AKAI MPC LIVE II - How To Make Your First Beat!

An AKAI MPC LIVE II (MPC LIVE 2) beginner guide video about how to make your first beat in standalone. I walk you thru all of the processes like main screen navigation, note repeat, recording/overdubbing, timing correct (quantize), picking sounds, program editing, plugins, effects, arps, and more. If you have any questions or suggestions. Please fill feel to leave them in the comments.

get an MPC Live ii here

or get the retro edition here

MPC LIVE playlist

MPC ONE playlist

MPC Beats Software playlist

0:00 intro
0:47 turning it on & getting started
1:54 main screen (sequences, tracks, & programs explained)
3:50 how to select sounds/programs (file browser & previewing)
6:16 laying down drumlines, velocity, metronome, full/16 level, note repeat
10:33 timing correct (quantize)
11:49 selecting tracks, plugins, pad perform, & chord progressions
15:24 using presets & program editing pt.1
16:28 double length & adding chord variations
17:19 keygroups explained (adding 808's) & transposing tracks
20:35 adding melodies
21:41 adding effects & panning
24:24 adding arpeggios
25:56 adding master effects & lofi
27:29 naming tracks
28:25 how to save your beats
30:20 final thoughts

social media links

#AKAI #MPC #beginner

[izzywalker]

Dude, Had this thing for a little over a week and wasn't making any progress despite having lots of similar gear over the last 20 years. You just made it click here. Thank you so much.

[aetherkat]

Thanks for a perfect intro lesson! 🎉

This is exactly what I needed to get up and running. No downloads, no bs, just a straight up guide to building tracks with the instrument and everything that comes with it.

[willgogetit]

Listen I'm a rapper my brother is an aspiring super producer . Your explanation was flawless for people who never used anything but just bought the MPC . We picked it up like we dropped it . Thanks family 💪🏿🙏🏿

[michaeltravis]

Got a LIVE2 yesterday; I’ve watched this video several times following along with you. You’re good at teaching - more specifically, you’re really good at organizing and presenting the information as it becomes necessary. That’s huge! Many videos out there have people who can’t stay on point, and it overwhelms the beginner …makes things way too confusing. But not you. Your method helped me out tremendously, gave me a good fundamental understanding of the Akai workflow, and had me making music quickly. Thank you 🙏🏼

[luisalmeida]

I've just revisited this tutorial and I would say again that this is the only thing that puts me working with the MPC Live II right away.

[pyro]

“ I don’t hear any sounds, I don’t know what to do? Yes I do.” 😂
That same thing happened to me before when is first loaded up the sounds. Got it down now.👊🏽

[GodsPoetryProductions]

I just got my MPC live 2 and your video helped me a lot. I was one of those people that couldn't figure out where my sounds were. Lol

[Dchane]

I purchased my MPC Live 2 and hardly was able to use it for the longest because I had no clue how to use it even after watching a few videos. I watch this video and had a track laid out in what felt like minutes. Great video man. I'll definitely be coming back to this channel for more tutorials. Mad props Ave. Thank you!

[somebrutha]

You can only view so many 'technical' vids before your head implodes, but this is a JUMP ON IN AND DO IT VID. .. I definitely had to watch a few prior, to learn to navigate around a bit, but YOU just helped me make my first beat and it just so happens it actually sounds Thanks bruh, this was EXTREMELY helpful.

[GenePriest]

just got one of these bad boys in the mail yesterday, loaded up my sample library to an SD Card, and your video was a masterclass for anyone just starting with this DEEP MACHINE but getting such a killer overview to kickstart the beat-journey! subbed 💯

[LoadTekPros-wylw]

My brother, I have been looking at this MPC live2 for over a year after 15 years FL, Reason, and Pro tool. Your granular training approach helped me tremendously. Gratitude and blessings🙏

[mpattara]

Thank you Ave for this video. As a complete newbie (someone who knows next-to-nothing about both drum machines in general, plus new to the world of MPCs) - I was able to create a sequence of my own including beats, chords, bass and melodies on my new Live 2.

Much more to still learn, but it's certainly worth it!

[malcolmflex]

My man! You are a goat. Super informative and easy to follow.

[neilkod]

This video is outstanding - thanks. I've been messing around with my MPC for a few weeks now - but this video made a lot of things 'click' for me-and my results are sounding great. Thanks for producing this video.

[JeanPhilippeSavoie]

I've learned more in the 5 minutes watching your video than I did going through all 30 videos from Akai's official playlist. for example you show from the beginning how to load programs and plug ins which is the basis to hte beat. akai does not!.

Bravo!

[XF]

Dude thank you for this amazing video, this is by far the best one I've seen. Perfectly on point and well organized and explained. I just got my first mpc yesterday and I was clueless on the workflow coming from ableton. I learned so much just now

[vitalvicious]

I've been using an MPC live for 3 years, and omg this video has my mind 🤯 I learned more in the 30 mins watching this, than I did in 3 years! I have to figure out the key groups.. Thanks Ave, your videos are always on point!!!

[SIKAMOTV]

This video is 3 years old and still gold .. I’ve had this thing sitting in the box for like 2 weeks now.. finally a good video to help me figure it out ..hope I don’t give up too soon lol

[ron]

Good morning thank you for this awesome video like always it rocks. have a great day today as much as you can. I pray that you can find comfort this mother's day considering the situation you had this year. Bless you always thank you again.

[Wounds]

I'd be considering getting into the MPC for a while and was recently thinking which became planning and decideing to jump with the Live 2, so I came back to bookmark this video and see it was made on my birthday lol. It's a sign!! hahahah. Thanks for all your dilligence brother. Your video make me able to focus on the fun of it because the answers to my questions are all so available.