I bought an MPC Key 61 and it's amazing. I'm 60 so I've owned pretty much every piece of hard disk recording equipment and I now have the Key 61 and a Tascam Model 24 mixing console. These two pieces of equipment have replaced my 24 track studio. I have another Quiet PC rig with NI Komplete and Presonus Studio One and Dorico for score writing, but this is more for orchestral mock-ups. Great video BTW, thanks.
What a lovely video. Clear. Concise. Honest. Great presentation and voice. What a lovely video. Clear. Concise. Honest. Great presentation and voice. Hope very engaging, laid back and smooth. It's easy to watch and listen. You're very engaging, laid back and smooth. It's easy to watch and listen.
This was a much needed video. I think this should have Roland, Yamaha, Korg and others on high alert, for more than a century they have made what they advertise as workstations, but all lack a cohesive workflow. Seeing it side by side that Akai took all the known limitations and worked on them and made an improved workflow is interesting. Honestly I really hope that this causes them to change the whole ideology of what a workstation should be. Maybe we will start to see devices that are in alignment with the MPC.
Thanks for watching my friend! The new AKAI MPC 3 software is even more cohesive and it only looks to be getting better by the minute🤘🏻 hopefully Roland or Yamaha will strike back with something of their own! Cheers!
@@MidlifeSynthesist yes sir I’m hoping to see that as well. Roland stepped up the fantom os a bit but there’s way more work to do. Plus compute resources are ridiculously cheap and there’s really no excuses for why they can’t use off the shelf to develop. Akai is killing them with off the shelf and throwing it in a printed box.
Hello brother, I am the proud owner of a Juno X and a Push 2 controller and these are my work flow and they work super well. I do all percussions with the Push mostly and come up with some crazy cool FX to add to them tunes also and I go crazy for everything else on the Juno X, from bass to synth lines to solos, you name it, it really does it all for me. I love the option to be able to simply take my phone and load virtually any sound in a flash second right to the Juno X. It really works and helps with the workflow. You've got me wanting these 2 beast now also though mind ya lol. Happy thoughts and Happy days ahead to you my friend, thanks for making this video and sharing it. You rock!
FYI if you. Don’t know! On the Fantom create a 8 bar pattern…. Go to loop screen…set the end point and the start point…go to edit screen,piano roll, now you can edit the mesure/measures … with out it staring from the top each time.. hav3 fun🎉
I think people get hooked on the idea of having one machine to do all but the MPC is traditionally made to be the centre piece of a studio and has always been best for that and the fantom seems more geared for live musicians. A couple of quirky little synths hooked up to the MPC is a great setup. Great video by the way.
Hey there great video I would like to point out though about the re-recording the whole thing or to wait for the marker to reach the point where we want to correct the mistake. . . . there's a little workaround for the whole tedious process in a Fantom, one can go to loop settings and change the timelines there to have direct access to the parts with mistakes . . . which can be then corrected via the piano roll, after which the loop can be disabled thus avoiding to re-record the whole phrase. Writing this I hope that I didn't misunderstood anything xD.
I bought a MPC key 37 out of the blue, because it was cheap on a second hand store. i was like "oh neat, a nice little workstation, i can use it as a midi sequencer" and down the rabbit hole i went... I started goofing around, and immidiately fell in love with it. the workflow is so smooth, as a DAW user, adpatation was as easy as possible. the sound is amazing, its small, its lightweight, it runns of 12V so i can power it with a car battery and go wherever i want with it. due to my prior experiance with workstation keyboards being a Roland Fantom X8 from 2004 and a Roland MC505 from 1998, i thought the MPC experiance is the modern workstation, but you just showed me how superiour the mpc is. damn. Akai, well made guys
I'm really old school. Back in the day I used to have a Generalmusic workstation keyboard (now defunct Italian company) and it was way way better than working from a computer back then. Now though, I just don't see anything in these workstations that would take me away from my DAW. I still love my hardware but it all gets fed into my DAW.
I think it's amazing that these days a MIDI Controller keyboard or a groovebox is basically controller periphery that links up your PC software with your hardware instruments. Or if you don't want that they still have a good part of the functionality.
General Music S3 Turbo? I had one. It was absolutely fantastic. I replaced it with a Kurzweil K2000 eventually. I like DAWs for finishing tracks, but I don't trust laptops on stage as much as solid hardware.
@@noisetheorem It was the S2. Yeah, trusting laptops live on stage (without a contingency plan) is a bad idea but for production, it's the only way to go for me.
@@delphisignal For me, even though I've owned pure analog synths, as well as classic digital synths and workstations, the DAW/Plugins method just can't be beat in my opinion. Even though I grew up on the sound of the 80s and 90s, what you can do in the box these days just doesn't compare, and I don't have the affinity for getting the "authentic" sounds from those eras. In a mix, I can't tell the difference between a plugin and a real analog synth, nor do I care. For those that do, I'd still recommend getting only a couple or three synths that will satiate, and feed them into your DAW.
Good comparison. You can arm more than MPC track at a time for recording. I think both are great tools that approach the same problems differently. Who you are and how you view the tasks at hand will determine what's better at scratching your itch.
