Today Akai Pro announced the latest addition to their MPC controller line with the introduction of the MPC Element, along with its new software platform, MPC Essentials.
With a slim profile and surface dimensions similar to many tablet computers, the new MPC Element is the most portable MPC to date, and is being touted as the “most affordable” with a suggested retail price of $149.99 USD.
Akai Pro MPC Element Features:
The new MPC Element includes, um, popular elements from previous MPC models, including “classic” MPC Note Repeat, Swing, Full Level, 16 Level, and Tap Tempo technologies. In addition, like its predecessors MPC Renaissance and MPC Studio, MPC Element pads are multicolored as well as pressure- and velocity-sensitive.
MPC Element Hardware
- 16 backlit, multicolor pads with pressure and velocity sensitivity
- MPC Note Repeat, Full Level, 16 Level, and Tap Tempo
- Includes MPC Essentials software (download), 1GB sound library, up to 8 pad banks
- Slim, low-profile design with integrated cover to protect control surface
- USB-powered, no power adapter required, USB cable included
- Compact design – 14mm thick – fits easily into a laptop bag
- Brushed aluminum control surface with bright back-lit buttons
- Standard MIDI for use with most popular software
- 1/8-inch (3.5mm) MIDI input, 1/8-inch MIDI output, cables included
MPC Essentials Software
- 32- and 64-bit music production capability
- Works as a stand-alone device, no DAW required, with MPC Element for seamless music creation
- Also works with your current music software (DAW) as a VST, RTAS, or AU plugin
- Run virtually unlimited instances in your DAW simultaneously
- 1GB sound library with “all the essential sounds of modern music production”
- Import your WAV and AIFF sound samples and assign them to any pad
- Up to 8 pad banks (assign up to 128 pads), 4 samples and 4 insert effects per pad
- Hosts VST plugins and automatically maps controls
- Export to WAV and AIFF
Pricing and Availability. Akai Pro’s MPC Element will be commercially available beginning in October for $149.99 USD. For more information and technical specifications for the MPC Element, check out the Akai Pro website.
more garbage from alai…. u suck!
i recommend typing more slowly while hating, so as to avoid typos
if this product/pads is quality like i expect it to be i think this is a great thing for broke producers to add mpc style workflow to their studio..why hate??
Wow, Akai is giving Korg a run for its money and then some here. Its the perfect solution to my comments on the new STIX app, concerning using an actual iPad as a drumming surface. Here’s an elegant way to address it. If you are into mini-gear, this thing and one of their $99 8-pad sample players could be powerful, especially for custom sampling tricks. I’m impressed. What next, USB-rechargable phasers??
can´t believe you equate korg with akai. one is reviving the analog market and the other is selling branded garbage. you do realize this thing is usb powered as in no more lithium battery?
severely sceptical it will draw enough power from the ipads.
also you need to do some research how the fly worked with bm2 and other apps.
tip: not good.
>> can´t believe you equate korg with akai. one is reviving the analog market and the other is selling branded garbage. you do realize this thing is usb powered as in no more lithium battery?
Isn’t “garbage” relative to what you need and who comes the closest to meeting it? I’ve never used a single piece of gear that didn’t make me adapt to its quirks, because there are always a few. Its part of the fun. Some people will just play Mad Synth Scientist at home; others will want to travel. You have to check the specs and do the math surrounding your goals. Until we have gluon batteries that last for 25 years at full drain, YMMV. I use a NanoPad to play some things into Logic, so I’m looking at it from a weird angle, admittedly.
Akai’s last two offerings aren’t ground-breaking, but they ARE damned clever. Also, some people will want to step up to a heftier hardware MPC. Its not happening blindly; its aimed at two parts of the market at once.
>> severely sceptical it will draw enough power from the ipads.
Yeah, that’s why I asked. Even on a decent iMac, I have to make a few small operating compromises here and there, like track freezing. If your pad is used at home most of the time, USB current is an easy issue to address with a hub. If you’re on the go, you either have to travel light or haul a Batman utility belt of support gadgets. This circus won’t even stop when they can bolt the gear onto you bionically, because the port site will itch and then the company will sell you a cream for the itch.
