The most powerful MPC from AKAI is here. Watch this overview of the new AKAI MPC XL from Andy Mac.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfEObnwQgjA


Here is how the MPC XL compares to the previous generation MPC X and the MPC Live 3.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnzRVFe3RsU


Here is another demo by Andy Mac showing how to build tracks.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXFEAyaeKjc


The MPC XL is a large console measuring 21.4” x 19.2” featuring a 10.1” Touch Screen, 16 Expressive MPCe Pads, and 16 Q-Link Knobs with OLED displays arranged horizontally over 16 RGB function buttons.


https://www.akaipro.com/mpc-xl/


If you ever wanted to take a dive deep into the world of beat music, this $2899 beast does it all.

That's a hefty chunk of change when you can do it all in software with a launchpad controller nowadays..!

I'm having some fun doing beats with Koala Sampler on an iPad Pro. $4.99 app, lol 🤣

Wow Diki!

Thanks for introducing me to the Koala Sampler iOS App. I downloaded this app on my iPad Pro and it opened this Tutorial Video that explains the basic functions:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2p4qdJhRYI


I couldn’t believe how easy it is to record your own drum SAMPLES just using your voice. One can string these samples into a SEQUENCE, instantly add effects to these sequences while in PERFORM mode and finally RECORD the entire song.

It is the simplicity of operation that makes this app so enticing. This is a great tool for learning the basics of creating beat based music.

The developer of this app has many more helpful tutorials on his YouTube Channel.


https://www.youtube.com/@elfaudio


I see that this works on Android devices as well.


https://www.koalasampler.com/


I could see why such apps have such a wide appeal amongst the younger crowd. There is zero learning curve. You could feel entertained within a matter of minutes.

The KOALA SAMPLER gives you a glimpse of the workflow that has popularized software sequencers like ABLETON LIVE and hardware sequencers like the AKAI MPC family.

The new flagship MPC XL may be out of reach for many, however the MPC ONE+ offers exceptional value for $629.


https://www.akaipro.com/mpc-one-plus/


Let’s face the hard truth. The era of Arranger Keyboards will probably end with our generation. The younger crowd does not want to spend 2 years learning how to read music, spend two more years studying music theory, learning chord progressions and developing playing skills.

Moreover, they do not have the money to buy a top of the line Arranger which costs more than a professional workstation.

The styles that come in the Arrangers do not excite the younger generation. The MPC ONE+ is more affordable and fulfills their immediate needs. If one has a laptop, then ABLETON LIVE 12 is the gateway to expressing their creativity.

Having played around the KOALA SAMPLER iOS App for the past few hours, I decided to expand the capabilities by downloading the ABLETON NOTE App.


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ableton-note/id1633243177


I am impressed how much power Ableton has embedded into this App for a one-time payment of $6.99. The UI is wickedly clever that will appeal to everyone who has never tried a beat box.

The feature set has all the tools and functions to get you hooked into the world of beat music without ever having to be a musician. This is the perfect stepping stone to making someone graduate to ABLETON LIVE 12.

I see they are offering ABLETON LIVE 12 LITE for free with ABLETON NOTE with seamless integration.


https://www.ableton.com/en/note/


Being an ABLETON LIVE user, this iOS App on the iPad brings the essence of making beats to anyone musically inclined or curious.

Here are 5 Tutorials on the Ableton YouTube Channel:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smJZcWwJsOw&list=PLoh4MB-kbBmJ6Ne2RL5gjf7FOnDdFELNV

Don't tell Yamaha or Ketron that! Or Korg, for that matter. They still seem to be developing new or improved models. And how many kids got their first keyboard for Christmas this year? A low-end Yamaha or Casio which are, in fact, entry-level arrangers.

I agree that "peak Arranger" was probably circa 2001 and some of our most beloved brands are gone for good. However, for anyone with a little musical training or just musically curious, arrangers can create a lot of music and fun --on the fly-- with very little effort. Personally, I think Yamaha will be selling a Genos VIII thirty years from now!

edit: ...and Korg will finally get all of the bugs worked out of the Pa5X :-) BTW, the Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 which debuted this year is also an arranger with MIDI capabilities. It just doesn't have a piano keyboard. FWIW.