I have a fanTom 08 and I’m looking to get the Mpc xse. I would love to see a video demonstrating how you use them both together to create an ideal world please thank you. Great video btw
Hardware workstations will never be done because people will always want to go back and get off the computer and try something different, I just bought a Roland Fa 06 that I got from a company who had one new one for sale, and I love it
Great vid! I’ve got the Fantom 06 and the Akai Force. Great companion but where the Fantom really surprised me was how well it worked with Ableton. I know that much of the purpose is to get away from the DAW but can’t help to call it out as a great feature. Even the little brother, the 06 is amazing on and off the stage!
A lot of the MPC's shortcomings have workarounds, particularly for live play. There are different ways to approach the workflow. Also, with its ability to connect a USB hub and run an entire rig from it, its a perfect center piece to a live setup.
Absolutely! My MPC X SE is now the undisputed centerpiece of my studio and I don’t see that changing any time soon🤟🏻 see you on the discord my friend ❤️
Liked and sub'd. I'm impressed that AKAI still has the same colour scheme 30 years since I had some of their kit. That would be very familiar and friendly for AKAI enthusiasts. Personally, I used Ensoniq and Roland gear more than AKAI, but I stopped buying gear two decades ago.
And to think I still use my Roland XP-80 for several stuff. Great video! BTW, was it just here (my smartphone) or sonething's wrong with the sound around 17:16?
Thanks so much for watching! Lol? Yes the audio is bad because I literally recorded that bit while editing, so it sounds way more boxed in😅 sorry about that! See you soon!
Looking forward to watching this video! I have never owned a keyboard workstation, but since I’ve owned the MPC key 61 I’ve wondered if I’m missing anything. Especially when you hook up the MPC to a desktop and access some great VST’s as well.
I own the MPC X, Live II, One + and Studio, also the Jupiter X, Jupiter Xm, System 8, MC-707 and RD-2000 with plans to get a Fantom 7. For me the big difference is the user software interface and customer service. It is so easy to plug the USB wireless connector into one of my Roland units and use my phone to install virtual synths and expansion packs. (I also subscribe to Roland Cloud.) On the other hand, Akai InMusic software is a nightmare. I'm limited to 3 installs of any software instruments I buy, and I still cannot get Jura to validate on my new MPC One+.
I am using a Korg M3 and Integrea 7. I do not have an MPCX, yet I am just not a fan of standalone. My MPC Touch ,MPC Studio, Machine studio/Jam, Push 2 and MV8000 it really get the job done! I have seen other videos on the MPC sounds and plugins. I'm still not convinced. But Ben. Correll tutorials and his sounds may push me to buy and MPCX or SE
Great video, I have both instruments and they both serve different purposes for me. It just depends on my mood in which one I pick to create music. Thanks for the video, I will subscribe to your channel out of respect for your content.
I have recorded multiple midi tracks on to the MPC Live 2, from my Roland XP-50. it successfully recorded them but there is something funny with the filtering of the midi channels. After assigning each track a midi channel, it recorded all track information to one track. To overcome this I had to view my song while it was recording on a track that had not been armed. I am sure this is an issue that can be corrected in the midi settings I just haven't taken the time to find out how.
As an owner of the Akai MPC Live, they have really created something special. And they have continued to support the new MPC series over and over. The MPC Key 61 is truly amazing. I can get an idea going in minutes on the MPC compared to a workstation.
I bought the MPC Live 2 before I understood that only the plugins you buy from Akai work in standalone. Such nonsense. I kind of wish I had bought the Key 61, so I got all the plugins, but it is pretty big and I wanted something I could use on the couch or in a deck chair.
Its always a joy to watch your show. In fact, im currently search some gear to produce an album dawless! Yes, i am a midlife musician who is learning with you how to make music for joy and knowledge. Im quite to purchase mpc one and a juno x. What do you think about this two together? Thank you so much for your time and great videos. Greetings from Portugal 🇵🇹!
Ola Meu Amigo! obrigado por me olhar de tão longe! I think the One + a juno X used to be a great combo, but now that the MPC has the Jura plug in (it’s a juno clone) I’m not so sure anymore as you might have a bit of overlap in sound/tone. Maybe a dave smith rev2 to give it some analog warmth or a subsequent 37 for far basses would fill more spots? The important thing is for you to feel happy when playing❤️ see you soon !
Great Video Thanks so much...I have the Live and Fantom 6 and use them together also use a Verselab MV-1 for extra fun... Question! do you know any settings to record more than one midi channel into the MPC Sequencer so one could use the Fantom as tone generator also... thanks in advance...Cheers🎹
Thank you for your video. I have an akai mpk mini mk3. How is the sound quality on MPC X compared to the sound quality on mpk mini mk3 ? I am referring to drum samples sounds.
"Useful AND entertaining"... thank you Sir... Getting ready to pull the trigger on the Fantom...and while it was positive to MPC... I think the Fantom is still the way to go for me... Thank you
I've got the Fantom X6 and it has has 8 audio tracks that you can directly record on. I'm not sure if they took that out in your newer version. I've only used it on a few test runs because I have a DAW. It plays independent of the 16 instrument tracks. The sampling sucks on this 1 also. You get some things done but it lacks what a true sample does
I think there is certainly a comversation around the value of such device in a world of DAW. I understand the value of music made with hardware but these are litteraly little PC with custom software. I feel the limitation are not quite there to breed creativity, but just limits the quality of details you can put into your tracks. Just a tought.
