Akai Professional has announced MPC 2.8, a new update for its current MPC hardware / software ecosystem.
MPC 2.8 introduces a variety of new MIDI capabilities, letting you use the MPC X, MPC Live and MPC One as the sequencing ‘brain’ of your MIDI studio.
Here’s what’s new:
- MIDI Multi Capability – With MPC 2.8, you can simultaneously connect and route all the MIDI gear in your studio, including class-compliant USB Keyboards, MIDI interfaces and USB to CV modules. Fuse this with deep internal MIDI routing capability across tracks, comprehensive MIDI routing to any MIDI compatible synthesizer, drum machine or sound module, and even multitrack recording capability, and MPC 2.8 can be the center of complex production and performance setups.
- Timing Correct (TC) has now been tweaked to have a dedicated On/Off setting that is separate to the TC division parameter.
- From the standalone MPC firmware, you can now create a custom note mapping for any program type.
Pricing and Availability:
MPC 2.8 will be available on May 14th as a free update of MPC 2.0 users. See the Akai Pro site for details.
OK Akai, now you have my attention. This might just be enough to convince me…
Now i feel like the akai force will soon get that song/arrangement mode at some point in its lifetime. Even if its as simple as launching rows sequentially. Be nice to get it down to clips and rows but ill take what i can get so i can sequence a full track in the box and stay away from ableton.
Wow the first ” we want song mode for akai force” comment, finally! thx bro
I’m always on duty like Inspector Gadget,.
> i feel like the akai force will soon get that
> song/arrangement mode at some point
the update you mentioned is already available for everyone – not just the beta testers:
Free download:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KMlLEhPclqFf_pp5mQimp7n0AvGFWCtZ/view
Imagine 16 tracks of midi like the old cubase on this screen. Being able to cut and paste in an arrangement page would be a dream come true.
Huge update. Obviously the MIDI-multi thing is the biggest feature, but the small things really help, like the ability to change tracks from anywhere inside the UI!
How can I change track from anywhere? Is there any shortcut for that?
Watch the video. This new is comes May 14.
Love the look of the 2.8 Update. Can’t wait for the 14th.
Finally use of USB as opposed to traditional DIN MIDI. We should use more of this, including MIDI 2.0.
A superb update! One thing that could be a hazard going all in with a USB hub though is, if you are connecting several USB devices which also output audio, there is a risk of running into USB ground loop issues.
Up next, 3 new instrument plugins, force arrange mode and a new mk II version of MPC live
Akai is on a roll
Indeed a superb update. USB midi to add more midi outputs with a small interface looks great.
Do you happen to know about the 3 upcoming plugins ? I’m having a hard time finding info about this via a Google search.
cpu might be a problem. their arm cortex a1 processor is way too old now. quadcore, yes, but only 1,8 ghz.
Woa. This is an epic update for MIDI nerds. Respect for naming this 2.8. I absolutely would have called it 3.0 and taken a vacation.
See, now I expect the USB port to be able to address multi-channel audio devices for the 3.0. Sorry, Akai. 🙂