently in the lead by virtue of having everything rapidly accessible on the front panel. That said, if there were a version of the MPC Keys with a decent weighted action, it could easily win out on price together with range of sounds. I’ve thought about an MPC One or Live with a decent MIDI controller, but that already starts to feel fiddly when the goal is flip a few power switches and start playing.
tbh my plan was getting MPC One and used Roland RD700. Plug them with MIDI and we got 88-key weighted MPC Key. but we still have to deal with all the missing plugins that were bundled with MPC key ...
Akai Key 61 is the game changer. Akai Key 61 is "Korg M1" of 2020's. In the late 1980's, Akai samplers was CMI-Fairlight and E-Mulator killer. Now, this new Akai Key 61 is gonna be Roland, Yamaha and Korg killer...
The main weak point of the MPC is the D/A converters. You can bypass the d/a by connecting another audio interface to the Mpc via USB. Big difference in sound.
@MrBahaamra any mid to higher-end audio interface like RME, Antelope, focusrite clarette, etc. I don't think you'll hear a difference with the lower budget interfaces.
@@tbonebeats6429 thank you for your reply! I have another question maybe you can help out with, would you choose the mpc key 61 over the modx8+ in terms of music/audio production?
I think for pop-music (and also Hip Hop and EDM etc) the mpc is the winner ; it may sound a bit 'less deep' and certainly a bit less dynamic. But often that's the sound you want for pop (and Hip Hop and EDM) ...
Always good to compare. I agree, the piano's/organ sounds better on the Nord but for the home/hobby musician Nord is way overpriced, you can buy 3.6 Mpc keys61 for the price of one Nord. Hopefully there will be an mpc key 88 soon.
You could sample Nord piano library and use it on the MPC with the built-in sampling function. Also additional sample packs can be obtained from elsewhere and used on the MPC. You can get an 88 keys piano keybed for less than a 1000 Usd and connect it to the MPC. Not saying the Nord is bad, finally I prefer Piano sounds on my VSTs and connect a laptop the the MPC or any midi keyboard. The nord stage excels in the variety of the piano sounds. (not just one piano), though I could never afford one. I feel nowadays I’m getting better value from VST / AU instruments and sample packs and using a laptop with a midi keyboard.
I own both of these boards and totally agree with this comparison. The Nord Strings are just bad!! The diff in the Organs I think has a lot to do with the Leslie cabinet effect and the ‘cabinet mic placement’ within that effect. Finally the pianos would indeed (as you eluded to) be pretty dang close if you midi’d the Nord to the MPC and used the 88 piano weighted keybed to play the MPC. Great video!
Hi, Is there a tutorial on the Aki MPC 61 on how to quickly access my presets and setlist on stage in live mode? Is there a way to avoid the 1-2 second loading time of the presets?
Ok I get it. The MPC sounds light in the a$$. But the posibilities are enormous. Plus, you can create a keygroup of the Nord sounds, sell it, and keep the MPC.😂
Have a Nord Stage 3 Compact..and Absolutely am in Love with it.!!! I was Looking for Anything that you could do recording without a Computer.. Stumbled upon the MPC Key 37 which even matches the Nord.. and after much research finally downloaded the plug-ins.. I am now putting down sequences and added more plug-ins .. I am Really excited about the Quality of the Air plug-ins next to the Nord..(Which is Higher Quality but the MPC is really good too..). FYI.. I had a MPC Live 2 about 8 months and was totally Lost...but figured it all out on the key 37 after receiving it..... Very Nice My free plug-in was the Stage Grand... and also added the Mini D , Studio Strings , and Fabric... all were marked down too... looking at the Organ in the future also... I am Happy and excited about putting tracks down without the Nord.. Easy Peasy..
1. Damn, you can def. play! I’m on level 1 of flowkey lol😂 2. The red paint alone is worth the 4k! lol 😂. Seriously as an MPC One owner, I really appreciate this detailed comparison. Well done!
Here in Europe the key 61 only costs 1300 including vat. If I hear how it sounds, it is a steal. So many people stay anyhow in their studio fiddling with music production, in that case the key 61 is indeed great. It is even light enough to sit on the sofa with it while the family watches tv (if that still exists). Try that with the Nord.
Hadn't considered MPC Keys but this looks like a really good writing tool when you need to get ideas down quickly. Enjoyed the video - well presented :)
Really stupid question. With the mpc sounding “thinner” as you said … can that be made up with plugins/fx to bring it closer to what nord does natively ?
On sound comparison the nord sounds more solid and natural on piano. On other sounds it is less lightweight. I would assume that using very expensive amplification and speakers the nord would sound best. The question is would it sound $4000 better? Well if you were a millionaire musician then yes it would but if like me you are on a budget the i will take the Akai all day long.
Is there a different colorway for that MPC model? Instead of the mundane black that bedroom producers typically have. I usually go out and play live in front of an audience, and most of them are nighttime and dimly lit stages. I wanted my keys to pop up in that contrast.
The customer for Nord isn’t cross shopping Akai. The Akai customer isn’t cross shopping Nord. I know people with both. But a comparison is good for content.
There isnt a seamless transition? Thats a huge con. I wouldnt recommend it if you want to play live. For live purpose consider Roland fantom 08 (07, 06) those have a seamless transition. However except this, akai is a beast for that kind of money. Great video!
