Akai has introduced a new Electronic Wind Instrument, EWI USB. The $499.00 wind controller features a plug-and-play USB interface for use with the included Aria software with Garritan and Akai Professional samples as a sound source. Features: Electronic wind instrument controller Easy to play, easy to use, and easy to own Powerful, flexible, and reliable Plug-and-play USB… Read More Akai Introduces Inexpensive Electronic Wind Instrument
SCSIforSamplers now offers a SCSI card reader designed to replace the drives on vintage samplers. The MCDISK-2 is a solid-state Media Card drive that has no moving parts and makes no noise during operation. It comes in a small beige case that is 8.5″ x 6.75″ x 2.25″ and can be used in any orientation,… Read More Solid State Drives For Vintage Samplers
MPC-Samples.com has released the SFX Collective – a samplepack containing 405 weird and brooding sound effect samples and noises. Contents: Blips & Beeps: Weird and wonderful electronic noises & pulses Hits & Explosions: Thunderous, crashing atmospheres and textures Guns: Gun shots, rifles recoils, silencers and arming sounds Perverse Reverse: Great for building tension; disturbing and brooding reversed… Read More SFX Collective for Akai MPC Samplers
It looks like Akai is responding to the scorching criticism of it’s latest workstation, the Akai MPC 5000. Akai Professional has released new Operating System firmware for all its current MPCs, including the MPC5000, MPC2500, MPC1000 and MPC500. MPC5000 OS update Operating System version 1.02 for MPC5000 resolves 14 issues, most notably enabling producers to… Read More Akai Updates OS For MPC5000, MPC2500, MPC1000 and MPC500
Remember when Just Blaze ripped Akai a new one over the state of the MPC 5000? Here’s a different view, from a What’s the 413 TV Havoc & Alchemist interview. Good to see another viewpoint – but Blaze makes a pretty harsh case. via Crate Kings
Interesting look at the history and significance of the Akai MPC, with an emphasis on hip-hop, but it also looks at some experimental stuff. Current via Crate Kings
Thinking about getting a MIDI drum pad controller? DJ Tech Tools has a great smackdown between the Korg PadKontrol, the M-Audio Trigger Finger and the Akai MPD 24 They compared the MIDI drum pad controller 8 ways: features build quality ergonomics what’s in the box ease of MIDI configuration looks price mixing challenge The bottom… Read More What’s The Best MIDI Drum Pad Controller?
Need proof that you don’t need the latest and greatest gear to make electronic music? Just check out the funk on the Chemical Brothers live gear set up! Here’s the extreme gear porn close up to make things clear for you: Their Roland SH-101 looks beat up, with tape on the corners. Their Octave Cat… Read More The Chemical Brothers’ Gear Sure Is Beat Up
Don’t buy an Akai MPC5000 until you read this: hip-hop producer Just Blaze’s rant on the MPC Akai calls “the most advanced MPC on the planet.” “THIS THING IS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND SHOULD NOT BE!” says Blaze. “Some of the bugs in this thing are ATROCIOUS.” He goes on to detail a litany of bugs… Read More Don’t Buy An Akai MPC 5000 Until You Read This
Akai Professional has released updated firmware for the MPD24 USB/MIDI Pad Controller. Offering improved transport functionality, v1.09 is the second update to the original release of MPD24 firmware. A complete document of release notes is also available for review at www.AkaiPro.com. Owners can update their MPD24 firmware by selecting the Docs & Downloads section of… Read More Akai MPD24 Controller Gets Firmware Update