I’m glad to see they included real MIDI I/O in addition to USB MIDI. That makes it a good choice for everybody who needs an additional pads controller. I hope the pads are of good quality, though.
This is a repackaging of the long delayed, poorly implemented (from a software perspective) MPC Fly. The Fly took nearly 2 years to be released and was crippled by the fact that Akai designed it so that it would only work with the iMPC app. No one wants to use a controller that only works with one app. on a device loaded with dozens of great music apps.
Hopefully they learned their lesson and will make this controller more open and update the iMPC app. to include Audiobus, the universal standard.
With Retronyms doing the coding and iMPC’s being hosted in their Tabletop app I guarantee you will never see Audiiobus ever. iMPC will remain the limited thing it is now.
Beyond funny. actually a repugnant move to move them all mpc flies.
but nothing now here for akai…
if you are interested into portable beat making just get the mpc1000 with jjos.
you will be amazed as i am each time i power it up.
Stop it Sebastian , i know its you
With Midi I/O & pressure sensitivity this sounds fun for controlling synths too.
,I have a MPC elements since a1 month,did not crash once,way better than Native instruments maschine,I can finally sequence my virus multitrack ,what was impossible with NI Maschine.This baby work just fine and control any synth!
I have the s950/mpc 60 combo
Will this work in 5 years let alone 20
Yeah, I’m looking into getting an MPC 2500 instead of Maschine because it will be an instrument for a long time (until it breaks), as opposed to a software-dependent controller that might be obsolete in a year.
Most probably only as a MIDI pad controller. From what I’ve read Akai have enough trouble updating their software now, so in 20 years time, probably unlikely.
MPC60 II / s950 / ASR-10 R combo here 😀
While I like the quneo better, this might work ok with iPads if you plug into a powered USB hub.
Yeah, there’s not way I’m getting one of these but… MIDI on 1/8in jacks!! \o/ I can only hope this becomes a thing with other equipment manufacturers!
@Brendan… Tascam made a iOS interface that has 1/8” MIDI. 30-pin only but they’re cheap as hell now.
Akai is desperately trying to hold on to that MPC legacy, imo. Just look at the names other products they’ve developed over the last 5 years – MPK, MPD, MPX, APC. I think instead the company should focus on providing industrial design and manufacturing support for software partners, like they did with the APC and Push for Ableton. Akai knows how to build hardware, but they really don’t know how to innovate well.
If its anything like the REN then ill just throw my money in the trash and be done with it. I’m sorry but being a MPC owner, Akai has just gone down hill. I would not take one if it was giving to me.
The price is tempting, i’ll stick with maschine though.
I have used Akais since 91, for sampling, S950 (upgraded memory yipee ) S2000 and now an MPC 2500.
Akai are for me the manufacturer of serious samplers for people making dance music vie the tried and testing hardware midi sequencing way.
I have just gigged with the MPC and the only criticism for me is the weight of the machine for travel .
If Akai made a sampler that had the ten outputs of the MPC 2500/5000 but without the sequencer etc that would be great . I sequence via cubase and can write extremely quick any drum patterns ,basslinesetc making the sequencer of no use.
I am very proud to be using Akais still and realistically for the criticism of the machines it is amusing that they continue to produce their machines, when marketing tells us , every man , woman and child is using Ipads etc. It is not the case. Hardware is alive and well , hardware synths are alive and well.
Keep at it Akai your products are great.
Your mistaking old akai with new akai. They are shit now.
I own a s1100, s612, s950, and mpc2000 and an apc. The old akai gear is fantastic and built so well.. but that was a different time and the market has changed. Akai need to team up with roger linn again and recreate the mpc60 with a ssd and jjos. And quality a/d converters.
They a destroying the mpc name. Its one of their biggest assets and they need to do it justice.
the MPC type software at a low price is intriguing and all, but it really looks like an MPD 18 with more buttons, for more money.Though half of my production kit is akai gear, I don’t entirely know if i’ll be staying in those waters
I bought an element, and now I want to smash it! Will it just work as a midi controller?
The hardware is great, the essentials software is the worst. It’s like a watered down version of a badly done buggy program. If it was paired with the regular version it might be better which they are compatible, but the included software is its downfall