Hi, Key61 user almost since they came out. I don't know if you covered it in the video - and I will watch it! - but I have been pleasantly surprised with how quickly and reliably I can connect the Key61 to my laptop and run the MPC2 software. This matters in a comparison, because other software VSTs have come a long way and sound great, and the Akai MPC integrates well. Once you set your Key61 up as a controller, you can ignore the laptop most of the time if you'd like. Also, RUclipsr SampleKings claims that the MPC plugins like Jura sound better using the MPC2 software. I think he's right, but can't swear to it.
Did you hear the ridiculous bad strings sounds of the Nord? ...just asking... I was shocked, when I tried the Nord 4 at MusicStore a while ago. Piano sounds are very good, all the other sounds are average at best. Totally overpriced.
I see alot of comments saying there close😂.Nord is on another level but it todays music production $1,700 keyboard that does everything is incredible.Im a akai mpc head so i love all the akai products but that Nord sound wise is top tier.
Well it depends on what you're looking for. In pianos, organs and electrics the Nord sounds good, the MPC also sounds good, both do the job. Now in strings, yes the MPC is on another level compared to Nord. Nord always has few good sounds and bunch of crappy unusable ones, and yet selling overpriced slabs. For the price tag of that thing, I would buy the Montage M hands down without remorse. Is just crazy $6K for the Nord. If we are savy enough we can buy a great controller and top tier workstation laptop with a terabyte of piano samples. Nice pianos, nice organs, too much hype.
hola DSoundman, realmente son los mejores y más objetivos comentarios sobre instrumentos que he visto; basándome en tus videos acabo de adquirir el Akai MPC 61 y agradecería mucho que pudieses hacer un tutorial para grabar en éste teclado, pero paso por paso si es posible ya que por mi edad (67 años) es un poco difícil entender qué funciones se deben realizar para dicha función, sobre todo porque no estoy muy familiarizado con teclados ni sintetizadores. Éxito y felicitaciones por el canal.
I was not familiar with the Nord. It does sound fantastic. Not sure how they could have made it so ugly, but under the hood it performs. The Akai sounds great-until you A/B it vs the Nord. But unless you’re a solo instrumentalist, they will both be ‘right’ in the context of a track. I wonder if EQ or plugin manipulation could get the two to sound more similar. The Nord sounds significantly brighter/punchier, and that may just be a manufacturer/programmer choice.
great video. Thanks gives me some insight on the sound difference and practical application. Can you globally detune the MPC Key 61 to 432hz? we tune to 432hz at church and was looking into some sort of piano/pad keyboard. obviously its not designed for performance(I also dont have a $4k budget) but I wouldn't be switching sounds I would stick with a piano, maybe some strings, a nice pad. I was also looking at the Roland Fantom 06 or the Yamaha MOD6+. Biggest thing though is how easily to tune down to 432hz.
@@nicknettle954yes and no. There is not a global tuning, but you can tune fabric xl down 32 cents in order to achieve 432 frequency. That being said, I have not found a way to tune studio piano, studio strings or the studio organ. Overall for live use fabric XL has been great.
I definitely recommend the Key 61 for beginners or someone like me who is a Sampler. That’s a great place to start. Soft Synths are decent on the Key 61 but in comparison to the Nord it has no chance competing with the Nord Sound in the long run. Though I appreciate and understand the premise of this vid, playing out some chords or phrases really does it NO JUSTICE. I love Arturia V collection and Pigments but in comparison to my $10k Moog ONE; THERE IS NONE‼️I’ve played with them both on Numerous occasions and I would say; Depending on what Genre you are doing, “The Key 61 Sounds Good,,,, The Nord Sounds Great and Feels Good”‼️
What sounds? Cause pianos, organs and EP are ok in both, better than the other is subjective plus both are tweakable. Now is a shame a 6K machine comes with mediocre strings and not even a basic drums set.
@LeMuz-ce6ig This Dude literally asked "What Sounds". WoW. Now from your response it sounds like you never had experience with any of these Machines, but this is the internet where you can throw shoots and hand your hand, but OK. Now I have used both of these Extensively(Nord and Key61) The Converters in the Nord sounds Better and Work Better. You can tweak the knows until you twist off your arm and its nothing close to the Nord. Even in this display, the viewer can definitely hear a difference. Yes ,, how people hear sounds in music is SUBJECTIVE, but like I said, it depends on the Genre where you can Identify the differences.
@@OnlyDaFunk4444 Not just tested and own a couple of board, over 30 years of experience and also a technician of keyboards. What is mainstream is not necessarily the best, again both are good sounding boards, if you prefer Nord over others then it's okay, but it doesn't mean other brands are not good or Nord is better. Opinions are just that my friend, especially in something so subjective as music.
The leslie sim on the MPC is utterly terrible. I have a Key 61 and I love everything about it EXCEPT for that. What I've ended up doing is disabling the leslie sim, then routing the blank organ tonewheel sound out of output 3, running that into my Neo Ventilator Leslie pedal, running the stereo output of that back into inputs 1 & 2 on the MPC's audio interface, then using an audio track to play the organ. The difference is NIGHT & DAY. It's obviously a bit more of an involved set up but I think it really highlights a) how great the ventilator pedal is and b) how woefully bad the internal leslie sim is 😂
On its own you would think the Akai sounds are great but compared with the Nord… oh my…. Easy to hear even on an iPad via RUclips. The Nord sounds richer more textured and just a class ahead. 😊
I don't really understand why people buy synths like this for piano sounds. I would understand buying it to sample your pianos. However maybe a used workstation may have more affordable sounds or just a digital piano.