I have been saying for DECADES how there's nothing intrinsically wrong with arrangers for younger players EXCEPT THE STYLES. You wouldn't buy an arranger if the vast majority of the ROM styles were from the 1920's or 30's. And kids today don't want to buy anything with the vast majority of styles are from the 60's and 70's.

The bare hardware and sounds will probably suffice, most contemporary arrangers have pretty decent synth sounds (albeit voiced a little more 80's than '10's!) and quite a few have knobs or sliders for the knob twiddling crowd.

Sure, the clip launching stuff seems to be mostly on the high end stuff, but that's a marketing thing, nothing to do with what the unit COSTS, much. It would take little to add to even mid-line arrangers.

But nothing would turn a twentysomething off of an arranger more than wading through bank after bank of styles with ZERO relevance to what they would ever play. I mean, if I had to wade through eternal banks of Charleston or Black Bottom styles I'd probably pass on them!

But does anyone remember the Rapman? Casio made a barebones arranger specifically voiced for rap and hiphop in 1991. It was a cult classic, wildly popular with young musicians. You know why? ZERO old styles and sounds. No ballroom, no sambas, no bigband. No rock, even...

THAT'S how you get young musicians to play arrangers!

Weirdly, the arranger makers already understand and follow this. Most arrangers have an Oriental model. Revoiced for Far East or Middle East musicians. If they understand the worth in revoicing current arrangers for a regional market, why not for an age specific market..?

The other thing that is being ignored are software arrangers, particularly for tablets. Why isn't there an iPad arranger? An Android arranger? A basic soundset and a fully editable arranger is child's play for a modern iPad. iPad Pro has enough horsepower to run a Genos level arranger AND the sounds.

Most iPad musicians have plugins for sounds like drums, pianos, organs and especially synths that put most of our TOTL arrangers to shame. Take the output from an arranger engine, put it into the best iPad sounds, you got something that could give a TOTL arranger a run for its money!

Roland, I'm looking at you... you stopped making hardware arrangers, but you still own the code from a BK9 or EA-7 and a team of great iPad developers (check out the new iPad Zencore GX!). Easy money! Why are we having to point this out to you..?

What I would love to see is the AFFORDABLE marriage between arranger code and clip launching tablet samplers like Koala. Let the USER import the styles he wants, that way there's no putting the kids off with 20 Enka styles and a bank of 40's ballroom crap that few even of US use much anymore!

If the Rapman could be a hit, why not? 🎹🤩

Giglad https://deltarray.com/ is arranger software that has been out some time (Currently V5) but if you look at the specs required (It runs on Mac or Windows) only the iPad pro would be able to run it, and even then it would require an upgrade to at least 1TB storage to get the increased Ram that is needed, which means you are talking about £1800 and very few youngsters would pay that.

You cant just copy and paste a hardware arranger software to a computer/iPad as it is unique to each manufactures hardware, so would require serious re-coding to get it to work on a computer/iPad, thus the cost of the app would need to be high for them to make any money. (Again kids are not going to pay that)

In the future when technology improves and prices drop then yes, iPads will be fine, but were still some way off that time. (The software you see for iPad is pretty basic compared to the computer versions and arranger coding is not basic)

Bill

I disagree Bill. An arranger is at least 85% software (which for most brands has evolved only glacially in the last 20 years.) How much of Giglad's spec is driven by sound and video processing? It has an elaborate visual interface with more features than advanced hardware arrangers. However, the defining features of an arranger are chord recognition and style pattern transposition. After two years of updates, Giglad's chord recognition is STILL more demanding of the player and less flexible than Roland's and Nimbu's. Specifically, Bass Inversion should be a separate option available in ANY chord recognition mode.

I'm pretty sure that Roland could render a version of its 1996-vintage RA-800 module that would run on an iPhone, Better yet, its 2011-vintage BK-7m, which STILL routinely sells for about $800 in the secondary market. A lot of keyboard players and even non-keyboard musicians would be well-served by an app like this.

Giglad was just used as an example and not meant as the definitive software arranger.

