Akai MPC Live Demo & In-Depth Feature Overview

In this Akai MPC Live demo, Andy Mac takes us through some of the functions and features of the new MPC.

The Akai MPC Live is a compact, standalone music production unit featuring 16 ultra-responsive, velocity-sensitive RGB pads and four touch-capacitive Q-Link controls. The Akai MPC Live re-captures the essence of what made the original MPCs so renowned, and brings it to the forefront of the modern era. The standalone design means no PC is required, with the unit boasting 16GB of on-board storage (including 10GB of premium sound content), a 7-inch full-colour multi-touch display and two USB 3.0 connectors for connecting flash drives and MIDI controllers. The MPC Live is natively powered by the MPC Software 2.0, giving you everything you need to produce your own music, perfect for a range of genres from Hip-Hop and Pop to EDM and more. With its ultra-portable design and wide range of controls, the MPC Live is the ultimate solution for mobile production as well as live performances.

Standalone Production Unit - The MPC Live provides you with a wide range of versatile controls, configured in an ergonomic layout to improve your overall workflow. The 16 ultra-responsive velocity-sensitive pads are backlit with RGB lights, perfect for performing in low-light environments such as studio and clubs. As well as being an all-in-one production unit, the MPC Live is also perfect for live performances, perfect for DJs and live musicians. The bright and intuitive 7-inch full-colour multi-touch screen, provides you with all the information you need on your controls, parameters, levels and more. At the heart of the MPC Live is the MPC Software 2.0. The MPC Sampler features 16 RGB backlit pads and four touch-capacitive Q-Link controls provide you with all the control you need for complex live performances, allowing you to store and trigger sample banks at the touch of a button, seamlessly switching between songs, rhythms and more. The standalone production unit also features a 2-in/2-out MIDI interface, allowing you to connect MIDI compatible sound modules, drum machines and controllers directly to the MPC Live for unparalleled MIDI sequencing capabilities.

Classic Design Meets Modern Innovation - The Akai MPC Live brings the classic MPC design into the modern-era with its standalone design featuring 16GB of on-board storage and a 7-inch full-colour multi-touch screen. The standalone design means no computer is required to operate the MPC Live. Combine this with its lightweight construction (5.5lbs), and the MPC Live is one of the most portable MPCs to date. The MPC Live production unit boasts multicore processing technology as well as 2GB of on-board RAM, allowing you to create rhythms, melodies and more with ease. The MPC is revered in the music industry for being one of the most prominent production units on the planet, revolutionising the production techniques of early producers. One of the most noteworthy features of the MPC is its ability to sample records and other sources, allowing you to chop and re-arrange samples with ease. With this in mind, Akai have incorporated an RCA input with ground peg and stereo balanced ¼-inch jack for sampling straight from vinyl.

Versatile Control - The ergonomic layout of the MPC Live makes it ideal for both studio sessions and live performances, while the intuitive touch-screen display allows you to easily access and navigate through sound content, music banks, file information and more. The internal, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, provides you with more than enough power for portable use, allowing you to setup and create wherever you go. The seamless integration means you can adapt to any situation, from connecting MIDI controllers and sound modules to connecting to your favourite DAW, to control your favourite VSTs and more. MPC Live features a wide range of controls and parameters including a built-in step sequencer, editable waveforms, live time-stretching, sampling, sequencing and more. You can also apply XY FX in real-time and use the MPC Live as a control surface for the MPC 2.0 software. Also included is a range of versatile connectivity from analog to digital including 6 configurable ¼-inch balanced jack outputs, a 1/8’’ headphone output, 2 pairs of full-sized MIDI inputs and outputs as well as an SD Card slot for loading samples and projects. 2 USB-A 3.0 connections are including for flash drives and MIDI controllers and the 2.5-inch SATA drive connector allows you to expand your memory with an SSD or HDD for added flexibility.

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[gearmusicguitars]

Hello everyone!

Whilst there is no confirmed date yet, you can expect the MPC Live for around late April and the MPC X for around Mid- May. We hope this answers some of your questions!

Kind regards,
Gear4music

[wodeyjay]

Not sure if I missed the sampling section, but am interested if you can do these things:
- record a sample and assign to clip
- record a sample and assign to pad (no time stretch involved)
- phrase sampler / looper / recording audio tracks
- resampling?

[aikighost]

It looks awesome. The only thing I would have changed in the design would be to have the Q-Links on the left instead of right so I can drum with right hand and tweak knobs with my left.

[harryhippy]

You think you can show us a video of the mpc live or x controlling external hardware synths and modules? I would really appreciate it. I'm very interested in this machine.

[csrader]

This thing is absolutely amazing. I saw an LFO label, right before he went into the effects demo. Modulation is good news.

[Legaceybeats]

i cant wait to have this mpc. my order is in

[jessetaldotcom]

When will it be available for purchase?

[ashleyprincewashington]

its beautiful.. its a game akai keep it up !!!

[franmoller]

Can u make a video showing how it can control external gear by midi and cv?

[GloPhase]

Looks like a fantastic piece. Wondering if it will have a song mode? Or how arrangements will be handled? And if so how the arranger/song mode would be able to altered in a live setting, looping, jumping around, transitions, etc. Many thanks.

[severeflows]

Since this supports audio tracks will you be able to use a USB mic to record directly in ?

[pmk]

How do you delete or erase a project you created?

[AsifHafeez]

Very good video. I have a question. I am a keyboardist and I play one man shows. I use the rhythms of my keyboard korg PA 50. I want to use sample loops with my keyboard's rhythm. I want to upload different samples on the 16 pads of Mpc live, and want to control start/stop from my keyboard via midi. The sample loops should be played in cycle mode and shouldn't stop unless I stop it from my keyboard''s start/stop button. While playing I want to change the variation of rhythms from the 16 pads of Mpc live in one project. Is it possible to do in Mpc live? I've tried a lot but couldn't do it now I am thinking to return the device. Can you please help me? Thanks.

[magnusdevo]

How many midi tracks can be used in stand alone mode?

[louiswarynski]

We can see a "CV" label on the screen. Does this mean you can use an audio output to output CV ?

[foggydrifty]

What's the sampling or sequence limit per pad? Can you spin a 45 second loop or is that considered an audio track? After the 64 bar loop is that then considered an audio track? Also, when recording in stereo to the pads can you pan the stereo track L and R on one pad or do you need two pads for a stereo pan? Really needing to see a sampling video Akai. Thanks.

[bboymac]

Is there a legato for clip launch? Also clip launch sounds a lot like traktors remix deck, is that correct.

[drumz]

Akai should give us the option to be able to use the screen from the drum machine onto the laptop screen as well, so we can select from software screen to mpc screen and don't for get make sure we can explode track in song mode..

[drewsona]

This seems like an incredible device and the cost, when compared to buying a laptop just for making music, is attractive. However, it appears to be aimed just at the EDM market when surely it can be used for pop and rock. Any comments on this Akai or Gear4music?

[andysundstrom]

What is the mechanics and reasoning about different songs in a live performance? Most electronic music needs smooth transitions between songs, does it preload/have some sort of song arranger or do you have to make a really long "song" with the songs in it or? Thanks!