As some one that was trying to decide between two lower end siblings of these two not too long ago (in my case the MPC One and the MC-707) I ended up going for Roland over the MPC for the synth engine alone while the MPC plugins are no slouches Zen Core as a whole even by itself just is in a separate league when it comes to synth capabilities. You can't go wrong with ether one though but it comes down to personal preference and what works better for you especially if you have to go with one over the other. My biggest bitch with owning a MC-707 is I keep eyeing up the Fantom line as an upgrade and it's just simply out of reach for me financially right now. Even my MC-707 once I adjusted the pad sensitivity can be super, super expressive to play even via it's pads as a lot of Zen Core patches are set to be fairly sensitive to velocity which for me some one who is a bit of a keyboardist is really nice to have.
Do Akai beat folks use LOGIC ??? If this is stand alone I suppose it simply would do audio out if you just wanted to track, or use the USB and if you can map the Midi without to much of a battle? I see many of you use Ableton or Something else... I am buying this as my first entry into the MPC button type machines hoping to mix in samples into other audio projects. Long ways of learning frustrations might get the better of Me but that is the reason I buy these things.... Just for the frustration of figuring everything out!!!
You can record multiple tracks inside the mpc if you hold shift while hitting the record buttons for the tracks you want to record at the same time in the screen where you can see all your tracks.. I usually double tap the main button and it will take you there quick
Leaving a comment for the algorithm. Both out of my league yet happy it brings others fun. Enjoy and nice job of comparing. iOS music making dig. Well played. 😂
Akai as part of the Inmusic group has access to numerous legacy sound libraries, one being GIGASAMPLER. (remember that) It's amazing this decade old sound library that at one time had to run on dedicated hardware, can now be hosted as a component of a comprehensive music production environment.
Thanks for this honest and complete comparison. The mpc is a great machine for production in my opinion as well. I use it for all my production and music work. Beside it I have also some fantastic synths. They inspire and complement. The mpc can sequence them or I sample it into the mpc. I ❤ it.
You can record multiple tracks of midi data at once on the MPC at the "midi controllers" secton to your left. Its the option under the # for piano roll grid. You hold down shift in the midi controllers spot and tap the screen on the record buttons. That should let you have more than one enabled. However the Fantom when in vendor mode with parallel. Also on the USB driver will let you do 32 mono or 16 tracks of stereo audio all at once with midi into a DAW. This is great if you just want to record your audio but still want the midi just incase you need to recall what you played. I wish the MPC could do that. It cant see the audio drivers on its own though. Only through the MPC software or another DAW. One thing with the Fantom I hate and had to get used to I s writting stuff to scenes, tone, rhythem etc. You might forget or accidently go to the next scene then you need to find all your zones again, then adust all the changes you did. I rather not use these against eachother and make a choice, but rather use them together.
Production wise, mpc is where it's at. The workflow is untouchable. As a musician, when it comes to performing live, nothing comes close to flagship workstation. The keybed alone is the reasons.
Great stuff. Still in love with the SE. I hate the look of the phantom. Looks like an evil slug. Probably so awesome, but just not connecting with the keyboard attached to the workstation- I like the divide.
Great video as always! I have a Fantom 7 and I do like it, keyboard is great to play and the sounds are fantastic (with a liberal serving of cheese and Roland Cloud filler) - yet it hasn’t found it’s way to my DAWless setup. It’s something about the workflow combined with the learning curve combined with the inevitable menu diving. It’s caught between the flexibility and power of a DAW + VST and the immediacy of single purpose outboard gear. I’ve had mine for 2 years and haven’t finished a single track on it 😢😢
Eating my words after realizing just how good MPC could be. Gave my son my new MPC ONE Plus. He loves it. Irony for me is, I MISS it! Now, I'm back to MPC X se as most likely next purchase. I already own a brand new Tascam Model 16 waiting for it's MPC X friend. Roland? Mah. I can buy MPC X se, PLUS a really nice midi keyboard and have a lot more options than a Fantom 6. Once I pay off the new X se, I'll spring for the Jupiter X to get my Roland fat sounds. Best of all worlds for under 6k total? That sounds like a solid studio setup.
Never had good workflow experiences with Roland over 25 years, so MPC ALL DAY!! ...but those classic Roland sounds! 🔥 (spoiler...I chose the MPCx + Juno X combo!)
The Fantom isn’t optimal as a sampling tool, but is truly excellent when importing samples that have been created somewhere else. I prepare my multisamples in Logic Pro and name them with the correct key. Importing them into the Fantom is then super easy.
The zoom in and screen flexibility plus size are essential for me due to my eyesight and therefore the reason for purchase.. There is no doubt (to me) the Fantôm sounds much better.
Interesting and entertaining, mate! These days I’m enjoying MiniMoog Model D … for the price of these two 😂 and still playing iPhone with easy to touch Gadget … workstation in a pocket
Great video 👍. I'm glad I stopped by even though I'm not the target demographic for the MPC-X (the One handles my sampling needs and softsynths don't inspire me on any platform) or the fantom (I rarely play two-handed on anything but a piano and especially not if there are controls to waggle). I loved your comparison clips with the muzak - perfectly done without being overdone. And a well balanced analysis too. 👍
the synthesizer market is a lot like the video game market.. as consoles become more and more like PCs.. the reasons to own a console gradually disappear. The same can be said for synthesizer workstations.. at a certain point, you might as well just use a computer.
gear reviews, influencers that dont play, shop promos, clubs and djs - none of them will sell the public on anything truly unless the instruments are played live and on video for longer than 15 minutes. thats it
I get that you really like the MPC. But it seems like comparing the synth engines and sounds between the two is a little unfair. Sure, MPC has added a bunch of paid instruments and plugins. Namely nine of them. And it currently has something like five or six instruments built into it and a bunch of built in effects. And sure, you can expect them to add, maybe a few instruments a year. But Fantom has an insane number of built-in sounds, doesn't it? Like you could probably score a full symphonic orchestra using Fantom. At the rate it is currently going we might expect the MPC to catch up with the sound variety in maybe a decade or two.