The MPC Key 61 in controller mode with MPC software or a DAW like Ableton Live you can go beyond the 8 tracks and a lot of power for playing and arranging in real time in a live setting. Plus now the MPC key 37 is out at about half the price and very portable and red just like your Nord.
Great video! Nord reminds me of Apple in many ways. Great musical hardware, but they segment their product suite which is good for marketing and profit margin 😂 It ultimately boils down to preference because technology has improved so much to where you can hardly tell any sonic differences. Feel, workflow and purpose of use play more a part in making a decision to purchase any of these boards. I'm personally moving more towards software which is much more affordable and just as good sonically.
The any Nord is worth the money if you are actually playing out and depending on something to make money with. The MPC is cool , but as a player, I'd find a way to buy the Nord.
If you know how to use the mpc they have alot of synth engines.. that you can make sound from scratch.. or edit what he is playing.. i sold 80% of my gear i use mpc 61 and waldorf iridium for my whole studio.. its good to stay limited thats where the creativity comings from...
Awesome comparison. Curious why you didn’t show the Nord’s capability at creating a full 3 minute 8 track song with vocals recorded internally on its 4 GB hard drive? 😂😂😂😂
MPC Key 61 was not bad, but the Nord was differently phatter....Nice comparison, nothing on the Nord was 4,000 better! I'm taking my Sound Library and MPC Key and running like it is a Fire😂 Live use I'm taking the Nord and never looking Back❤
I have the MPC Key 61 and I think it's biggest shortcomings are the small display and the plasticky sounds. The sounds was the biggest disappointment for me. Also the first unit had to be returned because it had somekinda processor failure. Ulimately I got new one. When it comes to comparing piano type sounds, the Nord wins HANDS DOWN. Listening these via net and typical compromized speakers is not really representative. I have still to find a really good sound from the MPC. Of similar priced products I think Yamaha has the best sounds, followed by Roland and Korg. AKAI is not yet on that level in sounds. All the sounds are smehw plasticky with a lazy attack and lack of clarity. But simply to make music they are ok. I also think that it is a real limitation if you can not use the same AKAI VST instrument on two tracks. I use mostly Cubase and I use often two tracks to blend sections for one instrument. But this is really my problem caused by limited playing skills. Then again, the best part of the MPC 61 Key is the price. It really opens this workstation world to a whole lotta new people. it's a great tool for an amateur or for someone who writes music his own pleasure to the drawer. Nord on he other hand represents the top of performer keyboards but it is not a workstation. The Nord piano keyboard finger feel is simply perfect, sounds are good and everything is pro-level finish. Neither of these is actually "perfect" in their userinterface, neither is bad. Both are better than ok.. Finally, these are meant for totally different target groups and both are excellent for their target groups. For me of these two the right one would be the AKAI but Im still ready to admit the Nord is the clearly better instrument, hands down. The Nord life span is long where as the AKAI rides more on the latest trends, next year there is another model which outruns this present 61 Key where as the more conservative Nord will be used after years and years for performances - because it really is a rugged tool for a professional musician.
I am not a Real Musician, but I've heard from some of them that the Akai is for music production, not live performance. No continuation while switching patches, bugs and crashing entirely keep the Akai out of live venues.
The NS4 is more of a live performance board, so at that price point, it should lack in no way when it comes to live performance. The strings are shockingly bad and the user storage is ridiculously low. Now, is it great at what it does? ABSOLUTELY! I'm just not willing to pull any punches when you're bold enough to charge those prices, and everyone acts as if it was made by God, and it is clearly lacking in key areas.
Well done sir. One of the most honest and succinct reviews I have ever seen. I have been professional keyboard player for 50 years, and do a pretty good job at staying in touch with developments. I will give your review 110%. However, it does always need to be said that folk are better served by going to a music shop, and trying out the goods there. A decent person would also buy the keyboard where they try it out. Our music shops are desperately struggling to survive, so please never forget it is a really important role they fulfil. They exist on very small margins, which musicians should really consider, when buying new equipment. Full disclosure; I am not one of those shopowners! Go make some great music.
NORD ....fingers slip off the black keys. i never found such bad keys. made of oil or something. THE NORD HAS that certain synthetic sound even for the pianos, never liked it. even akai piano sounds more pleasant.
He is hitting the MPC keys too hard. Also, Nord has a very processed and unnatural piano sound. It's even close to a grand piano. People don't know how a grand sound is. Nord sounds like a synth. The issue with the MPC is the keys been too light.
I’d take the akai every day of the week, hands down no hesitation, red is for commies, hipsters and posers (come at me red army), you get pads, AMAZING sampling capabilities, Next to DAW level sequencing, the akai would get a record done, the Nord would be a flex for other musicians, I’d only take the nord to sell it, buy tha akai and load it up with their library and have money left for all the other things needed
if you're not a professionally touring player or artist it doesn't seem practical to spend 6k on a keyboard. that being said a majority of people are bedroom producers. I can see in future they make less of these high priced instruments and synths cause in reality no one is buying them.
Fun fact: you can auto-sample your favorite or all of the Nord stage 4 sounds (or any synth) into the mpc key 61 (with or without effects) and layer the sounds to your heart's content.
