From the advanced multi-engine plugin synthesis of Hype to a faithful plugin emulation of the legendary Mellotron Tape Synth keyboard, MPC2 delivers a wide palette of sonic textures with its MPC plugin instruments for powerful music composition. Updated Project Saving: XYFX location and Arp parameters are now saved and recalled with the MPC project.

The MPC Key 61 has 4 audio outs, and 2 inputs which support line, mic and instrument level signals, but there’s no support for phono signals. This is probably less of a deal these days, as many turntables now feature a line out, or vinyl is often sampled indirectly via a DJ mixer which will always output at line level. The MPC 2.11 desktop software includes MIDI maps for popular Ableton, Arturia, Korg, M-Audio and Native Instruments controllers. The portability of the Live has been taken to another level as it weighs less than the original and boasts a built-in stereo monitoring system. Featuring a dual tweeter-woofer system, MPC Live II’s monitor is no slouch and can be used for anything from impromptu tabletop jams to a solid mixing platform. It’s a far cry from most built-in speakers that come included with hardware, with an impressive amount of depth and clarity. There’s also a switch on the rear if you want to turn them off and connect the Live II to external speakers. Powerful sound generators driven by completely new FM synthesis, analogue & physical modelling, and If you’re often carrying your MPC around, then portability is an important factor – the smaller and lighter the better, especially if the MPC can sneak its way into a laptop bag. Here, the MPC One Plus is the clear winner and at 2.1kg and 27cm wide it’s a similar weight and size as a 16″ MacBook Pro. The MPC Live II at 3.38kg and 41cm wide is probably still within the limit of being considered portable, although it’s nearly 0.7kg heavier than the original MPC Live.MPC Drum and Keygroup Engine Enhancements such as Akai Pro Sample Tail, Dedicated Pitch Envelope, and Keygroup Portamento MPC updates are usually released to introduce new features and fix any known bugs in the system. Updates to the MPC Software and MPC Firmware are often released in tandem so that both MPC software and firmware can be updated together. Akai Pro highly recommends keeping both MPC software and firmware updated and on matching versions, as long as it is supported by the computer OS. Creativity UnleashedCreate wherever and whenever you're feeling creative. Don't hang around waiting for that spark, empower yourself with everything you need to find inspiration wherever it is. Fusing a robust, road-tested and compact build with an on-board rechargeable 6-hour lithium-ION battery, MPC Live II Retro revolutionizes the create anywhere philosophy.

So in my opinion, the size of the internal disk is generally of little importance when making a buying decision, because you really should be using an ‘attached’ disk for all your file storage needs and just let the internal factory disk be reserved for storing factory content. Attached disks are fully accessible via your computer when you connect the MPC via USB cable, they simply appear as a removable disk in your computer’s Finder/Explorer. Striking the balance between ease of use and number of features is an ongoing struggle in the world of musical equipment. It's evident with the MPC Live II, however, that Akai are at the forefront of innovation.

MPC v2.11.6 Release Notes

From the Touch and Live onwards this generation of MPCs has been characterised by, if you'll excuse me, thinking outside the box. Nobody is doing anything comparable in the stand-alone space. But adding what amounts to a sound bar to the Live MkII? Have Akai lost the plot? I don't think so! Wifi and ethernet are currently used to activate premium plugins, OTA firmware updates, syncing files with your online Splice account, Ableton Link and Ableton Live Control.

Storage & ConnectivityOut the box MPC Live II Retro ships with 16GB of internal Micro SD storage. For producers looking to add a personal touch to their production, MPC Live II Retro features a built-in SD Card slot, a user-expandable 2.5-inch SATA drive bay for connecting SSD or HDD drives and USB thumb input for immediate access to your own sample libraries. The MPC Live II retains those lush full-size pads, with velocity and aftertouch response. They’re great for beats and for playing instruments. They also include RGB LEDs that show clip colours as required Selection boxIf you use it in studio with lots of midi devices, you can make it the brain for midi too, no need to buy stuff like Bome box or MRCC. ( of cuz they are great if you need one in your setup ). Get your update ready according to the instructions above and refer to the button combinations below. You will need to press and hold the designated button combination while powering on the MPC. Continue to hold the buttons until the MPC is fully powered on. With the option for battery operation and everything you need to create music contained within the Akai MPC Live 2, this music production centre allows you to create music whenever and wherever you want. Best ‘Beats on the go’ Option: With its internal battery and speakers the MPC Live II is definitely the most naturally suited to making music whenever the mood takes you, snd with its decent array of audio ports and flexible MIDI options it’s equally at home in the studio. If the MPC One Plus didn’t exist I’d be recommending the MPC Live II to everyone, but as it stands I just think that unless you really need those extra ports and are going to make good use of that internal battery, the MPC One edges it with its comparable features, ultra-portability and significantly lower price, and don’t forget it can be used with an external rechargeable battery if you really need that additional portability. You can connect your standalone MPC with your USB audio interface by navigating through the preferences menu and finding your sound card. You can also up to 32 inputs/outputs (but beware of the CPU usage!) New plugin Instruments

A big strength of the MPCs is their ability to directly host USB MIDI devices. Now you can connect and use USB MIDI interfaces, and also connect devices via a USB hub. I connected the Retrokits RK006 interface that I have on test, and boom: 10 new MIDI output ports on my MPC! The port manager lets you name ports, choose whether they output sync, and whether they are for notes or control, or both.An amazing array of plugin ranging from Drum synth, polyphonic VA, macro synth, E-piano, and some beautiful recreation of Odyssey, Mellotron and Solina. In addition to those free plugins, you have the option to acquire paid deep FM synth, Piano/Organ/Strings plugins, great sounding rompler and now a Mini D recreation (an MPC is the perfect GAS killer). AKAI just launched version 2.10 of the MPC firmware, their biggest update ever, with loads of new features and improvements! Let’s go through some of the amazing novelties you can enjoy with version 2.10. USB class audio support New Chord Progressions: MPC now contains five extra chord progressions that can be used in Pad Perform > Progressions mode. Akai have reworked drums and keygroups to ensure a smoother workflow. Now you can add tail to any audio file to avoid abrupt and unnatural endings. There’s a new randomisation section as well, to add subtle variations to your drum samples. If that wasn’t enough, Version 2.10 adds eight effects slots for your drum pads, including bitcrush, decimator, soft clipper and many more! Key Detection