Akai Professional standalone MPC X & MPC Live + MPC 2.0 software

Akai Professional has announced the MPC X and MPC Live, two next generation standalone MPC products.

The new MPC X is a standalone MPC featuring a beautiful, full-colour 10.1” multi-touch screen and 16 amazingly responsive, velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB pads – all fuelled by a multicore processor surgically tuned to power MPC Software 2.0™.

Rounding out the controls are dedicated menu buttons, a large master encoder knob and 16 touch-sensitive 360º assignable pots (Q-Links) with adaptive OLED displays, perfect for viewing and precisely automating individual parameters to deliver expressively nuanced recordings. With MPC X the tactile ease-of-use found on smartphones and tablets combines with full-featured production functionality for an unleashed creative experience – launch clips with real-time time-stretching; grab, pinch & edit waveforms; program the step sequencer; record, sequence & edit audio/MIDI; apply XY FX and much more directly from MPC X’s 10.1” multitouch capacitive color screen and dedicated hardware controls.
MPC X’s plethora of connectivity options ensures rapid assimilation into any studio environment. A 2-in/4-out MIDI interface connects seamlessly to controllers and MIDI compatible sound modules, drum machines and synthesizers, providing core sequencing and control capability. Thanks to a arsenal of inputs and outputs (XLR, ¼-inch jack, 1/8-inch jack & RCA), plus studio-grade audio capture, direct / hardware monitoring options and switchable phantom-power, MPC X forms the beating heard of any production setup. Additional connectivity options include 8 CV/Gate outputs and a custom CV Program, configurable via MPC X’s radiant high-definition screen – the ultimate solution for control of modular gear and CV compatible synthesizers via MPC X’s premium hardware controls and unprecedented sequencing functionality.
Powering the mighty X is MPC Software 2.0™, Akai Professional’s reimagined update of the critically acclaimed MPC software. Capable of running natively on the MPC X in standalone mode, MPC Software 2.0 can also be run from a Mac or PC as a plugin in all popular DAWs, or as a full-featured standalone application.

MPC X features

Standalone MPC – no computer required – natively powered by MPC Software 2.0.
10.1” full-colour multi-touch display.
Also acts as a control surface for MPC 2.0 Software, compatible with Mac & PC.
16 Touch-capacitive Q-Links controls with OLED displays.
66 buttons for direct, hardware access to all aspects of MPC Software 2.0.
4 selectable inputs: 2 XLR / ¼” combo jacks with switchable phantom power, 2 instrument level; ¼” jacks, turntable RCA input with ground peg.
8 outputs: balanced ¼” jack.
Dual ¼” and 1/8” headphone outputs.
2 full-size MIDI inputs, 4 full-size MIDI Outputs.
8 configurable CV/Gate outputs enabling the analogue control of modular gear, such as classic synths.
16GB of on-board storage (over 10GB of premium sound content included from leading sound designers including CR2, TOOLROOM, Loopmasters, Capsun Pro Audio, and more.
User-expandable 2.5” SATA drive connector (SSD or HDD).
2 USB-A 3.0 slots for thumb drives or MIDI controllers.
SD Card slot for loading samples and projects.

MPC X will ship with an MSRP of £1449.99 GBP and will be available Q1 2017.

The new MPC Live takes the MPC Touch and adds standalone functionality and a revised feature set empowering musicians, producers and DJs with MPCs unrivalled workflow and reimagined performance capability.

At the heart of the new MPC Live is a beautiful, full-colour 7-inch multi-touch screen, 16 amazingly responsive, velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB pads, four touch-capacitive Q-Link controls and a large, clickable master encoder knob. Featuring multicore processing technology, 2GB of RAM and an expandable 16GB of on-board storage, Live is as powerful as any MPC that has preceded it. Thanks to a ultra-portable lightweight footprint (5.5 lbs) and battery powered operation via the internal, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, MPC Live provides an unleashed creative experience honed for expressive live performances and immersive, self-contained production – launch clips with real-time time-stretching; sample, grab, pinch & edit waveforms; program the step sequencer; record, sequence & edit audio/MIDI live; apply XY FX in real-time, and much more directly from MPC Live’s gesture controlled capacitive color screen.
With the MPC Live, seamless integration into production and live performance scenarios is a breeze thanks to a range of conveniently-located studio-grade inputs and outputs. A 2-in/2-out MIDI interface connects to controllers and MIDI compatible sound modules, drum machines and synthesizers – the perfect solution for unprecedented control of outboard equipment using MPCs unrivalled MIDI sequencing capability. Combining two selectable audio inputs (RCA and balanced ¼-ich jack), plus 6 configurable ¼-inch jack outputs, MPC Live connects to virtually all studio and live equipment providing core recording, monitoring and playback functionality.