50+ old geezer chiming in here. I come from the same background as you, pretty much could not afford the cool-kids toys back in the 80s, best I had was a Yamaha DX7 and it was my life. I always dreamed of the Fairlight synth workstation, but that cost the price of a house. Now I have a lot of those cool toys you and many of us in our age now can afford and enjoy, and yes, they're professional stage instruments, and their sounds are pretty much up there in our dreams.
But the thing is, when the MPC Key 61 was introduced, it was the modern Fairlight I've always dreamed of owning. Sure, Ableton, Cubase etc. totally took over for most, but it still wasn't the real hardware feel deal, and the MPC Key 61 covers a pretty unique hole in the market (or my heart), and that is the Fairlight. It has those "on-the-fly" possibilites of just about everything including sampling, VST's, filters, DAW like, Mixer, Recording Studio All-in-one, turn it on and you're nearly DONE magic. And pure magic it is.
When I got mine when it was launched, it was like a dream come true. Sure, I have professional instruments like the Yamaha Montage and many more, and they cover that "fantastic sound" section when you need that ultimate-quality edge. But - and there is the big BUT - the Key 61... really IS the Fairlight of our dreams. It does everything, and you can just fire it up in 15 seconds, sample, re-sample, it can control your ENTIRE studio including analog synths, it has VSTs, 100s of filters, 128 channel Midi recording, regular old Midi recording, Mic in and even drumpads, all of which you can use on-the-fly.
And did I mention the Record-Dub-Play And rewind buttons? And endless Undo + retro active recording? I mean come on... this is by far the most user friendly, get-up-and-produce music in minutes (literally MINUTES) to finished production there is. I would buy it again, and If I had to chose ONE instrument, I'd get this one even if I would miss my stage instruments, hands down - the best music tool ever created ihmo.
💯💯💯
I am glad it’s working out for you but Fairlight is not an MPC, just like Synclavier the converters on those machine is what you paid for that is why you saw in pro studios. Yes and I have the chance to work on both of those machines. Like I said all they have to do is put in a better converters, Moog does it, Yamaha does it, shit Dave Rossum just did it again with the Sp-1200. I am sure you know that the MPC X SE has different slight better converters because the other chip maker burn down, so yeah they know they cutting corners.
Jesus just hear how good the Pioneer Toraiz sound, so it can be done. Also it is useless to have multi sampling on Akai when even your trusted Juno 60 sound like thin on it.
Just look at the new update the USB class complaint mode is not working on the machine that it was working last update from 2.8. They are giving features and optimizing the sound for their plugins. Akai is a software company, I wasted 2 years trying to get libraries that sound amazing on ASR 10 to sound remotely usable and it’s did not work. It’s is bad internal design but a great software
@@PylonRecordsdotcom er what ? complete rubbish , the new MPC's sound amazing , maybe clean your ears ?
I'm 73.. and remember hauling a B3 and Leslie , Fender Rhoads , arp 2700 etc. doing gigging.. Also had a Studio with keys everywhere , and Racks loaded with fx , compressors, etc.
I can track now with all the fx , weighing in at 9 lbs.
These Machines are Beast..
I don't understand why everyone says the organ is trash on the mpc it's a bit thin but i like it.
it is just different eq and effects
@@andybond5002 no, it's totally different sample quality. the mpc sounds like a $300 entry level home organ. The good thing is you're not bound to stock MPC sounds
@@wirklich_niemand
The leslie sim on the MPC is terrible. I have a Key 61 and I love everything about it EXCEPT for that.
What I've ended up doing is disabling the leslie sim, then routing the blank organ sound out of a separate mono output (output 3), running that into my Neo Ventilator Leslie pedal, been running the stereo out of that back into inputs 1 & 2 on the MPC's audio interface, then using an audio track to play the organ.
The difference is NIGHT & DAY. It's obviously a bit more of an involved set up but I think it really highlights a) how great the ventilator pedal is and b) how woefully bad the internal leslie sim is 😂
the Leslie sim isn't as deep on the MPC & he forgot to turn the percussion & reverb off. if you run that through a Neo Ventilator or better, you'd never miss the Nord
WOW. With the sound customizations and tweaking of today's software and more, you can make a $1700 keyboard sound exactly, if not, better than a $6,000 keyboard! In this case, between the Key 61 and the Nord Stage 4, the tweaking would be very minimal and the $1700 keyboard would go neck-to-neck with the Nord Stage 4! Excellent video Brotha!
A big chunk of that price tag is the control surface and the Nord tax ...
@@josephkissel6062 I believe you.
The MPC key 61 is probably the best value for money of anything on the market today. The touchscreen interface is incredible as is the depth of control on plugins like Fabric xl, hype and Opx-4.
Thanks for making this video. The head to head nature of comparison is valuable. I use my Key 61 in a band to play some keys parts in 80s tribute songs (Flock of Seagulls, Devo, U2) songs and to trigger some intros and SFX. It does a nice job and one day I'll get around to figuring out the sequencer.
I enjoy watching such a wild comparisons. Please do more in the future 😎👍
Haha thanks! 😄
These are some of the most helpful MPC Key reviews I've seen yet. Subbed!
What AKAI should really do: release the very same machine with a weighted keyboard. Because otherwisely it's an absolute beast and a steal for the money!