As I mentioned you cannot copy and paste software between equipment as it all has to be recoded to work with different hardware (This is why a Windows program will not run on Mac or Linux natively without recoding for the different OS and architecture)

If you think back to when you did basic coding in school, you would have been told to modify the code to add something else and all of a sudden found it broke something else in the code, which emphasised that coding is not simple and just gets worse the more sophisticated the code (Arranger keyboards have sophisticated coding designed specifically for the custom hardware in them), just think of the Korg PA5x and the problems they have had with that, and that is done by professional coders.

If you are the more mature and were in school before coding came about, then download Python and follow a few tutorials on coding with it (Nothing like hands on experience) you will soon realise how difficult it is to get it to work on various different hardware.

Bill

I've messed with Python but I'm not a programmer or developer. There are probably software EMULATORS that can emulate specific hardware such as the ICs used in the venerable RA-800. AI large-language models can write code, and might also easily translate existing code from one language to another.

Roland already has the source code. An app having the core chord recognition and pattern transposition logic, using MIDI and a minimalist interface shouldn't be difficult or expensive.

The potential market for mobile device apps is MUCH larger than the market for hardware keyboards; sales would recover the translation costs in a short time. The real risk is that a successful app backed by one of the "big three" might cannibalize sales of hardware arrangers. And Roland specifically hasn't made one of those in over 10 years!

iPads don't run Mac software.

Unless I missed one, I've seen no arranger software for iPad.

Most of Giglad's storage requirements come from the soundset. I don't want to use their sounds, just want to use a GS soundset and then stuff like Pianoteq, VB-3, Numa Player etc...

I'd rather some of the majors took up this, their arranger engines are mature, bulletproof, fully featured, stable and familiar...

The AKAI MPC XL is the most advanced hardware sequencer that streamlines the workflow of making beat music. After playing around with this device for a few days I am simply overjoyed by the ergonomics and simplicity of the user interface bringing back fun, speed and spontaneity to the process of music making.

This flagship product from AKAI represents 38 years of refinement since the first MPC 60 was launched in 1988 designed by Roger Linn.

If someone is thinking of exploring the world of MPC devices, I would wholeheartedly recommend the MPC XL. This is the easiest model to navigate with 105 buttons. This avoids menu diving. Every important function is right at your fingertips.

The AKAI MPC XL deserves a design award for being the easiest hardware sequencer to operate. Every button group, knob, slider and displays have been ergonomically laid out for maximum efficiency.

I could see why the form factor of the MPC XL is so much larger than my AKAI Force.

The width had to be expanded to 21.4 inches s to accommodate the 16 Q-Link knobs featuring OLED Displays arranged horizontally above a row of 16-step RGB button sequencer. By comparison the AKAI Force is 13.8 inches wide having only 8 Q-Link knobs.

The depth of the MPC XL had to be increased to 19.2 inches to accommodate the 10.1 inch Touch Screen and the 16 MPCe pads compared to the 15.3 inch depth on the AKAI Force with an 6.9 inch Touch screen and smaller buttons.

I love the 16 MPCe pads with 3D-sensing technology carried over from the MPC LIVE 3. They have kept the traditional 4x4 grid originally introduced by Roger Linn in the MPC 60. These pads are so much softer, thicker, larger and responsive than the 64 hard plastic buttons on the AKAI Force. It took me just a few hours to appreciate the value of assigning sounds to each of the 4 quadrants within an MPCe pad and freely morph between them.

I don’t see myself going back to the AKAI Force. It is the end of the line. The MPC XL with its Gen 2 8-core processor and 16GB of RAM does it all.

I am pleasantly surprised how well the MPC XL integrates with Ableton LIVE and any external MIDI keyboard like the Yamaha Genos2 and Korg Kronos3.
AKAI will be releasing an update their MPC Key 61 probably featuring the MPCe pads. I am using the Roland RD2000 as a MIDI Controller which is a better solution.

The MPC XL encapsulates everything one may desire in a hardware sequencer/sampler in an all-in-one standalone package.

There are tons of YouTube tutorials being released daily. Kudos to Daddy Long Les for creating this playlist with 74 AKAI MPC LIVE III Tutorials.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN5u0LbqLfM&list=PLA4xxYk4n3gg_RTF7P6uwMtzlRqMTlk7L


It applies to the MPC XL as well, with fewer menu diving.

