Akai Professional MPC Live II – Battery Powered Drum Machine, Sampler and Beat Maker With Speakers, Drum Pads, Synth Engines, Touch Display, and Native Instruments Integration

I came from rack-mount samplers. So the MPC is a steep initial learning curve if you’re new to pads, like me. But learning is made easier because it's an instrument that you will want to pick up and use. It’s tactile. There is a gorgeous rubberised coating across the top of the MPC, which means it’s not cold to the touch. Great design. The speaker is good too, with excellent punch. The benefit of this instrument is it’s very flexible. Can be part of a small studio set-up, can match with a DAW, can stand alone, can be used as a sketch pad or for serious work, and if you’re a working producer it can travel with you. It’s got heft, but still portable. When you buy one, just one tip for the impatient user: closely follow the battery charging protocol for first use and give it a long life. Read the basic instructions. Then get MPC Bible if you need (and wait till MPC3 software version if you can hold on). I would ideally like to see Roger Linn's signature on MPCs - even if it’s just for Special Editions - and his contribution. His name not being on the front plate is the one thing that disappoints at this price point. But in every other way, it’s well designed and made. I have no buyer's remorse, and would recommend this instrument from Akai.

Am still getting to grips with fully how to use, but it's such a great versatile machine. The sounds are great, it's pretty easy to get started, portable as you can run off batteries, and the built-in speakers are pretty good. Lots of Expansion possibilities, Buy it, you won't be disappointed

Excellent machine sounds fantastic and built like a tank.

I got lots of errors on my unit, looks new but couldn't use it since it throw errors and freeze. I've tried to update the firmware but it made it worse. Worst experience and completely waste of my time...

It's impossible to tell you how good this product is. Akai are amazing and the price is bang on. Just the best thing I've ever bought.

The device was easy to use as a standalone. While connecting yo my PCs and Laptops I had a problem. Then I sent can email to AKAI and within a few messages and days I got the Device working. Now I can control the MPC Beats software within my DAW and MPC Beats as a standalone.

Excellent build, clear, bright screen, nice buttons. Software installation on pc etc with licensing add ons and different files for pc and standalone and adding internal drive and getting the right disk format etc is all a bit complex Overall a nice bit of kit with great audio processing power

Not sure why I didn’t get on of these before

Just hit it, Yeah Give it to you Just feel it Now or never pick it up Wow wow

Pros: Se siente pesado, de calidad Muchas salidas y entradas Los botones y perillas de buena calidad La pantalla de 7” mas que buena Las bocinas son buenas, más no excelentes La portabilidad y duración de batería es buena Cons: Problemas con los PADS hacen double o triple trigger, aún cuando ya se había optado por diferentes configuraciones de sensibilidad, threshold y curva del pad, ni la mas alta sirvió para mitigar el problema Caro Los botones ya no dan ese sentimiento de click como otros MPC Workflow sumamente complicado, aún viniendo de otro MPC como el 509 La UI/UX es fea, optaron por usar Java con ese color negro, rojo y verde Stems no son stand-alone, se tienen que comprar por aparte e instalarlos por una computadora a través del software de MPC Conclusión: Si piensas en comprarte este, mejor ahórrate dinero y opta por el MPC One o One Plus. Hay otras opciones como el Elektron o Roland SP 404 MK2. En mi caso termine haciendo devolución por el problema con los PADS, era insostenible un workflow con este problema.

買うのを何年も迷っていましたが、買って良かったです。 音楽製作の基礎知識がゼロからスタートする人は、最初は根気が必要です。

I had my eye on this for months and was undecided between the MPC One or the Live 2, and I definitely made the right decision. What are the main differences? The Akai MPC One and MPC Live 2 are both standalone music production centers, but they have several differences in terms of features, functionality, and design. Here are the key differences: Size and Portability: MPC One: More compact and lightweight, making it easier to transport. MPC Live 2: Slightly larger and heavier due to additional features, but still portable. Built-in Battery: MPC One: Does not have a built-in battery, requiring an external power source. MPC Live 2: Includes a built-in rechargeable battery, offering greater mobility and the ability to produce music on the go without needing to plug in. Speaker System: MPC One: No built-in speakers. MPC Live 2: Features built-in stereo monitors, allowing for immediate playback without external speakers or headphones. Inputs and Outputs: MPC One: 2 MIDI In, 2 MIDI Out ports 4 CV/Gate outputs 1/4” stereo line-level inputs and outputs 1/8” headphone output MPC Live 2: 2 MIDI In, 2 MIDI Out ports 4 CV/Gate outputs 1/4” stereo line-level inputs and outputs 1/8” and 1/4” headphone outputs Additional RCA inputs with a ground peg Storage: MPC One: Comes with 4GB onboard storage, expandable via an SD card slot and USB drive. MPC Live 2: Also has 4GB onboard storage but includes a built-in SATA drive bay for internal SSD or HDD installation, alongside SD card and USB drive support. User Interface: Both have a 7” multi-touch display and similar software environments, but the MPC Live 2's larger size makes it a bit more comfortable for extended use. Pads and Controls: Both have 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads and a similar layout of knobs and buttons, although the positioning of some controls might differ due to the size difference. Price: MPC One: Generally less expensive, making it a more budget-friendly option. MPC Live 2: Higher price due to additional features like the built-in battery, speakers, and more flexible connectivity options. These differences make the MPC Live 2 a more versatile and feature-rich option, ideal for those who need portability without sacrificing functionality, while the MPC One offers a more streamlined and affordable solution for music production.

This device does everything. It can be a portable DAW that can control and record your entire studio, or it can do it all itself. It has full song making capabilities where you can create midi sequences or audio loops and that can be saved as songs. You can create entire drum kits for the pads (or use the hundreds already included for free!) and make your own beats and sample your old records or songs from an ipod through it's inputs. You can fill it full of your own samples if you want, and even warp them into stepped synths or slow and time warp them. It recognizes every MIDI USB device I plug into it instantly AND it can power those MIDI USB devices from its own powered USB ports. Even when it's running on it's own batteries! No joke, you can chain as many USB powered devices and you want on this thing and the battery will power them all (At the cost of runtime!). Got a keystep? Plug it into the USB and it just works. The speakers are actually really nice and the battery life is about 6 hours on the dot. The overall feel is it's quite heavy and solid. It's all metal and it shows. The touch screen is actually very cool and you can do most everything via button combos as well. For inputting music, it's really geared for beats and samples above all else. The standard step sequencer is nice and easy to use and you'll have drum loops going easy. The grid mode/key roll is a bit harder to use. It's where the touch based screen isn't as precise, so if you want to put a C# note on step 6 you'll likely place it on D and have to select and move it down. It's easier to simply live record your melodies. If you want to do ARPs and such, it has all that built in. It has hundreds of different modes and you select your scale (like major, minor, pentatonic, etc) and then if you want to play chord (It has 64 sound polyphony) arps or single note arps. It has about 50+ built in FX like reverb, compressor, ducker, chorus, etc. It really can do everything. Plus it can sit on your lap on the couch. For what you get, the cost is amazingly cheap, IMO. There is a reason so many people are picking these newer MPCs up like crazy.