I’m looking at simplifying my studio space down to one keyboard, but I’m looking to do that with a keyboard that lets me rapidly get to the sounds I care about. The Stage 4 is currently in the lead by virtue of having everything rapidly accessible on the front panel. That said, if there were a version of the MPC Keys with a decent weighted action, it could easily win out on price together with range of sounds. I’ve thought about an MPC One or Live with a decent MIDI controller, but that already starts to feel fiddly when the goal is flip a few power switches and start playing.
tbh my plan was getting MPC One and used Roland RD700. Plug them with MIDI and we got 88-key weighted MPC Key.
but we still have to deal with all the missing plugins that were bundled with MPC key ...
Akai Key 61 is the game changer. Akai Key 61 is "Korg M1" of 2020's. In the late 1980's, Akai samplers was CMI-Fairlight and E-Mulator killer. Now, this new Akai Key 61 is gonna be Roland, Yamaha and Korg killer...
The main weak point of the MPC is the D/A converters. You can bypass the d/a by connecting another audio interface to the Mpc via USB. Big difference in sound.
Really?! That’s interesting. I have an X. I wonder if it’s the same with it.
Good to know!
Can you give an example of what another audio interface would be?
@MrBahaamra any mid to higher-end audio interface like RME, Antelope, focusrite clarette, etc. I don't think you'll hear a difference with the lower budget interfaces.
@@tbonebeats6429 thank you for your reply! I have another question maybe you can help out with, would you choose the mpc key 61 over the modx8+ in terms of music/audio production?
Excellent video! Comparisons are fun, and we get the chance to learn about two fascinating instruments! Thank you
Great video. Just auto-sample the Nord into the MPC Key 61.
I think for pop-music (and also Hip Hop and EDM etc) the mpc is the winner ; it may sound a bit 'less deep' and certainly a bit less dynamic. But often that's the sound you want for pop (and Hip Hop and EDM) ...
Always good to compare. I agree, the piano's/organ sounds better on the Nord but for the home/hobby musician Nord is way overpriced, you can buy 3.6 Mpc keys61 for the price of one Nord. Hopefully there will be an mpc key 88 soon.
I was hoping the 88-key was next, but from a beat making perspective, I guess the 37 key makes sense.
I'd like a MPC Key 73 with weighted good keys.
You could sample Nord piano library and use it on the MPC with the built-in sampling function. Also additional sample packs can be obtained from elsewhere and used on the MPC. You can get an 88 keys piano keybed for less than a 1000 Usd and connect it to the MPC. Not saying the Nord is bad, finally I prefer Piano sounds on my VSTs and connect a laptop the the MPC or any midi keyboard. The nord stage excels in the variety of the piano sounds. (not just one piano), though I could never afford one. I feel nowadays I’m getting better value from VST / AU instruments and sample packs and using a laptop with a midi keyboard.
You can always plug in a 88 weighted hammer keyboard via usb
@@maximumguitarage this, and get MPC One instead.
I own both of these boards and totally agree with this comparison. The Nord Strings are just bad!! The diff in the Organs I think has a lot to do with the Leslie cabinet effect and the ‘cabinet mic placement’ within that effect. Finally the pianos would indeed (as you eluded to) be pretty dang close if you midi’d the Nord to the MPC and used the 88 piano weighted keybed to play the MPC. Great video!
Akai MPC Key 61is best value for money...
Hi, Is there a tutorial on the Aki MPC 61 on how to quickly access my presets and setlist on stage in live mode? Is there a way to avoid the 1-2 second loading time of the presets?
Fantastic compare. Thank you for putting this together!
Ok I get it. The MPC sounds light in the a$$. But the posibilities are enormous. Plus, you can create a keygroup of the Nord sounds, sell it, and keep the MPC.😂
😂👍
Have a Nord Stage 3 Compact..and Absolutely am in Love with it.!!!
I was Looking for Anything that you could do recording without a Computer..
Stumbled upon the MPC Key 37 which even matches the Nord.. and after much research finally downloaded the plug-ins.. I am now putting down sequences and added more plug-ins ..
I am Really excited about the Quality of the Air plug-ins next to the Nord..(Which is Higher Quality but the MPC is really good too..).
FYI.. I had a MPC Live 2 about 8 months and was totally Lost...but figured it all out on the key 37 after receiving it..... Very Nice
My free plug-in was the Stage Grand... and also added the Mini D , Studio Strings , and Fabric... all were marked down too... looking at the Organ in the future also...
I am Happy and excited about putting tracks down without the Nord.. Easy Peasy..
Picked up the mpc Organ ..!!!
Very Nice , and good Leslie simulation too..
Great Job Bro!!! All I know is if Akai MPC releases a 76 or 88 key they need to put Digital I/O on it!!! 🙏🏼🤯🙏🏼
1. Damn, you can def. play! I’m on level 1 of flowkey lol😂 2. The red paint alone is worth the 4k! lol 😂. Seriously as an MPC One owner, I really appreciate this detailed comparison. Well done!
Akai means red in Japanese, I laughed when you said the red paint is worth...omg
The MPC Key 61 is everything Open Labs (which I have) tried to do 15 years ago. Amazing for a fraction of the price.
Here in Europe the key 61 only costs 1300 including vat. If I hear how it sounds, it is a steal. So many people stay anyhow in their studio fiddling with music production, in that case the key 61 is indeed great. It is even light enough to sit on the sofa with it while the family watches tv (if that still exists). Try that with the Nord.