@@simcax6087 True. There are nine synths. But Fantom has 256 sampled instruments. Not "one sample per octave" keygroups even though Fantom can do those as well. Fully sampled with multiple layers and articulations and all that. This is before any presets. And it has 16 part multitimbral synth engine in there as well.
I feel like people like to hate on the MPC because the platform has been around a long time and is very mature therefore it obviously needs to be replaced in their minds 🤨 OTOH Roland are not known for their samplers so the workflow for samples is weak. And Akai have been quite active the past year with firmware, plugin and soft synth updates unlike Roland. Roland’s whole focus around Zenology Pro I feel is a blessing and a curse, sound design being a bit limited somewhat without Zenology Pro (if you don’t believe me, look at how well the SH-4d has been received, even the slightly easier sound design on that shows there is definitely demand for making the process without Zenology Pro much easier).
I like that I can work on editing tracks while sitting in the passenger seat of a car, on a bus or train or plane, at a coffee shop, on a park bench, or even just sitting on the throne. The Phantom isn’t realistically going to be suitable for working outside of your studio.
Ok bro I was with you until you started talking about Sampling!!! Let me explain something the MPC is a sample based instrument the Fantom is for the everyday gign musician not studio although it works great in the studio!!! Just me two cents!!! Ijs🤷🏽♂️
I will give you a credit for saying the the Fantom is for musicians at the end!!! But I still stand on the sampling side!!! MPC is a sample machine!!!!
Fantom blows Mpc sounds away Mpc has a greater sequencer but Roland’s Fantom to combine 16 sounds at once is mind blowing But Mpc Workflow is mind blowing also the 2 together u will be making hit records with the right methods melodys and kicks and snares it’s just endless I have both and Roland always been ahead of it’s time while Mpc sampling engine is so incredible but any producer with both is a dangerous man 😂
I bought an MPC Key 61 and it's amazing. I'm 60 so I've owned pretty much every piece of hard disk recording equipment and I now have the Key 61 and a Tascam Model 24 mixing console. These two pieces of equipment have replaced my 24 track studio. I have another Quiet PC rig with NI Komplete and Presonus Studio One and Dorico for score writing, but this is more for orchestral mock-ups. Great video BTW, thanks.
I also want to have a Tascam Model 12........I am 62
Multitracking audio over USB
What a lovely video. Clear. Concise. Honest. Great presentation and voice.
What a lovely video. Clear. Concise. Honest. Great presentation and voice.
Hope very engaging, laid back and smooth.
It's easy to watch and listen.
You're very engaging, laid back and smooth.
It's easy to watch and listen.
You hadn’t talked for more than two minutes before I said to myself, “yup this is a channel worth subscribing to.” Great stuff.
I truly appreciate it bro! 🙌🏻❤️
same for me
Literally same bro
I had the exact opposite reaction. I just felt my interest and focus drain
Yes hold shift and tap record on each track you would like to record for mutlitracks record at once on Mpc
❤️❤️❤️🙌🏻
For a long time I chose a synthesizer to record ambient music in my home studio. I bought a Fantom 6. I really like it. The music is on the channel.
This was a much needed video. I think this should have Roland, Yamaha, Korg and others on high alert, for more than a century they have made what they advertise as workstations, but all lack a cohesive workflow. Seeing it side by side that Akai took all the known limitations and worked on them and made an improved workflow is interesting. Honestly I really hope that this causes them to change the whole ideology of what a workstation should be. Maybe we will start to see devices that are in alignment with the MPC.
Thanks for watching my friend! The new AKAI MPC 3 software is even more cohesive and it only looks to be getting better by the minute🤘🏻 hopefully Roland or Yamaha will strike back with something of their own! Cheers!
@@MidlifeSynthesist yes sir I’m hoping to see that as well. Roland stepped up the fantom os a bit but there’s way more work to do. Plus compute resources are ridiculously cheap and there’s really no excuses for why they can’t use off the shelf to develop. Akai is killing them with off the shelf and throwing it in a printed box.
Hello brother, I am the proud owner of a Juno X and a Push 2 controller and these are my work flow and they work super well. I do all percussions with the Push mostly and come up with some crazy cool FX to add to them tunes also and I go crazy for everything else on the Juno X, from bass to synth lines to solos, you name it, it really does it all for me. I love the option to be able to simply take my phone and load virtually any sound in a flash second right to the Juno X. It really works and helps with the workflow.
You've got me wanting these 2 beast now also though mind ya lol.
Happy thoughts and Happy days ahead to you my friend, thanks for making this video and sharing it. You rock!
Bro this comment really made my day🙌🏻 thanks for sharing your workflow and sending positive vibes! Lots of love!
Thanks. This is one of the first videos that actually looks at real workflow comparisons. More please
Thanks for watching my friend! I’ll try to do more of this style on different devices👍🏼 see you there!
