This thing looks super cool! Out of my current budget, but they're (screenless) USB pad os on my list for later this year.

Akia is an interesting company in the way they're able to keep adding useful things to a classic product/design archetiecture, while staying true to the original quality level. It's rare you can have a product like the MPC and make any change to it without immediate elitism/snobbery.

As a quit rant- I'm noticing more and more interfaces and devices recording natively. I wonder how far away we are from true dedicated audio machines, rather than universal desktop type things. Maybe closer than I thought.

my thoughts as well.

This is what Akai should have done years already. Its about time I say. I want this .

What do you use the CV outs for?

This MPC is awesome.

I wouldn't doubt is mixing consoles start including their own DAW.

audiokid, post: 450102, member: 1 wrote: What do you use the CV outs for?

From wikki:

CV/gate (an abbreviation of control voltage/gate) is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The control voltage typically controls pitch and the gate signal controls note on-off.

This method was widely used in the epoch of analog modular synthesizers and CV/Gate music sequencers, since the introduction of the Roland MC-8 Microcomposer in 1977 through to the 1980s,[1] when it was eventually superseded by the MIDI protocol (introduced in 1983), which is more feature-rich, easier to configure reliably, and more readily supports polyphony.[2] The advent of digital synthesizersalso made it possible to store and retrieve voice "patches" - eliminating patch cables[3] and (for the most part) control voltages.[4] However, numerous companies – including Doepfer, who designed a modular system for Kraftwerk in 1992[5] Buchla, MOTM, Analogue Systems, and others continue to manufacture modular synthesizers that are increasingly popular and rely primarily on analog CV/gate signals for communication. Additionally, some recent non-modular synthesizers (such as the Alesis Andromeda) and many effects devices (including the Moogerfooger pedals by Moog as well as many guitar oriented devices) include CV/gate connectivity. Many modern studios use a hybrid of MIDI and CV/gate to allow synchronization of older and newer equipment.

Basic usageEdit
In early modular synthesizers, each synthesizer component (e.g., low frequency oscillation(LFO), voltage controlled filter (VCF), etc.) can be connected to another component by means of a patch cable that transmits voltage. Changes in that voltage cause changes to one or more parameters of the component. This frequently involved a keyboard transmitting two types of data (CV and gate), or control modules such as LFOs and envelope generators transmitting CV data:

Hey thanks, Kyle. I understand what CV is about but I'm more wondering how they interact the MPC CV outs with hardware. I found this video which explains a bit more. 7 min

I think I'm getting this soon for my tablet setup. The Scarlett's on sale, and the Alesis came out w a MK2 of the elevate 5 speakers, so the originals are 100 instead of $150.

This looks like a nice little midi drum pad controller for bashing drum beats in the park or wherever. Bus powered. The actual rubber pads got some love in SOS. I'll try to drool on this while looking at the real deal mpc!

http://www.akaipro.com/product/mpd218

audiokid, post: 450106, member: 1 wrote: Hey thanks, Kyle. I understand what CV is about but I'm more wondering how they interact the MPC CV outs with hardware. I found this video which explains a bit more. 7 min

That's pretty sweet I gotta say man. Lol, every time they do and overhead shot, I can't help but think of those grey Roland "V-Studio" digital multitracks from the late 90's.

Okay, I'm thinking hardware as in "gear" but the CV likely needs a CV input on an external keyboard of some kind. Whats confusing to me is I thought midi basically did what these guys are doing.

Are you following how the CV is working Kyle?

audiokid, post: 450109, member: 1 wrote: Okay, I'm thinking hardware as in "gear" but the CV likely needs a CV input on an external keyboard of some kind. Whats confusing to me is I thought midi basically did what these guys are doing.

Are you following how the CV is working Kyle?

Sort of. The way I (mis) understand it is it's basically midis analog predecessor. So it basically does do the same thing.

The analog and modular synth nuts don't necessarily want midi (i.e. Digital) in their paths, which has kept cv relavant.

It's the closest thing your have to recall or automation for modular synths parameters as far as I know. You have to still set the analog section manually.

Not all keyboards and synths have the CV input.

I'm still not really proficient in this side of things.

kmetal, post: 450110, member: 37533 wrote: The analog and modular synth nuts don't necessarily want midi (i.e. Digital) in their paths, which has kept cv relavant.

That makes sense. Thanks.

Well, I'm buying this and selling my Akai MPC Renaissance

Standalone Bit Depth and Sample Rate is : 16 or 24 Bit at 44.1.
Controller mode is : 16 or 24 Bit and 44.1 up to 96k .

Back of the MPC X

Here are the FAQ on the MPC X
http://www.akaipro.com/products/mpc-series/mpc-x

kmetal, post: 450110, member: 37533 wrote: Sort of. The way I (mis) understand it is it's basically midis analog predecessor. So it basically does do the same thing.