Functionally, the MPC XL and MPC LIVE III are similar. They even share the same 535 page User Manual.


https://cdn.inmusicbrands.com/Software/37/MPC%20Live%20III%2C%20MPC%20XL%20-%20User%20Guide%20-%20v3.7.pdf



You can think of the MPC LIVE III as the portable version of the MPC XL with a built-in microphone and internal battery. One can save $1,200 with the much smaller, lighter and portable model.

I am 100% satisfied with the MPC XL and Sweetwater’s prompt customer service. I could see the appeal of these Music Production Center hardware boxes to the younger crowd. If you found the Koala Samper or the Abelton Note app on iOS devices to be fun and addictive, then these MPC boxes takes the enjoyment of laying down beats to a whole new level.

No one takes the instant music coming out of these MPC boxes seriously. It was never meant to be. However, it did spawn a whole generation of Rap and Hip Hop music. They are meant to sound groovy and put you in a trance. I don’t think Roger Linn ever surmised what his invention would lead to so many decades into the future! He has become a living legend. He remains so humble to this day.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bhSWwf-i1k


Best,

David

Sorry David, but I don't think that there's anyone left here that wants to use an MPC, let alone pay $3000 to find out what the latest one can do...

Koala's as far as I want to go!

Hi Diki,

I see your point. I agree the price is too steep. The AKAI MPC boxes do make the process of sequencing music a lot more intuitive, faster and easier. When I compare the sequencer built into the Korg Kronos3 with the MPC workflow I can see right away why the MPC has such a large following.

There is no need to buy an MPC XL. Even the MPC One+ model that retails for $630 can be a great addition to a hardware workstation for replacing its basic sequencer.

It is interesting to note that the first MPC 60 was released back in 1988. It retailed for $5,000. That would be $13,700 in 2026.

MPC boxes are geared towards making beats. They are used to generate loop based music that is the backbone of Hip Hop.

This style of laying down basic loops has little relevance or appeal to the Arranger Keyboard Community. When someone buys an Arranger like the Yamaha Genos2, it comes loaded with thousands of loops all professionally designed by skilled musicians. In addition to the loop for the drums, you get a loop for the bass, pads, guitars, choirs, strings, organ and piano ranging from 2 to 32 bars.

The real magic of Arranger Keyboards happens when these loops change in real time to the chords you play with your left hand. Many of these Styles have been programmed to play a different arrangement based on whether you play a Major, Minor or 7th Chords. We are talking about a whole new level of sophistication.

Simple beat boxes like the MPCs just cannot do that. They excel in creating a basic drum loop.

Yes, it is technically possible to transpose a basic drum loop with added melodies using a piano or guitar and transpose them to different chords creating different clips and string these clips into a sequence that follows the chord changes of your target song. However, this is a painstaking process. It would be foolish and pointless to explore this path on an MPC when one can buy an arranger that comes with all the ready made STYLES.

The reason the younger crowd gravitates towards these MPC boxes is because it lets them create their own beats with minimal effort. The STYLES on the Arranger Keyboards do not conform to the music they listen to. They associate Arrangers Keyboards and Organs with the older retired crowd. They would be embarrassed to own an Arranger. However, they would gladly pick up an MPC One+ and spend hours entertaining themselves.

Perhaps one day we could marry of the process of making custom beats on MPC boxes to the sophistication of modern arrangers with their wide palette of chords that trigger fully orchestrated STYLES in real time.

Oh, and one last thing. It takes years of training to become a good arranger player. One must learn how to sightread fake books, have some knowledge on music theory, master hand coordination and develop piano skills. This takes time, effort and commitment.

No such skills are necessary to begin finger drumming on the 4x4 grid on an MPC device. It is full on enjoyment the moment you get your hands on one. The KOALA sampler drives home this point.

Best,

David

I've seen little kids having a great time with one finger on an arranger..! They need no more training than using a beat box. And I'd argue that, to create music that YOU hear in your head (rather than just triggering preprogrammed beats that someone else already created) is actually HARDER on an MPC.

The thing is, for triggering clips, you don't really need fancy pads. An iPad works fine. Quite honestly, I think you can replicate almost the entire MPC workflow on Koala or other tablet clip apps.