Hadn't considered MPC Keys but this looks like a really good writing tool when you need to get ideas down quickly. Enjoyed the video - well presented :)
When come the Key 88 with weighted Hammer-Action and more polyphonie ? And faster plugin-switching ?
Excellent. I have a Montage 7 and it is not in my opinion easy to use. This MPC, again, in my initial opinion seems to be much easier for recording.
unfair, but really good job on akai
Really stupid question. With the mpc sounding “thinner” as you said … can that be made up with plugins/fx to bring it closer to what nord does natively ?
On sound comparison the nord sounds more solid and natural on piano. On other sounds it is less lightweight. I would assume that using very expensive amplification and speakers the nord would sound best. The question is would it sound $4000 better? Well if you were a millionaire musician then yes it would but if like me you are on a budget the i will take the Akai all day long.
Is there a different colorway for that MPC model? Instead of the mundane black that bedroom producers typically have. I usually go out and play live in front of an audience, and most of them are nighttime and dimly lit stages. I wanted my keys to pop up in that contrast.
I wonder how on a major tour , will the Akai hold up?
The customer for Nord isn’t cross shopping Akai. The Akai customer isn’t cross shopping Nord. I know people with both.
But a comparison is good for content.
Where are the 25 plugins. Nobody schows them. In the videos we see only the first 16 ! Whats about the others?
There isnt a seamless transition? Thats a huge con. I wouldnt recommend it if you want to play live. For live purpose consider Roland fantom 08 (07, 06) those have a seamless transition.
However except this, akai is a beast for that kind of money. Great video!
Hi, Key61 user almost since they came out. I don't know if you covered it in the video - and I will watch it! - but I have been pleasantly surprised with how quickly and reliably I can connect the Key61 to my laptop and run the MPC2 software. This matters in a comparison, because other software VSTs have come a long way and sound great, and the Akai MPC integrates well. Once you set your Key61 up as a controller, you can ignore the laptop most of the time if you'd like.
Also, RUclipsr SampleKings claims that the MPC plugins like Jura sound better using the MPC2 software. I think he's right, but can't swear to it.
The nord sounds better. AND the nord feels more like an instrument. If that’s what you want.
Did you hear the ridiculous bad strings sounds of the Nord? ...just asking... I was shocked, when I tried the Nord 4 at MusicStore a while ago. Piano sounds are very good, all the other sounds are average at best. Totally overpriced.
I see alot of comments saying there close😂.Nord is on another level but it todays music production $1,700 keyboard that does everything is incredible.Im a akai mpc head so i love all the akai products but that Nord sound wise is top tier.
Well it depends on what you're looking for. In pianos, organs and electrics the Nord sounds good, the MPC also sounds good, both do the job. Now in strings, yes the MPC is on another level compared to Nord. Nord always has few good sounds and bunch of crappy unusable ones, and yet selling overpriced slabs. For the price tag of that thing, I would buy the Montage M hands down without remorse. Is just crazy $6K for the Nord. If we are savy enough we can buy a great controller and top tier workstation laptop with a terabyte of piano samples. Nice pianos, nice organs, too much hype.
The Nord sounds are just undeniably THICCC 😭😭
❤❤I have Keys61.. I am def waiting for 88 🎹 keys
With the 3000 you save by not buying a Nord you can buy a 88 weighted key midi controller.
❤
Also there’s wayyy better piano plugins for the MPC than the stage plug in the video. Not that ppl are buying a MPC to play classical. Lol.
@@worldsstongeststrains983I am 😅
I noticed on the piano opening the sustain was not holding on the AKAI, not sure if that's adjustable.
The Nord is much deeper about 4000 deeper...depending on preference...performance or production...both are great...💯👍
The depth will not come out in the mix where it will be lost with all the other instruments sounding at the same time. The Nord is cool though.
3.09 Sound - Akai is like wide open stage
3.20 Sound - Nord is like wide open hall
How is organ and synth playing on the 88 key Nord though? Are palm glisses and fast synth runs unbearable with the weighted keys?
Same question here
Same
at the 5:00 mark what is the riff you are playing?
Can we get a part two auto sample feature and do a comparison
hola DSoundman, realmente son los mejores y más objetivos comentarios sobre instrumentos que he visto; basándome en tus videos acabo de adquirir el Akai MPC 61 y agradecería mucho que pudieses hacer un tutorial para grabar en éste teclado, pero paso por paso si es posible ya que por mi edad (67 años) es un poco difícil entender qué funciones se deben realizar para dicha función, sobre todo porque no estoy muy familiarizado con teclados ni sintetizadores. Éxito y felicitaciones por el canal.
3:10 MPC piano sample has no compression
Nord sample was sampled with compression on
Try MPC with a compression effect on
I was not familiar with the Nord. It does sound fantastic. Not sure how they could have made it so ugly, but under the hood it performs. The Akai sounds great-until you A/B it vs the Nord. But unless you’re a solo instrumentalist, they will both be ‘right’ in the context of a track. I wonder if EQ or plugin manipulation could get the two to sound more similar. The Nord sounds significantly brighter/punchier, and that may just be a manufacturer/programmer choice.