FYI if you. Don’t know! On the Fantom create a 8 bar pattern…. Go to loop screen…set the end point and the start point…go to edit screen,piano roll, now you can edit the mesure/measures … with out it staring from the top each time.. hav3 fun🎉
I think people get hooked on the idea of having one machine to do all but the MPC is traditionally made to be the centre piece of a studio and has always been best for that and the fantom seems more geared for live musicians. A couple of quirky little synths hooked up to the MPC is a great setup. Great video by the way.
A device that does everything is the dream of many.😁
@@DarWeter78 this does everything a bit of jack of all trades but synthesiser wise I’d prefer something more dedicated
Hey there great video I would like to point out though about the re-recording the whole thing or to wait for the marker to reach the point where we want to correct the mistake. . . . there's a little workaround for the whole tedious process in a Fantom, one can go to loop settings and change the timelines there to have direct access to the parts with mistakes . . . which can be then corrected via the piano roll, after which the loop can be disabled thus avoiding to re-record the whole phrase.
Writing this I hope that I didn't misunderstood anything xD.
I bought a MPC key 37 out of the blue, because it was cheap on a second hand store.
i was like "oh neat, a nice little workstation, i can use it as a midi sequencer"
and down the rabbit hole i went... I started goofing around, and immidiately fell in love with it. the workflow is so smooth, as a DAW user, adpatation was as easy as possible. the sound is amazing, its small, its lightweight, it runns of 12V so i can power it with a car battery and go wherever i want with it.
due to my prior experiance with workstation keyboards being a Roland Fantom X8 from 2004 and a Roland MC505 from 1998, i thought the MPC experiance is the modern workstation, but you just showed me how superiour the mpc is.
damn. Akai, well made guys
I'm really old school. Back in the day I used to have a Generalmusic workstation keyboard (now defunct Italian company) and it was way way better than working from a computer back then. Now though, I just don't see anything in these workstations that would take me away from my DAW. I still love my hardware but it all gets fed into my DAW.
I think it's amazing that these days a MIDI Controller keyboard or a groovebox is basically controller periphery that links up your PC software with your hardware instruments. Or if you don't want that they still have a good part of the functionality.
General Music S3 Turbo? I had one. It was absolutely fantastic. I replaced it with a Kurzweil K2000 eventually. I like DAWs for finishing tracks, but I don't trust laptops on stage as much as solid hardware.
@@noisetheorem It was the S2. Yeah, trusting laptops live on stage (without a contingency plan) is a bad idea but for production, it's the only way to go for me.
@@delphisignal For me, even though I've owned pure analog synths, as well as classic digital synths and workstations, the DAW/Plugins method just can't be beat in my opinion. Even though I grew up on the sound of the 80s and 90s, what you can do in the box these days just doesn't compare, and I don't have the affinity for getting the "authentic" sounds from those eras. In a mix, I can't tell the difference between a plugin and a real analog synth, nor do I care. For those that do, I'd still recommend getting only a couple or three synths that will satiate, and feed them into your DAW.
I have an MPC Live2 and just added a used Fantom-06. Really looking forward to the combo!
How are you liking the two? I’m actually thinking of the same setup. I already have the Live 2.
Good comparison. You can arm more than MPC track at a time for recording. I think both are great tools that approach the same problems differently. Who you are and how you view the tasks at hand will determine what's better at scratching your itch.
I have a fanTom 08 and I’m looking to get the Mpc xse. I would love to see a video demonstrating how you use them both together to create an ideal world please thank you. Great video btw
Hardware workstations will never be done because people will always want to go back and get off the computer and try something different, I just bought a Roland Fa 06 that I got from a company who had one new one for sale, and I love it
Great vid! I’ve got the Fantom 06 and the Akai Force. Great companion but where the Fantom really surprised me was how well it worked with Ableton. I know that much of the purpose is to get away from the DAW but can’t help to call it out as a great feature. Even the little brother, the 06 is amazing on and off the stage!
Do you have a video describing how you use both together
A lot of the MPC's shortcomings have workarounds, particularly for live play. There are different ways to approach the workflow. Also, with its ability to connect a USB hub and run an entire rig from it, its a perfect center piece to a live setup.
Absolutely! My MPC X SE is now the undisputed centerpiece of my studio and I don’t see that changing any time soon🤟🏻 see you on the discord my friend ❤️
Yes you can record multi MIDI at the same time. Use shift + select track record in the mixer screen.
BLESS YOU❤️❤️❤️🙌🏻
Liked and sub'd. I'm impressed that AKAI still has the same colour scheme 30 years since I had some of their kit. That would be very familiar and friendly for AKAI enthusiasts. Personally, I used Ensoniq and Roland gear more than AKAI, but I stopped buying gear two decades ago.
And to think I still use my Roland XP-80 for several stuff.
Great video!
BTW, was it just here (my smartphone) or sonething's wrong with the sound around 17:16?
Thanks so much for watching! Lol? Yes the audio is bad because I literally recorded that bit while editing, so it sounds way more boxed in😅 sorry about that! See you soon!
Looking forward to watching this video! I have never owned a keyboard workstation, but since I’ve owned the MPC key 61 I’ve wondered if I’m missing anything. Especially when you hook up the MPC to a desktop and access some great VST’s as well.
Spoiler alert: they make an amazing duo🤟🏻🤟🏻
Thanks for dropping me a line me friend! Cheers!
This is an amazing review. I want an MPC X SE. This is 😎. I think the Fantom is an excellent sounding keyboard as well.
That’s why I need a Fantom. I love my MPC Live2. I do have a JupiterX and it makes it wonderful combo
Killer❤️❤️
Can you do a video that elaborates more on your mpc fantom workflow?