$5 vs $600 is still a scary jump in price, let alone up to $3000 for the latest greatest..!

As I continually try to point out, it's not about getting the best, most expensive tool you can. It's what you can do with what you WANT to spend. I could argue that, at our age, spending anything more than what Koala does is a waste. Plenty of other things that would make a MASSIVE difference to your music (better mics, software like Keyscapes, quality plugins for mastering etc) could be got with that $600-3000 💸💸💸

Hi Diki,

Yes, it is true that creating musically engaging beats from scratch on an MPC box is actually harder than triggering 1 finger professionally programmed styles on arrangers.

Yes, the basic workflow of sampling sounds, assigning them to pads, creating a 2 to 8 bar loop, creating a sequence and launching clips can be done effortlessly on an iPad. It is amazing to see how far technology has evolved and made everything so affordable.

At the same time I applaud AKAI for creating the ultimate hardware sequencer, drum machine, sampler that embodies the original vision of Roger Linn. The build quality, ergonomics, functionality, processing power, sounds and effects on the MPC XL are close to perfection.

I watched an engaging documentary on Roger Linn. He designed the LM-1 Drum Computer in 1980. It had 18 sampled drum sounds and sold for $5,000. The LM-1 was featured in 1981 in the top 10 hit – “Don’t you want me Baby” by Human League. It was featured in hits by Prince.

The LinnDrum was released in 1982 for $3,000. This was featured in several Pop Hits:

Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper (1983)
Eyes without a face by Billy Idol (1983)
Take on Me by AHA (1985)
Everybody wants to rule the world by Tears for Fears (1985)

Roger’s company ran to financial troubles. He joined AKAI. He released the MPC 60 in 1988 that initially sold for $5,000. This model was followed by the MPC 60 II, MPC 3000 and MPC 5000.

His invention led to the birth of Hip-Hop. He stated, “I can only make the brush, the artist chooses what to paint with it.”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTek99yM6TA


I think the MPC XL represents the final incarnation of Roger’s dream. This would not have been possible without AKAI’s expertise on hardware manufacturing and business acumen. They have released over 15 MPC models over the past 38 years, each one pushing the envelope of what can be realized in a standalone box.

Nicely written Dave

It may be that both MPC's and arrangers are facing the same issue. A generation (or two!) have come along since they were musically relevant and have found alternatives that are as effective and FAR cheaper in software, while anything that adds increased functionality to the old hardware comes at a formidable price!

Yamaha seem to be the ONLY arranger maker that is continuing development of anything other than uber-expensive TOTL $4000+ arrangers or toy <$500 arrangers. Been over 8 YEARS since the PA1000. By contrast, the SX920 is only a couple of years old.

This pretty much mimics the way home organs bowed out. Eventually all that was left were the uber-expensive models. You can still buy reasonably priced B3 clones, but anything that resembles a more Japanese/European style organ is five figures (or more!). I think Lowery were the last 'affordable' home organ maker. It's looking like Yamaha are going to be 'last man standing' for affordable arrangers.

In the meantime, software that emulates MPC workflow is all over the place. But software arrangers are pretty rare and mostly labors of love, not polished professional offerings. Most of this may come from the fact that arrangers were generally FAR more content rather than feature driven. An arranger without a soundset or styles is the exact OPPOSITE of what the vast majority of arranger players want!

While computer software does an incredible job of emulating older synths, one thing that lags terribly is emulation of ROMplers (which were the sound engines of arrangers pretty much from the start). The most recent ROMpler emulation is Korg's Triton, and that's about it. So using that as the sound engine for a software arranger gives you basically an at best 1999 era arranger!

MPC beat making was all about sampling vinyl. The included content didn't make or break the deal...

Sadly, the only people that CAN make a decent software arranger seem to be those either exiting the industry, or are the last man standing and unwilling to cut into their current sales...

This is the PERFECT time for Roland (who only make toy arrangers any more) to come up with a software (preferably tablet) arranger and leverage their mature software AND ROMpler soundsets and great styles that aren't making them a penny at this time. 🎹😎

Did a quick search and found these 2 arranger software apps for iPad, haven't had a good look at them but its a start.

