Behold Akai MPC 3.0! It’s a massive and free update to the MPC operating system with a new main mode, DAW-style arranger, track and pad mixer and much more.
Akai MPC 3
The Akai MPC community is losing its collective mind over MPC 3.0, the upcoming new MPC operating system. Free for users of compatible hardware, Akai MPC 3.0 is a complete redesign of the OS, with many long-awaited features finally seeing the light of day.
New Main Mode
The first and perhaps biggest update in Akai MPC 3.0 is the new Main Mode. This gives the user fast access to all of their different tracks from one place, with things like audio editing and MIDI information previews. You can even sample direct to pads from here.
Akai Professional says the Main Mode delivers “a significantly enhanced user experience, blending visual feedback, stunning colors and seamless navigation of every parameter of your project.”
Linear Arranger
Also new is the Linear Arranger (which appears to be ported over from the Akai Force). This is a DAW-style arranger that places all of your track types in one window. Audio and MIDI together at last. Things are color-coded too, making it easy to differentiate track types. There’s also automation for each track, submix and main output.
Mixer, Macros and More
Other significant changes to Akai MPC 3.0 include a track and pad mixer mode for quick audio adjusting plus individual XL channel strips for working with sends and plugins. You can change plugin order now too. Hallelujah!
There are a number of macro enhancements, with Q-Link macro controls plus an XY multizone performance macro pad.
Other new features include disk streaming, drum samples can now be stacked up to eight deep per pad, an updated grid mode and more. It will also work with Stems.
Akai MPC 3 Availability
Akai MPC 3.0 is free and will support Live, Live II, One, One+, X, X SE, Key 37 and Key 61 models. It will be entering public beta in a few weeks. Sign up on the Akai Professional page for more information.
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