Akai

banks to map your samples across. Of
course, you still have the
indispensable ‘note repeat’ feature for
quickly entering multiple events, and
also the 16-Levels function for
mapping sounds chromatically, by
level, fi lter, decay and more. The only
real downside to the X’s hardware is
lack of battery power. A rechargeable
battery here would have made the
MPC X fully self-contained like the
MPC Live. However, Akai tell us they
opted not to include one in order to
keep the unit’s cost, size and weight
down, which seems fair enough.
The MPC X is designed as a fully
self-contained solution both live and
in the studio – the idea is that it can
replace your DAW as the hub of your
setup. It can sequence samples
residing internally and sequence MIDI
hardware via the 2-in/4-out MIDI
interface (like hardware MPCs of old),
plus it now does audio warping, beat
matching and clip launching. You can
record external audio/instruments (at
16-/24-bit quality) directly to the SD
your own SDHC, internal SSD or an
external USB drive. Once the MPC X
is in controller mode and detected by
your computer, these drives will show
up on your desktop.
The tiltable, multi-gesture
10-inch touchscreen is a great size,
and works very smoothly. It’s very
fast and responsive, and anyone used
to using a tablet or smartphone will
feel at home very quickly; this helps
you get to grips with the deep
functionality pretty quickly. It also
features a multiposition stand which
snaps closed against the back of
the screen (so you can also use it
fl at), and when not in use, there’s
card or connected hard drive(s) via its
built-in 4-in/8-out audio interface (via
the great-sounding dual mic pres/line/
phono inputs), and the MPC X also fi res
CV/Gate out over its eight minijack outs.
You can also install your own SSD
drive into the large SATA bay on the
underside, or connect external drives
and peripherals to the 2 USB-A ports.
However, be aware that the MPC X’s
internal drive (which comes with
10GB of content) isn’t readible by
your computer. To move any of your
content created on the MPC X
between the hardware and MPC 2.0
(running within your DAW), you fi rst
need to save that content onto either
USES FOR MPC X
In the studio you can use MPC X instead of your DAW and audio/MIDI interface for
tracking and recording. Of course, you can still use it like an older hardware MPC for
sampling and internal/external sequencing (of MIDI hardware), but now you can also use it
as an eight-stereo-track hard disk recorder for capturing ideas quickly without switching on
your computer (which is very liberating)! You can then combine this audio recording
capability with your sampled beats, sequences and clips, whilst simultaneously triggering
external MIDI and CV/Gate-equipped instruments, all without even entering controller
mode! Once you’re happy, simply drop your audio and sequences into a song and arrange
and mix within the MPC,
then save your project to
any connected drive and
import into your DAW using
the MPC DAW VST/AU
plugin software for further
tweaking/refi ning/mixing.
Once you’ve mixed your
tune(s), you can then
export stems, or turn your
audio tracks into shorter
clips or samples for
triggering from the pads. If
you’re sick or wary of using
computers on stage, then
MPC X is a very viable
alternative which is easy to
travel with too.
THE ALTERNATIVES
Akai MPC Live
£999
MPC Live runs the
same software as
MPC X but has a
more stripped back
hardware interface
(smaller screen,
fewer Q-links and
more limited
connectivity). Battery
power is a big bonus!
www.akaipro.com
Elektron Analog
RYTM MKII £1499
The upcoming RYTM
MKII promises to be
a great machine with
several solid
improvements over
the MK1 including
better encoders,
bigger pads and
screen and improved
workfl ow, plus it now
samples too.
www.elektron.se
Pioneer Toraiz
SP-16 £1389
The SP-16 is a very
well-built machine
offering a great-
sounding sampler
paired with pads,
step sequencer,
eight outputs,
effects and Dave
Smith’s excellent
analogue fi lter.
www.pioneerdj.com
The MPC X is designed as a
fully self-contained solution
both live and in the studio
Reviews | Akai Professional MPC X
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