MPC Key 61
Comments
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I would buy a komplete kontrol keyboard that could run my personal kontakt libraries dawless right now. Would need something like maschine+ mk2 though as that sounds like its buggy a.f., and not just ported over.
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Such a standalone device would remain forever buggy and behind in development compared to "desktop" ecosystem.
The best way to assure vibrant development is to NOT have a separate "brains and main display" function for standalone devices. iPadOS is the logical bridge between the "desktop" realm and the desire for immediacy/portability of standalone devices.
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Yeah I guess all the synths from the past are no good these days.
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If the goal is to provide Kontakt and its libraries in a highly portable and immediate form, iPadOS is going to provide the quickest and most complete path to achieving that. It is virtually guaranteed.
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Also an iPad Pro M1 plus an optimized “dumb” controller may cost less and do MUCH more than this Akai workstation keyboard.
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You really do like to place your bets on what isn’t yet available, as if it’s the all holy grail solution. Not all of us are interested in an apple based solution and the headaches that go with it. I’m not looking at a performer on stage and thinking “how cool and pro do they look with their iPad band…” an M1 iPad with 2TB is $3K aud, since you can’t upgrade storage in these and for what is proposed that would be the one to pick. At that cost, I still need a keyboard and pads, audio interface, content, software etc. seems clunky and costly to me.
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Once again with mantras… storage… you can plug an external usb drive from looooooong ago to iDevices.
Well, you can plug one in if you first connect a hub dangling out the ass end of it tying up that one and only port they have and we all love carrying around hubs and drives to expand on the limited storage options on offer.
The OT wasn't a discussion about how reliable, cost effective, all powerful and capable ipads are, I have 3 ipads, they are just home automation controllers now since they were more a gimmick of usefulness IMO and even with the all mighty M1 solution, they will still be a rather "meh" powerhouse for decent production work (could argue that fact till the cows come in for milking). If I was going to waste $3K on a tablet to then connect to external drives, audio interfaces and midi devices i'd get a laptop that has an actual keyboard and usefulness like I already have.
I think the actual point of this kind of device is lost on some who cannot see the forest for the trees and are always wanting that next thing that doesn't yet exist to make their production better. Some of us aren't wanting the most apparent flexible solution, or the most fancy way to browse through billions of sound files sonically, or the bragging rights to say "powered by M1...". If that's your bag of fun then cool.
Some of us like the idea of something modern from what was around decades ago, a keyboard you can switch on and immediately be playing a decent piano or some pads, drums, guitar or whatever sound, you can hit a PHYSICAL button and start getting an idea down. No need to link things up or find your ipad, charge everything, troubleshoot why today the WIFI link isn't working to the keyboard, why you have latency, why the pad controller is suddenly xmitting on another MIDI channel.....
Someone like me for instance has an idea that has just appeared while watching a movie and wants to sit and play it out quickly. So this would be simple to switch on and get to work within a few seconds whereas the "ipad rout" i'd have to first find the damn thing (because I was using it for something else or one of the kids has borrowed it), now I need to plug it in because it's dead flat again, wait 5 minutes before it switches on, link it to my hardware, open some kind of software, open a project, load an instrument and maybe record something if I haven't already lost the will to live.... Why am I doing that when I have a computer workstation for this anyway.
So while I get what you ipad fans are saying, yes it may have a bucket load more power, sure it could be more flexible, yes you can say you use and recommend Apple products, unless you can detail exactly what hardware and software + instruments + content can be combined with a workflow example on how it would work compared to something like this solution, then it's not really applicable as an alternative if it cannot yet(ever) do what we can do right now.
Either way, i'm personally not interested in this at the cost it is. Knock off $1k tho and i'm considering it just for the ease of use and convenience and i'd take that physical interface over an ipad all day long.
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Lol...right. Until Apple decides your ipad is obsolete in 2-3 years. Korg oasys still works as do openlabs keyboards.
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Ipad 1 still works?
All exactly the same, they just doubled the RAM in the Keys to 4gb.
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My fault is trying to share my ideas at forums (once again) where people ask for opinion but can’t handle different than they expect (sadly).
Well that is what a forum is my friend, a place where ideas can be discussed and not everyone agrees. Possibly if you can't hack your objective idea being shot down, forum isn't where you wanna be.
Some users will like the OT product for the fact it is NOT something like an ipad or a laptop that you have to setup, connect, configure, load software etc. While the price tag is far from my personal liking and the product does not suit my own workflow based around a high powered PC, Virtual Instruments and a DAW I do like the fact it is able to be switched on and you can start getting an idea down fast just as we have been able to do for decade with samplers and sequencers of the past.
As someone who has used iPads for many things over the years, I do not find them more convenient than actual dedicated devices. Take a TV remote for instance. When iPads first came out I was involved with home automation products that could turn your iPad into a macro based universal remote. After 10 years, most people I encountered including myself would always switch back to the TV remote because it was more effective and "simpler" to use. Just because something can do a task doesn't always make it the better solution.
There is a reason MPC and M+ are still things today, why Pioneer still make standalone digital DJ decks and mixers and why still, most professionals prefer these things over ipads or laptops. One because it is physical devices with buttons you can memorise and 2, because its just plain more fun than fiddling with your lap-pad.
Now, back to the OT. It looks pretty cool to me, I like a lot of the functionality and ease of use, expensive but cool and it also looks fun to use too. Certainly wouldn't mind seeing this same thing based around the M+ but not something I will be considering unless it drops by at least $1K aud
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You said Mantra too many times :)
Also, i'm not reading all you write, some of it is lost in translation to me or TLDR. I'm not here to argue about stuff I don't care about. Just thought this was a cool product designed for the people that have been asking for it. Seems it strikes at the heart of some's opinions tho...
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Guys, honestly and respectfully.... :
Turning everything into an iPad/Apple conversation is very annoying, it's not the topic here at all and trying to convince people with no interest in that platform that it is amazing, the future, and whatever else is like trying to convince a Windows/Mac user that Linux is amazing then proceed to go on and on about it... even for me as someone with iPad interest, this back-and-forth gets old real fast.
I came to this thread to read people's opinions on a standalone keyboard and all I see is "Ipad this", "apple that", pls cut it out.
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Welp, the point of mentioning iPad that dramatically different options will emerge next year as "Pro level" applications become available. This upcoming reality will make devices like this Akai very stunted in comparison. It will be a huge change and this Akai will quickly lose value.
Don't buy it unless you're OK with it soon becoming a boat anchor.
But I'm sure it's a lot of fun.
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Yes, because when something else comes to market, everything else is obsolete. Spoken like a true Apple believer.
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So my friend already got the new MPC Key 61 and showed me some features over FaceTime. I think loyal MPC users are going to love it. Some things I noted:
- He put a 2TB SSD in the drive slot!
- He sent 12 audio outs to his Tascam Model 12 mixer over USB! No other audio cables used.
- Old project loading from classic hardware was seamless.
- DAW control was as expected.
- Export to Ableton Project is functional
- Changing hardware synth patches (Yamaha Motif) via program change was seamless.
I'm really happy with my setup, but definitely feeling a little FOMO. NI, PLEASE RESPOND, but add MPE and Poly Aftertouch, then take my money 🤑
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