Happy to! I’ll try to do it soon, thanks for watching my friend!
I own the MPC X, Live II, One + and Studio, also the Jupiter X, Jupiter Xm, System 8, MC-707 and RD-2000 with plans to get a Fantom 7. For me the big difference is the user software interface and customer service. It is so easy to plug the USB wireless connector into one of my Roland units and use my phone to install virtual synths and expansion packs. (I also subscribe to Roland Cloud.) On the other hand, Akai InMusic software is a nightmare. I'm limited to 3 installs of any software instruments I buy, and I still cannot get Jura to validate on my new MPC One+.
The Air software vst is a complete shit show.
I am using a Korg M3 and Integrea 7. I do not have an MPCX, yet I am just not a fan of standalone. My MPC Touch ,MPC Studio, Machine studio/Jam, Push 2 and MV8000 it really get the job done! I have seen other videos on the MPC sounds and plugins. I'm still not convinced. But Ben. Correll tutorials and his sounds may push me to buy and MPCX or SE
Great video, I have both instruments and they both serve different purposes for me. It just depends on my mood in which one I pick to create music. Thanks for the video, I will subscribe to your channel out of respect for your content.
Thank you so much my friend! Welcome to the gang and hope to see you soon brother!
Great vid! I'm unlikely to get anything quite on this level but fun to see what they can do!
I have recorded multiple midi tracks on to the MPC Live 2, from my Roland XP-50. it successfully recorded them but there is something funny with the filtering of the midi channels. After assigning each track a midi channel, it recorded all track information to one track. To overcome this I had to view my song while it was recording on a track that had not been armed. I am sure this is an issue that can be corrected in the midi settings I just haven't taken the time to find out how.
Check your midi settings and make sure you dont have global set. It will send all midi to the active track
I know you can do it and then MPC Studio 2. use multi record (you may have to turn it on in your settings) and setup channels. And you're good to go
As an owner of the Akai MPC Live, they have really created something special. And they have continued to support the new MPC series over and over. The MPC Key 61 is truly amazing. I can get an idea going in minutes on the MPC compared to a workstation.
I bought the MPC Live 2 before I understood that only the plugins you buy from Akai work in standalone. Such nonsense. I kind of wish I had bought the Key 61, so I got all the plugins, but it is pretty big and I wanted something I could use on the couch or in a deck chair.
Its always a joy to watch your show. In fact, im currently search some gear to produce an album dawless! Yes, i am a midlife musician who is learning with you how to make music for joy and knowledge. Im quite to purchase mpc one and a juno x. What do you think about this two together? Thank you so much for your time and great videos. Greetings from Portugal 🇵🇹!
Ola Meu Amigo! obrigado por me olhar de tão longe! I think the One + a juno X used to be a great combo, but now that the MPC has the Jura plug in (it’s a juno clone) I’m not so sure anymore as you might have a bit of overlap in sound/tone. Maybe a dave smith rev2 to give it some analog warmth or a subsequent 37 for far basses would fill more spots? The important thing is for you to feel happy when playing❤️ see you soon !
Thanks! Really liking the emphasis on workflow.
Great Video Thanks so much...I have the Live and Fantom 6 and use them together also use a Verselab MV-1 for extra fun... Question! do you know any settings to record more than one midi channel into the MPC Sequencer so one could use the Fantom as tone generator also... thanks in advance...Cheers🎹
What is a touch creen?
What do you think about combining the MPC live two with the MPC key 37
Great overview, thank you. Very useful
Thank you for your video. I have an akai mpk mini mk3. How is the sound quality on MPC X compared to the sound quality on mpk mini mk3 ? I am referring to drum samples sounds.
"Useful AND entertaining"... thank you Sir... Getting ready to pull the trigger on the Fantom...and while it was positive to MPC... I think the Fantom is still the way to go for me... Thank you
I've got the Fantom X6 and it has has 8 audio tracks that you can directly record on. I'm not sure if they took that out in your newer version. I've only used it on a few test runs because I have a DAW. It plays independent of the 16 instrument tracks. The sampling sucks on this 1 also. You get some things done but it lacks what a true sample does
I think there is certainly a comversation around the value of such device in a world of DAW. I understand the value of music made with hardware but these are litteraly little PC with custom software. I feel the limitation are not quite there to breed creativity, but just limits the quality of details you can put into your tracks. Just a tought.
nice watch! Where can I find one? (the white watch)
As some one that was trying to decide between two lower end siblings of these two not too long ago (in my case the MPC One and the MC-707) I ended up going for Roland over the MPC for the synth engine alone while the MPC plugins are no slouches Zen Core as a whole even by itself just is in a separate league when it comes to synth capabilities. You can't go wrong with ether one though but it comes down to personal preference and what works better for you especially if you have to go with one over the other. My biggest bitch with owning a MC-707 is I keep eyeing up the Fantom line as an upgrade and it's just simply out of reach for me financially right now. Even my MC-707 once I adjusted the pad sensitivity can be super, super expressive to play even via it's pads as a lot of Zen Core patches are set to be fairly sensitive to velocity which for me some one who is a bit of a keyboardist is really nice to have.