The analog and modular synth nuts don't necessarily want midi (i.e. Digital) in their paths, which has kept cv relavant.

It's the closest thing your have to recall or automation for modular synths parameters as far as I know. You have to still set the analog section manually.

Not all keyboards and synths have the CV input.

I'm still not really proficient in this side of things.

Just found this:

What is a CV/Gate output used for?
CV/Gate signals are similar to a standard MIDI connection in that they are responsible for transferring pitch and sequence timing data to other gear, usually modular synths or sequencers. Unlike MIDI, CV and Gate signals use simple voltages in varying ranges and lengths to control the other devices which open a lot of possibilities for implementation. For example, modular synths will often have a CV Pitch input (deciding the pitch of the synth at any given point), but they may also have filter input to control the filter instead. The gate would tell the synth when and how long to play a note, again just like the regions in a MIDI sequence.

audiokid, post: 450123, member: 1 wrote: Well, I'm buying this and selling my Akai MPC Renaissance

Oh yeaaaaaa!! That's exciting stuff man! Even though it's made for it, I'd have a hard time hitting/tapping something that's $2.5k.

I also think there's some merit to the way the sample soind thru the machine vs in a vsti. I'm
Not sure if it's a hardware/conversion thing, a synthesis playback engine thing, or a combo, but the samples/sounds from the actual hardware units seem have more ummph, even if it's the same companies samples.

I've heard this on the eleven rack vs pluggin demo on the you tube as well.

I love that akia is making real instruments, tht just happen to be electronic.

Are you intending on using the daw / interfacing functions?

Why are you replacing the renneisaance? JW

kmetal, post: 450155, member: 37533 wrote: Oh yeaaaaaa!! That's exciting stuff man! Even though it's made for it, I'd have a hard time hitting/tapping something that's $2.5k.

Its not quite that much. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPCX

kmetal, post: 450155, member: 37533 wrote: Are you intending on using the daw / interfacing functions?

Both

kmetal, post: 450155, member: 37533 wrote: Why are you replacing the Renaissance? JW

I prefer stand alone. I did most of my best work on the MPC60. This should be like an MPC60, but better. I won't have to power up the entire studio as well.
To me, this is my core to a production system. I've been waiting 20 years for this to happen.

audiokid, post: 450156, member: 1 wrote: Its not quite that much. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPCX

Both

I prefer stand alone. I did most of my best work on the MPC60. This should be like an MPC60, but better. I won't have to power up the entire studio as well.
To me, this is my core to a production system. I've been waiting 20 years for this to happen.

That's friggin awsome man! It doesn't look like it's gonna dissapoint.

Just got off the phone w my salesperson from sweetwater, apparently sweetwater was involved in the new akia pre production stuff. Flew a bunch of the guys out to demo the prototype. My salesperson said he was the one who suggested the battery, and they actually vaulted production for a year to make that and some other changes.

I thought that was interesting.

I bought the Akai MPC X and I'm glad I did.

This post is to inspire others on a budget and to prove we or at least I don't need a room full of gear to get good enough results tracking acoustic guitars and vocals. I'm not looking for a critique on my mixing, lyrics or voice. I simply want to share what this thing sounds like before any mixing starts. Its all straight in using its built in AD and a few mics. The AD's are excellent.

I'm thinking... This is all I need to make great demos.
NOTE: I'm 61, not trying to be a rock star. I've not played my guitar much in 20 years and haven't sung for that long as well. The MPCX is very easy to use. I was able to create this sound in my little house on an Akai MPC X.

A bit on my process:

Direct tracking to the MPC X - set volumes, added reverb, delay, exported it to mp3.

• 3 tracks of acoustic guitars (Taylor 914CE)

• synth bass
• 3 vocal tracks
• Akai MPCX drum programming
• string synth.

10 tracks., slight EQ, reverb, delay.

[MEDIA=audio]https://recording.o…

Attached files Girlfriend V10.mp3 (5.1 MB) 

right on Chris!(y)

Kurt Foster, post: 461391, member: 7836 wrote: right on Chris!(y)

Thanks Kurt. :)

Man the MPC seems awsome! Great to hear ya back at it Chris, glad you are diggin your new toy.

kmetal, post: 461395, member: 37533 wrote: Man the MPC seems awsome! Great to hear ya back at it Chris, glad you are diggin your new toy.

Thanks Kyle :) yes, it’s very cool. The monitoring section makes seamless overdubbing easy as well.

Note:
I never touched my computer once to make this demo. However I tried importing all the tracks into my DAW and couldn’t improve the mix at all.
In fact my DAW degraded the mix which left me scratching my head.

If Akai made a 16 track MPCX , I suspect I would never miss all the gear I’ve been accustomed to using for years.

audiokid, post: 461401, member: 1 wrote: I never touched my computer once to make this demo. However I tried importing all the tracks into my DAW and couldn’t improve the mix at all.
In fact my DAW degraded the mix which left me scratching my head.

