Akai’s standalone MPC Live becomes a full-blown keyboard workstation. Martin Delaney asks how well it scales up
CONTACT WHO: Akai Professional WEB: www.akaipro.com KEY FEATURES I/O: 61 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch. 16 MPC style velocity-sensitive pads. Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and WiFi. 7” colour touch display. Physical connections for audio, MIDI, CV/Gate, ethernet, and USB. New software instruments, full onboard sampling and sequencing capabilities. Onboard audio effects from Akai and AIR Music Technology
Akai released their MPC Live hardware sampler/synth back in 2017 – complete with 7” touch display, 16 MPC-style pads, instruments, and battery power, and in 2020, the MPC Live II added onboard speakers. The MPC range – the Live I and II, MPC X, MPC Studio, MPC Touch, and MPC One, interacts with Akai’s MPC 2 production software. Akai have embedded the same software and functionality in different forms, which makes sense from a development point of view – in fact they share the same manual. Now, 2022 introduces the MPC Key 61.
Like all MPCs, the Key 61 is a sampler using the provided instruments, or building custom instruments based on sample key groups. It can play sequenced patterns and complete songs. The keys, pads, and other controls add a tactile element.
The box contains the MPC Key 61, a mains power cable, a USB cable, printed quick start guide, and software download and registration info. It’s considerably larger than other MPCs and you’ll need a case or bag. Like any workstation these days, the 7” touch display is at the heart of the user interface. Physical controls include pitch and mod wheels, a touch strip, 16 pads (hey, it’s an MPC), five knobs and an assortment of buttons, including pleasantly chunky transport controls. The rear panel features, from left to right, expression, foot switch, and sustain pedal inputs, MIDI Thru/Out/ In DIN connectors, eight CV/gate outputs for connecting analogue gear, two mic/line inputs with gain controls and 48v switches, four 1/4” outputs, 1/4” headphones out, two USB-2 ports, one USB-3 port, ethernet network connection and mains power button.
The semi-weighted keyboard is equally comfortable for playing synth parts or more traditional piano-style performances, and the pads are the classic reliable MPC style.