Is it my impression or are the instruments not tuned to the same basic frequency? (Nord seems very slightly higher than the Akai)
great video. Thanks gives me some insight on the sound difference and practical application. Can you globally detune the MPC Key 61 to 432hz? we tune to 432hz at church and was looking into some sort of piano/pad keyboard. obviously its not designed for performance(I also dont have a $4k budget) but I wouldn't be switching sounds I would stick with a piano, maybe some strings, a nice pad. I was also looking at the Roland Fantom 06 or the Yamaha MOD6+. Biggest thing though is how easily to tune down to 432hz.
Did you ever find out if the MPC 61 can do 432hz? I'm interested in that feature as well
@@nicknettle954yes and no. There is not a global tuning, but you can tune fabric xl down 32 cents in order to achieve 432 frequency. That being said, I have not found a way to tune studio piano, studio strings or the studio organ. Overall for live use fabric XL has been great.
I definitely recommend the Key 61 for beginners or someone like me who is a Sampler. That’s a great place to start. Soft Synths are decent on the Key 61 but in comparison to the Nord it has no chance competing with the Nord Sound in the long run. Though I appreciate and understand the premise of this vid, playing out some chords or phrases really does it NO JUSTICE. I love Arturia V collection and Pigments but in comparison to my $10k Moog ONE; THERE IS NONE‼️I’ve played with them both on Numerous occasions and I would say; Depending on what Genre you are doing, “The Key 61 Sounds Good,,,, The Nord Sounds Great and Feels Good”‼️
What sounds? Cause pianos, organs and EP are ok in both, better than the other is subjective plus both are tweakable. Now is a shame a 6K machine comes with mediocre strings and not even a basic drums set.
@LeMuz-ce6ig This Dude literally asked "What Sounds". WoW. Now from your response it sounds like you never had experience with any of these Machines, but this is the internet where you can throw shoots and hand your hand, but OK. Now I have used both of these Extensively(Nord and Key61) The Converters in the Nord sounds Better and Work Better. You can tweak the knows until you twist off your arm and its nothing close to the Nord. Even in this display, the viewer can definitely hear a difference. Yes ,, how people hear sounds in music is SUBJECTIVE, but like I said, it depends on the Genre where you can Identify the differences.
@@OnlyDaFunk4444 Not just tested and own a couple of board, over 30 years of experience and also a technician of keyboards. What is mainstream is not necessarily the best, again both are good sounding boards, if you prefer Nord over others then it's okay, but it doesn't mean other brands are not good or Nord is better. Opinions are just that my friend, especially in something so subjective as music.
The leslie sim on the MPC is utterly terrible. I have a Key 61 and I love everything about it EXCEPT for that.
What I've ended up doing is disabling the leslie sim, then routing the blank organ tonewheel sound out of output 3, running that into my Neo Ventilator Leslie pedal, running the stereo output of that back into inputs 1 & 2 on the MPC's audio interface, then using an audio track to play the organ.
The difference is NIGHT & DAY. It's obviously a bit more of an involved set up but I think it really highlights a) how great the ventilator pedal is and b) how woefully bad the internal leslie sim is 😂
On its own you would think the Akai sounds are great but compared with the Nord… oh my…. Easy to hear even on an iPad via RUclips. The Nord sounds richer more textured and just a class ahead. 😊
I don't really understand why people buy synths like this for piano sounds. I would understand buying it to sample your pianos. However maybe a used workstation may have more affordable sounds or just a digital piano.
The MPC Key 61 in controller mode with MPC software or a DAW like Ableton Live you can go beyond the 8 tracks and a lot of power for playing and arranging in real time in a live setting. Plus now the MPC key 37 is out at about half the price and very portable and red just like your Nord.
Haha yeah, I’m kind of excited to see how the MPC Key 37 compares to the 61!
porque o áudio do akai estava com ruído?
Can you connect an external 88 hammer action into the MPC key 61?
Yes you can
The EP Rhodes and Organ sounds are as good or better on the AKAI...strings are better also!.
Man, that Nord sounds good.
Why didn't they build an 88 weighted key version for Akai MPC?
MPC were more focused in beat making. Also you can always buy MPC One / Live and plug your favourite 88 key controller.
Cool Video Bro. ❤
Great video! Nord reminds me of Apple in many ways. Great musical hardware, but they segment their product suite which is good for marketing and profit margin 😂 It ultimately boils down to preference because technology has improved so much to where you can hardly tell any sonic differences. Feel, workflow and purpose of use play more a part in making a decision to purchase any of these boards. I'm personally moving more towards software which is much more affordable and just as good sonically.
Come on inMusic/Akai, create a stage piano with these engines to complete with Nord & Arturia!
I got mpc keys it has like lofi synth engine
They say money can't buy love 🤦🏾♂️ but once you touch those weighted keys ❤️
The any Nord is worth the money if you are actually playing out and depending on something to make money with. The MPC is cool , but as a player, I'd find a way to buy the Nord.
If you know how to use the mpc they have alot of synth engines.. that you can make sound from scratch.. or edit what he is playing.. i sold 80% of my gear i use mpc 61 and waldorf iridium for my whole studio.. its good to stay limited thats where the creativity comings from...
Amen agreed - when the inspiration hits - go !
Awesome comparison. Curious why you didn’t show the Nord’s capability at creating a full 3 minute 8 track song with vocals recorded internally on its 4 GB hard drive?
😂😂😂😂
maybe because it's a stage keyboard and not a workstation?