I use Akai hardware but I'm also a Roland Cloud subscriber. 😅
Really dope bro. Hopefully I can afford one one day but I might just have zzounds send me one and sample the patches 😅
Do Akai beat folks use LOGIC ??? If this is stand alone I suppose it simply would do audio out if you just wanted to track, or use the USB and if you can map the Midi without to much of a battle? I see many of you use Ableton or Something else... I am buying this as my first entry into the MPC button type machines hoping to mix in samples into other audio projects. Long ways of learning frustrations might get the better of Me but that is the reason I buy these things.... Just for the frustration of figuring everything out!!!
Thumbnail look so clean!
Lol thanks!!
What's the MPC x sitting on? And table
Definitely wish the Force had a tilt screen... Though not so bad with the whole machine on an angled stand.
You can record multiple tracks inside the mpc if you hold shift while hitting the record buttons for the tracks you want to record at the same time in the screen where you can see all your tracks.. I usually double tap the main button and it will take you there quick
Thank you!🤟🏻
Great video most appreciated!
Leaving a comment for the algorithm. Both out of my league yet happy it brings others fun. Enjoy and nice job of comparing.
iOS music making dig. Well played. 😂
Always appreciate it my friend ❤️❤️
Akai as part of the Inmusic group has access to numerous legacy sound libraries, one being GIGASAMPLER. (remember that) It's amazing this decade old sound library that at one time had to run on dedicated hardware, can now be hosted as a component of a comprehensive music production environment.
Have you seen any difference between the X and the Xse?
Great video very informative. Thanks
Thank you my friend!🤟🏻
You doing a good job, and love this content.
Thanks so much my friend! Really appreciate it❤️
Thanks for this honest and complete comparison. The mpc is a great machine for production in my opinion as well. I use it for all my production and music work. Beside it I have also some fantastic synths. They inspire and complement. The mpc can sequence them or I sample it into the mpc. I ❤ it.
They're many instruments /machines to be used and combined....💯
You can record multiple tracks of midi data at once on the MPC at the "midi controllers" secton to your left. Its the option under the # for piano roll grid. You hold down shift in the midi controllers spot and tap the screen on the record buttons. That should let you have more than one enabled.
However the Fantom when in vendor mode with parallel. Also on the USB driver will let you do 32 mono or 16 tracks of stereo audio all at once with midi into a DAW. This is great if you just want to record your audio but still want the midi just incase you need to recall what you played. I wish the MPC could do that. It cant see the audio drivers on its own though. Only through the MPC software or another DAW. One thing with the Fantom I hate and had to get used to I s writting stuff to scenes, tone, rhythem etc. You might forget or accidently go to the next scene then you need to find all your zones again, then adust all the changes you did.
I rather not use these against eachother and make a choice, but rather use them together.
Thanks so much for the info!!! And yes! I agree that they are great together! Thanks for watching, see you soon!
Production wise, mpc is where it's at. The workflow is untouchable. As a musician, when it comes to performing live, nothing comes close to flagship workstation. The keybed alone is the reasons.
So you buy MPC as a workstation for recording but when do you buy Fantom then?
Broooooooooo excellent video💯
@@Crookedletta601 thanks 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
fantastic video! thank you
Great stuff. Still in love with the SE. I hate the look of the phantom. Looks like an evil slug. Probably so awesome, but just not connecting with the keyboard attached to the workstation- I like the divide.
Great video.
Thanks my friend!!
Great video as always! I have a Fantom 7 and I do like it, keyboard is great to play and the sounds are fantastic (with a liberal serving of cheese and Roland Cloud filler) - yet it hasn’t found it’s way to my DAWless setup. It’s something about the workflow combined with the learning curve combined with the inevitable menu diving. It’s caught between the flexibility and power of a DAW + VST and the immediacy of single purpose outboard gear. I’ve had mine for 2 years and haven’t finished a single track on it 😢😢
Great comparison.
Eating my words after realizing just how good MPC could be. Gave my son my new MPC ONE Plus. He loves it. Irony for me is, I MISS it! Now, I'm back to MPC X se as most likely next purchase. I already own a brand new Tascam Model 16 waiting for it's MPC X friend. Roland? Mah. I can buy MPC X se, PLUS a really nice midi keyboard and have a lot more options than a Fantom 6. Once I pay off the new X se, I'll spring for the Jupiter X to get my Roland fat sounds. Best of all worlds for under 6k total? That sounds like a solid studio setup.
Actually the Roland mv8000/8800 was and still is the best-ever hardware sequencer/sampler/synth in the production business
Yes indeed❤
You can do it. Just go in setting and allow recording to multiple tracks at once
I’d go for a Kronos or Montage. Way more powerful and deep than the Fantom. But Fantom integration to Logic is mindblowing.
Kronos, yes, Sir!
Why not compare it to the 61 key?
Hi! Right after the intro I explain why in detail, but in a nutshell, it makes more sense (to me). Cheers!
@@MidlifeSynthesist my bad had my nail gun compressor running through the intro
Never had good workflow experiences with Roland over 25 years, so MPC ALL DAY!! ...but those classic Roland sounds! 🔥 (spoiler...I chose the MPCx + Juno X combo!)
The Fantom isn’t optimal as a sampling tool, but is truly excellent when importing samples that have been created somewhere else. I prepare my multisamples in Logic Pro and name them with the correct key. Importing them into the Fantom is then super easy.
I aint watch this yet, but I will say, my key61 making me money right now.. 💪💪
Great tutorial.
Thank you my friend 🙌🏻
Roland Fantom is my Dream Synth!!
The zoom in and screen flexibility plus size are essential for me due to my eyesight and therefore the reason for purchase.. There is no doubt (to me) the Fantôm sounds much better.