1 Man Band Lite

xMure

Enjoy

Bill

One man band hasn't been updated in 7 years. Xmure is more recent, but manipulates audio files, not really how an arranger works.

As I mentioned earlier, an arranger is a combination of three things: the arranger engine, the styles, and the sounds. This is where the software goes wrong. 1 Man Band expects you to load up a crappy soundfont. They basically ALL suck, even compared to say a Super Canvas. I certainly have never found a Soundfont that replicates all the sounds in a G1000, let alone anything newer.

This is why we need the majors to do this. They're the only ones with fully developed soundsets. A style player into a software Integra7 would seriously challenge most decent contemporary midline arrangers.

But the same style engine into a crappy Soundfont is going to sound early 90's at best.

If anyone is curious to explore the MPC platform, Andy Avgousti has published the definitive MPC BIBLE.


https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php/268/mpc-bible/


You can download a free preview of his step-by-step guide at:


https://www.mpc-samples.com/demos/MPC%20Bible%203%20Look%20Inside.pdf


I found this massive 1381 page Guide to be indispensable for anyone new to the MPC workflow. This guide covers MPC Firmware 3.6 with a free update to 3.7 coming soon. I love how Andy approaches the MPC Workflow in a structured format assuming the reader is a complete beginner. Every chapter builds upon lessons learnt in the previous chapter.

The size of the download is a 1,185 MB ZIP file. It includes the 80MB PDF Guide and 55MB EPUB version that can be opened in your tablet or smartphone. The remainder covers 27 Project Files, Drum kits and Instruments.

I am impressed with the sheer amount of information presented in this package. This is a work of passion, a labor of love.

Andy Avgousti <andy@mpc-samples.com> is the founder of MPC-Samples.com.

These are the top MPC resource sites:

MPC-Samples.com - MPC format sample packs & MPC books
MPC-Forums.com - The world's largest MPC community
MPC-Tutor.com - The original free MPC Tutorial site

If you are curious to learn the evolution for the MPC line starting from the MPC 60, here is an archive of all the User Guide and Service Manuals for legacy MPC devices:


https://www.synthxl.com/service-manual/akai/

Sweetwater posted my detailed review of the AKAI MPC XL standalone Music Production Center.


https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/...-center/reviews


I mentioned I was 100% satisfied with the MPC XL and concluded my review with this request:

I have one enhancement request for Firmware 3.8 that could further expand the usability and appeal of the MPC platform. Let’s say I make a 4-bar beat pattern using a drum, bass, piano, and guitar using MIDI tracks in the key of C. Imagine if I could trigger this pattern to respond to the chords I play in Real Time on my MIDI controller keyboard like F, G7, Am7, Em7, Dm7, etc.

This is what Arranger Keyboards like the Genos2 excel at. It comes with thousands of factory programmed loops that can be triggered in real time by the chords you play.

The AKAI MPC XL is just a whisker away from realizing this functionality. As of now I would need to manually create separate loops for all the Chords I would be using in a song. Real Time Chord transposition based on a single loop made in the key of C would be an immense time saver.


Best regards,


David

The problem here is that an arranger doesn't just transpose a loop or adjust the 3rds or add 7ths, etc. for different chords.

Most arrangers can have an utterly different loop for maj/min/7ths/dims etc. Plus there's a fair amount going on out of sight to make sure instruments don't play outside their natural range, that if there are lines going on, changing to another key or chord doesn't make the pattern jump around like a jackrabbit, and there's some pretty complicated stuff going on to smoothly jump to the correct note WITHOUT RETRIGGERING THE NOTE if you play the new chord a few ticks late.

A modern arranger engine is a marvel of some VERY complex stuff going on to interpret the simple chords we play into musically accurate parts. I doubt that Akai (who've never really made a true 'proper' arranger) are likely to want to dive into something as complex as a brand new arranger engine, particularly as most people in the MPC ecosphere are only using audio loops, and MIDI is less important.

A tie in between Akai and someone like Korg would probably be the only way this might happen, and I just don't see that type of inter-company cooperation happening here...