MPC Key 61 was not bad, but the Nord was differently phatter....Nice comparison, nothing on the Nord was 4,000 better! I'm taking my Sound Library and MPC Key and running like it is a Fire😂 Live use I'm taking the Nord and never looking Back❤
Yamaha YC88 plus iPad Apps could be a better choice
The mpc key 61 is a little bit thinner in sound
I have the MPC Key 61 and I think it's biggest shortcomings are the small display and the plasticky sounds. The sounds was the biggest disappointment for me. Also the first unit had to be returned because it had somekinda processor failure. Ulimately I got new one.
When it comes to comparing piano type sounds, the Nord wins HANDS DOWN. Listening these via net and typical compromized speakers is not really representative. I have still to find a really good sound from the MPC. Of similar priced products I think Yamaha has the best sounds, followed by Roland and Korg. AKAI is not yet on that level in sounds. All the sounds are smehw plasticky with a lazy attack and lack of clarity. But simply to make music they are ok. I also think that it is a real limitation if you can not use the same AKAI VST instrument on two tracks. I use mostly Cubase and I use often two tracks to blend sections for one instrument. But this is really my problem caused by limited playing skills.
Then again, the best part of the MPC 61 Key is the price. It really opens this workstation world to a whole lotta new people. it's a great tool for an amateur or for someone who writes music his own pleasure to the drawer.
Nord on he other hand represents the top of performer keyboards but it is not a workstation. The Nord piano keyboard finger feel is simply perfect, sounds are good and everything is pro-level finish. Neither of these is actually "perfect" in their userinterface, neither is bad. Both are better than ok..
Finally, these are meant for totally different target groups and both are excellent for their target groups. For me of these two the right one would be the AKAI but Im still ready to admit the Nord is the clearly better instrument, hands down. The Nord life span is long where as the AKAI rides more on the latest trends, next year there is another model which outruns this present 61 Key where as the more conservative Nord will be used after years and years for performances - because it really is a rugged tool for a professional musician.
Great points!
it doesn"t sound $4000 better than any decent sounding keyboard from all the big companies
I just got my stage 4
Congrats!
I doubt I can save up $6,000, so the choice is obvious
I saved up 89k but I would never spend 6k on a keyboard lol
Ac. Piano Nord, EP is draw, Organ Nord, Strings Akai
Great job but how about wooly bully watch it y😮
Drums please
I am not a Real Musician, but I've heard from some of them that the Akai is for music production, not live performance. No continuation while switching patches, bugs and crashing entirely keep the Akai out of live venues.
Never experienced bugs or crashing on the MPC. Yes it’s for production but it can do live as well with key mapping to plugins
@@andybond5002 Thanks. Always appreciate first hand experience over word of mouth
Team AKAI professionnel
NO 2000$. In fact 1500-1600$. I like piano - worstation on Akai.
You could have them both!
Nord sounds like a Steinberg (German grand,) lots of delay on MPC.🤦♂️
Korg Kronos/Nautilus like the Nord for piano IMO but cheaper.
You probably mean "Steinweg", not Steinberg ?! Later, after immigration to the US , named "Steinway". 😊
The MPC 61 is on a never platform so it’ll get the leverage……IJS
The NS4 is more of a live performance board, so at that price point, it should lack in no way when it comes to live performance. The strings are shockingly bad and the user storage is ridiculously low. Now, is it great at what it does? ABSOLUTELY! I'm just not willing to pull any punches when you're bold enough to charge those prices, and everyone acts as if it was made by God, and it is clearly lacking in key areas.
Well done sir. One of the most honest and succinct reviews I have ever seen. I have been professional keyboard player for 50 years, and do a pretty good job at staying in touch with developments. I will give your review 110%. However, it does always need to be said that folk are better served by going to a music shop, and trying out the goods there. A decent person would also buy the keyboard where they try it out. Our music shops are desperately struggling to survive, so please never forget it is a really important role they fulfil. They exist on very small margins, which musicians should really consider, when buying new equipment. Full disclosure; I am not one of those shopowners! Go make some great music.
That expensive keyboard is not worth it as it only played keyboard sounds
Odd comparison. A workstation and a stage keyboard. I guess let's see
Neither one is worth what they cost .
NORD ....fingers slip off the black keys. i never found such bad keys. made of oil or something.
THE NORD HAS that certain synthetic sound even for the pianos, never liked it.
even akai piano sounds more pleasant.
All Nord Keybeds are terrible and not worth the price point, except for the Grand as that one is made by Kawai.
He is hitting the MPC keys too hard. Also, Nord has a very processed and unnatural piano sound. It's even close to a grand piano. People don't know how a grand sound is. Nord sounds like a synth. The issue with the MPC is the keys been too light.
I’d take the akai every day of the week, hands down no hesitation, red is for commies, hipsters and posers (come at me red army), you get pads, AMAZING sampling capabilities, Next to DAW level sequencing, the akai would get a record done, the Nord would be a flex for other musicians, I’d only take the nord to sell it, buy tha akai and load it up with their library and have money left for all the other things needed
Geez, play already!
I’ve always found the nord sounds to be horrible
So flat and robotic.
This Akai sounds are amazing.
I’m not a fan of Nord EP’s
🙏🙌👍👍👍
Nuh, Yamaha solo brass sounds suck, I think Korg is better.
if you're not a professionally touring player or artist it doesn't seem practical to spend 6k on a keyboard. that being said a majority of people are bedroom producers. I can see in future they make less of these high priced instruments and synths cause in reality no one is buying them.