Thank you
Interesting and entertaining, mate! These days I’m enjoying MiniMoog Model D … for the price of these two 😂 and still playing iPhone with easy to touch Gadget … workstation in a pocket
I'm fast using the MPCX. Creating sections for me is ace. Ladies and gents don't sleep on the Hype synth. It is good.
The audio on the inserted clip around the 17:15 min mark is all messed up
Stop being picky and make your own video then🦾🙏🏾
It also sounds like it was purposely done that way🦾
The audio clip has its polarity inverted; my monitor controller has a polarity flip button when I pressed it the audio stereo image was restored.
I actually like the MPC Piano more... just a nicer sound. Is it just me or do the fantom strings sound 'nasal'?
I have both, they work in so many ways together yet apart.. a lot of seat time but they can rock house together for sho
top stuff man
Thanks bro!🙌🏻
Great video 👍. I'm glad I stopped by even though I'm not the target demographic for the MPC-X (the One handles my sampling needs and softsynths don't inspire me on any platform) or the fantom (I rarely play two-handed on anything but a piano and especially not if there are controls to waggle). I loved your comparison clips with the muzak - perfectly done without being overdone. And a well balanced analysis too. 👍
Nice watch!!! What's the model?
Thanks for stopping by! I’m using the Fantom 6🤟🏻
Lol, I just realized you’re asking about the wristwatch🤣 I though you meant nice watch/video jajaja! It’s a Swatch my wife gifted me!!❤️
the synthesizer market is a lot like the video game market.. as consoles become more and more like PCs.. the reasons to own a console gradually disappear. The same can be said for synthesizer workstations.. at a certain point, you might as well just use a computer.
The Montage didn't even have a sequencer when it shipped, so it's kind of hard to call it a workstation.
For me it’ll be the combo of both….👍🏼
gear reviews, influencers that dont play, shop promos, clubs and djs - none of them will sell the public on anything truly unless the instruments are played live and on video for longer than 15 minutes. thats it
I get that you really like the MPC. But it seems like comparing the synth engines and sounds between the two is a little unfair. Sure, MPC has added a bunch of paid instruments and plugins. Namely nine of them. And it currently has something like five or six instruments built into it and a bunch of built in effects. And sure, you can expect them to add, maybe a few instruments a year. But Fantom has an insane number of built-in sounds, doesn't it? Like you could probably score a full symphonic orchestra using Fantom. At the rate it is currently going we might expect the MPC to catch up with the sound variety in maybe a decade or two.
🦾🦾🦾
Built in sounds, as in presets? There are a lot of presets for each and every mpc plugin too. It's not just nine "sounds". It's nine synths.
@@simcax6087 True. There are nine synths. But Fantom has 256 sampled instruments. Not "one sample per octave" keygroups even though Fantom can do those as well. Fully sampled with multiple layers and articulations and all that. This is before any presets. And it has 16 part multitimbral synth engine in there as well.
Still won’t save Fantom’s laughably crap sampler and sampling edit. MPC rules over Fantom in that regard.
@@EnochLight Fantom was never meant to be a sampler. And I wasn't talking about sampling functionality.
I feel like people like to hate on the MPC because the platform has been around a long time and is very mature therefore it obviously needs to be replaced in their minds 🤨 OTOH Roland are not known for their samplers so the workflow for samples is weak. And Akai have been quite active the past year with firmware, plugin and soft synth updates unlike Roland. Roland’s whole focus around Zenology Pro I feel is a blessing and a curse, sound design being a bit limited somewhat without Zenology Pro (if you don’t believe me, look at how well the SH-4d has been received, even the slightly easier sound design on that shows there is definitely demand for making the process without Zenology Pro much easier).
what i see from features, the fantom 06 is not so extremely far away from the 6 and very well in the price range of the mpc‘s
For music production beat creation these two work.hand in hand
I like that I can work on editing tracks while sitting in the passenger seat of a car, on a bus or train or plane, at a coffee shop, on a park bench, or even just sitting on the throne. The Phantom isn’t realistically going to be suitable for working outside of your studio.
Ok bro I was with you until you started talking about Sampling!!! Let me explain something the MPC is a sample based instrument the Fantom is for the everyday gign musician not studio although it works great in the studio!!! Just me two cents!!! Ijs🤷🏽♂️
I will give you a credit for saying the the Fantom is for musicians at the end!!! But I still stand on the sampling side!!! MPC is a sample machine!!!!
Hold shift en select tracks to record , thats how you can record multiple tracks on the mpc at the same time. Good post !
Thank you!!🤟🏻
Fantom blows Mpc sounds away Mpc has a greater sequencer but Roland’s Fantom to combine 16 sounds at once is mind blowing But Mpc Workflow is mind blowing also the 2 together u will be making hit records with the right methods melodys and kicks and snares it’s just endless I have both and Roland always been ahead of it’s time while Mpc sampling engine is so incredible but any producer with both is a dangerous man 😂
Nice opinion but nooooo nope no way 😵💫
Just say you don't know and get off the clown shit. Dude's spitting facts.
@@boomboombaby9140 I have combined my Akai Live2 sequencer with my Roland Integra sounds and found it to be a very fulfilling experience.
Be nice to make hit record where you actually get paid,the way it was before they ruined the music industry.
@@robertmichalscheck3072 True its not that easy to sell records & the crukid industry is over saturated..