If Akai made a 16 track MPCX , I suspect I would never miss all the gear I’ve been accustomed to using for years.

Im glad you've touched on this. Ive been developing a theory that the computer OS, and the daw having to conform to it, degrades audio by adding unecessary processing.

My thinking about this started in '07, when the modest mackie HDR standalone recorder jusy seemed to have a solidity to the sound vs dp. Ditto for the d8b digital mixer and dsp vs the motu and pluggins. Even summing digitally sending tracks from dp to the mackie (spdif) vs rendering inside the daw had a similar effect of solidity. Ive even noticed that ipad based recordings, and portable handleld recorders, seem to offer that solidity to the sound. Like more dense, fuller, dimensional. You can hear this on youtube demos of the avid eleven rack vs the avid eleven pluggin, which have the same sounds built in.

I almost commented this when i first heard your demo, but i was hestiant to sidetrack the convo.

If you think about it the mpcx uses computer type hardware components so its not digital hardware thats the issue, my theory is based on the OS, which is bare bones and custom for standalone devices. Perhaps better clocking? Maybe its the connection protocal to the computer, the USB, TB, ect. Thats also absent in the standalones.

It could be interesting, if the mpcx and mpc software i have, have any of the exact same samples, to render them on the mpcx and the computer, and see if they null, and sound the same.

I couldnt help but think about how much more advanced the mpcx is vs the old cassette based portastudios.

kmetal, post: 461403, member: 37533 wrote: Im glad you've touched on this. Ive been developing a theory that the computer OS, and the daw having to conform to it, degrades audio by adding unecessary processing.

My thinking about this started in '07, when the modest mackie HDR standalone recorder jusy seemed to have a solidity to the sound vs dp. Ditto for the d8b digital mixer and dsp vs the motu and pluggins. Even summing digitally sending tracks from dp to the mackie (spdif) vs rendering inside the daw had a similar effect of solidity. Ive even noticed that ipad based recordings, and portable handleld recorders, seem to offer that solidity to the sound. Like more dense, fuller, dimensional. You can hear this on youtube demos of the avid eleven rack vs the avid eleven pluggin, which have the same sounds built in.

I almost commented this when i first heard your demo, but i was hestiant to sidetrack the convo.

If you think about it the mpcx uses computer type hardware components so its not digital hardware thats the issue, my theory is based on the OS, which is bare bones and custom for standalone devices. Perhaps better clocking? Maybe its the connection protocal to the computer, the USB, TB, ect. Thats also absent in the standalones.

It could be interesting, if the mpcx and mpc software i have, have any of the exact same samples, to render them on the mpcx and the computer, and see if they null, and sound the same.

I couldnt help but think about how much more advanced the mpcx is vs the old cassette based portastudios.

Interesting points, Kyle.
Ironically I only bought the MPC X for drum programming then two days after I had it home I was dazzled on how well tracks sat in the mix and how easy it was to use in comparison to all the DAW’s I’ve used in the last 20 years.

I forced myself to not get turned off by it’s very basic control panel and plugins. As I was tracking this song I kept thinking... I can’t wait to hear how great I will make it sound once I import it into Samplitude.

What’s most impressive is how easy it is to lay down drums, that imho sound good enough and then get instantly inspired to start making up music without all the fuss.

I tried a few mic’s and was astonished how well it accepted my Soundelux e250 for Vox and a DPA acoustic SDC for the guitars. By the way... I can’t rave enough about the DPA. It was super easy to find the tones I wanted with it.

I’ve looked all over the web to find something that was used to track acoustic stuff like I did and there is nothing out there. The MPC x still seems to be stereo typed for hip hop etc yet it’s very friendly for musicians.

It’s portable and ready to get you tracking the moment you plug it in.

This is the DPA mic I used for guitars. I like it because you can move around which is a big part of how I enjoy playing. The MPC X liked it.

4099G

https://www.dpamicrophones.com/mic-university/how-to-mic-an-acoustic-guitar

audiokid, post: 461404, member: 1 wrote: What’s most impressive is how easy it is to lay down drums, that imho sound good enough and then get instantly inspired to start making up music without all the fuss.

The ability to be recording before you forget the beat or riff is priceless!

audiokid, post: 461404, member: 1 wrote: I tried a few mic’s and was astonished how well it accepted my Soundelux e250 for Vox and a DPA acoustic SDC for the guitars. By the way... I can’t rave enough about the DPA. It was super easy to find the tones I wanted with it.

Both those mics look very cool. Ive never used a mic like the 4099g, it sounds good on your track. Not having bulky stands, and having consistant mic positioning while moving around is cool.

audiokid, post: 461404, member: 1 wrote: The MPC x still seems to be stereo typed for hip hop etc yet it’s very friendly for musicians.

Yeah man, this seems like the perfect setup for any songwriter. Its interesting how fast you can get going when inspiration strikes.