Hi Diki,

I hear you. Yes, the algorithm behind generating musically pleasing voicings for Minor, Dominant 7th, Diminished, Augmented, Suspended, 6th, 9th chords, etc. derived from a Major Chord pattern is very complex.

This is done through Note Transposition Tables. This Arranger Tutorial video attempts to unravel how Korg approaches the problem.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT8bA314CCQ


Fortunately, Korg, Yamaha, Roland and Ketron have already hammered down the mathematics behind this. Akai does not need to reinvent the wheel. As you mentioned, Akai needs to collaborate with one of these 4 major Arranger Manufacturers, preferably Korg, to implement Real Time Chord changes to the MPC platform.

Obviously, this is not applicable to audio tracks which most MPC users work with. This can only be done within MIDI tracks. Nevertheless, I see the inevitable merger between static beat boxes and real time arrangers somewhere down the line. It is the next logical step up the evolutionary ladder.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Chord ID feature introduced in Logic Pro 12. It can analyze an audio file and figure out the Chord. Next, you can convert that chord into MIDI data and copy it to a new MIDI track.

Things are evolving fast in the AI landscape. It is possible to create fully orchestrated musical scores with a simple text input specifying the genre, the singer you wish to mimic, the language spoken and other specifics.

Here are a few examples:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzddQoCKKss


Why bother to learn music theory or master a musical instrument when AI delivers such good results!

One of the most intriguing features of the Technics SX-KN1000 Arranger was its COMPOSER function.

I could lay down a pattern in C Major using 5 individual MIDI Tracks:

BASS
CHORD/ACCOMP1
ACCOMP2
ACCOMP3
DRUMS

I would push the DRUM button and create a drum pattern. Next, I would press the CHORD button and play a C Major Chord while the drum pattern was playing. Next, I would press the ACCOMP2 button on lay down a pad or strings while the DRUM and CHORD tracks kept playing in the background.

Once I had built up my custom loop in C Major, I could proceed to play a complete song triggering chord changes with my left hand like any built-in factory Style.

What made this process so intriguing and spontaneous is that I could do this without ever having to stop the beat. It was seamless, simple and effective. The Technics KN-1000 was way ahead of its time.

I see a lot of talented performers on YouTube do live looping with MPC devices. However, they all are constrained by a static loop. Yes, you can mute out the drums or the chords during playback and bring them back in to add some variety, but the basic loop structure remains static.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could incorporate Note Transposition Tables into the AKAI MPC XL? Even simple derivatives like F, G7, Am, Dm7 from a C Major pattern would suffice for starters.

This would open up a whole new world of possibilities to the art of Live Looping. One can start by building a drum loop, add a chord pattern in C Major, add some pads, strings, guitars and then proceed to play a song on their MIDI controller keyboard while triggering the appropriate chords with their left hand – all in one pass, without having to stop the beat.

The younger generation hates the built in styles in arranger workstations. Well, Akai can give them the tools to unleash their creativity and build their own custom styles that respond to chord changes. The younger crowd is enamored with beat boxes. This enhancement would be the bridge to the world of arrangers.

I say this would be the ideal way to introduce the magic of arrangers to the new generation without actually spelling it out.

Quite honestly, have any of you LISTENED to modern pop music? Do you see much of a burning need for an arranger engine that can generate half-diminished chords, or 7#9's, or augmented chords, or any of the chord vocabulary from the 20th century?

Today's music is relentlessly diatonic, utterly simple in construction, often little more than a four bar loop repeated ad nauseam..! Most of the interest and variety comes from drum beats and complex layering of textures. You’re lucky if a 'chord' even has a third, the open9 dominates...

If you want to make 'modern' music, the tools that actually created it in the first place are by FAR the better tool to replicate it. Trying to bend an arranger's OS into making utterly modern music is mostly an exercise in turning OFF the arranger, and using what rudimentary clip launching features have been half-assedly added to the OS recently in a vain effort to remain viable.

Young musicians honestly don't NEED what an arranger offers. The new tools they're using (and I exclude AI compositional tools because the minute you use them, you've admitted you're NOT a musician!) do the job they WANT to do far better than an arranger.

Simple exercise... take ANYTHING from today's Billboard Hot 20. Try to get even CLOSE with an arranger. Bloody near impossible, right?

I rest my case...!