MPC Live features

Standalone MPC – no computer required – natively powered by MPC Software 2.0.
7-inch full-colour multi-touch display.
Also acts as a control surface for MPC 2.0 software, compatible with Mac & PC.
Internal, rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Selectable inputs: Turntable (RCA) with ground peg and stereo balanced ¼-inch jack.
6 configurable ¼” balanced jack outputs.
1/8” headphone outputs.
2 pairs of full-size MIDI inputs and outputs.
16GB of on-board storage (over 10GB of premium sound content included from leading sound designers including CR2, TOOLROOM, Loopmasters, Capsun Pro Audio, and more).
User-expandable 2.5” SATA drive connector (SSD or HDD).
2 USB-A 3.0 slots for thumb drives or MIDI controllers.
SD Card slot for loading samples and projects.

MPC Live will also be available in Q1 2017, shipping with an MSRP of £799.99 GBP.

Akai Pro is showing its MPC 2.0 at Winter NAMM.

Compatible with Mac and PC, MPC 2.0 works either alone as your main DAW or integrates seamlessly with your current DAW as a VST or AU plug-in. It’s available with Akai Professional’s MPC X, MPC Live, MPC Touch and MPC Studio Black.

Reimagined GUI:
MPC 2.0’s redesigned GUI offers a vastly improved creative experience that enhances MPC’s revered workflow. Combining a reimagined mixer layout outfitted with resizable faders, an adaptive channel strip, a dedicated audio track editing window, resizable waveform view and much more, MPC 2.0 presents the ultimate platform for unrestricted creative versatility alongside must-have tools that deliver unprecedented surgical control.
Audio Tracks:
Capture, edit and mix up to 8 studio-grade resolution audio tracks in standalone mode (MPC X and MPC Live), or expand your track limit to an immense 128 tracks in controller mode. Furnished with critical audio recording functionality – including multi-track capture, selectable monitoring options (Off, On & Auto), monitoring via effects, Punch In/Out Recording and Record Start options – MPC 2.0 empowers producers, musicians and performers with core audio-capture and the convenience of fullfeatured standalone operation.
Edit, Mix, Create:
Used in conjunction with an Akai Professional MPC unit, performers and producers will find that MPC 2.0 will Edit, Mix and Create in a manner unmatched by any other production software. There is a comprehensive suite of audio editing tools: Pointer, Eraser, Audition, Scissors, Fade In, Fade Out, Reverse, Mute, Pitch Adjust and BPM Adjust. For mixing, users can automate any effect, instrument or mixer parameter. With its advanced signal routing capability—submixes, FX returns, multi-output plugin support (up to 16 stereo outputs) and more—there is virtually no limit to the versatility on tap for the artist.
Manipulate Tempo or Pitch:
With MPC 2.0, total-command of user’s audio is possible courtesy of a new real-time time-stretching and pitch shifting algorithm. Change the duration of any audio region, drum/keygroup sample or clip to match the tempo of your project with MPC Software’s real-time time-stretching; or, use real-time highquality pitch shifting to change the pitch of any audio region, drum/keygroup sample or clip for creative manipulation or to change the key of the source material. MPC 2.0 makes it easy to manipulate the time and pitch of any source material: a chopped vocal in an audio track, a drum loop in a clip program or an orchestral phrase loaded into a chromatic sampler program.
Perform:
For performers, MPC 2.0 brings their presentation to the next level. MPC Software’s XYFX and a Phrase Looper now combines with an all-new Clip Program mode powered by MPC’s real-time warping algorithm, providing users with an intuitive clip launch workflow and the ultimate platform for creative versatility. Features like Enhanced Q-Link functionality for precision control mapping of MPCs editable functions and selectable hardware outputs providing seamless assimilation into multiple usage scenarios make MPC 2.0 a powerful creative tool.
Versatility:
MPC 2.0 is versatile and adaptable as well. It supports WAV, MP3, AIFF, REX and SND, as well as supporting samples and sequences from any MPC ever made. There is full 64-bit support in all versions: standalone, VST, AAX and AU.

MPC 2.0 is bundled with Akai Professional MPC hardware, and is available in Q1 2017. It will be available separately as an update for existing MPC customers at a later date, price TBD.

More information: Akai Professional