14 NEW PLUGINS AND THE FIRST EVER VOCAL TUNER FOR STANDALONE DEVICES

The most advanced MPC 2.10 standalone firmware brings 14 new plugins including the first-ever AIR Vocal Insert Effects Suite for MPC One, MPC Live II, MPC X, and MPC Desktop Software. The news MPC 2.10 offers a powerfully creative standalone music-making experience.

MPC 2.10 Highlights

• 4 New Plugin Instruments: Hype, Solina, Odyssey, and Mellotron
• New AIR Vocal Insert Effect Suite w/ Automatic Vocal Tuning, AIR Doubler and AIR Harmonizer Plugins
• USB Class Compliant Audio Interface Support
• 7 new Insert Effects including Half Speed, Diode Clipper, Stutter and more
• MPC Drum and Keygroup Engine Enhancements including Akai Pro Sample Tail, Dedicated Pitch Envelope, and Keygroup Portamento
• 10 New Drum Pad Effects including Ringmod, Bitcrush, Decimator and more
• New Sample Key Detection

Standalone Vocal Plugin Power

MPC 2.10 rises with the new AIR Vocal Suite. MPC users have a dedicated set of plugins to record and produce the perfect vocal recordings, right from the standalone MPC devices. AIR Vocal Tuner, the first-ever vocal tuner for standalone, empowers users to dial in vocal tracks with powerful pitch correction. Whether the need is a subtle fix for a pitchy note or that modern automatically tuned vocal sound, AIR Vocal Tuner is a powerful tool for vocal production.

Loading the AIR Vocal Doubler plugin adds dimension and thickness to any vocal track. Quickly achieve a layered sound, or a wide stereo spread for bigger, more present vocals that cut through the mix. When one voice isn’t cutting it, the AIR Vocal Harmonizer plugin will instantly create rich, layered harmonies. Transform single voice tracks into full, 4-part vocal backing sections without having to record, edit or stack multiple takes – keeping you locked in the creative seat without interruption.

New Plugin Instruments with World-class Sound Engines

MPC 2.10 adds four new plugin instruments sure to bring a surge of creative sonic inspiration. AIR Hype plugin from the Akai Pro FORCE steps onto the MPC stage for the first time with over 1500 presets including pianos, analog synths, Wavetable Pads, leads, FM plucked instruments and more. Creating custom signature sounds is easy with detailed macro controls to modify and save a wide range of parameters from the vibrant stock preset library.

AIR Mellotron is a recreation of the classic tape-based keyboard machine, equally suited to a wide variety of modern sounds. With a vibrant GUI, users can dial in intricate textures and tones never before imaginable, right on their MPC. MPC also adds AIR Solina, a software plugin version of the legendary string machine. Play a single synth part, or layer multiple tones for a massively rich and full ensemble. Mellotron and Solina include the new built-in AIR Flavor effects panel to add a wide variety of LoFi textures to all the synth sounds. Experiment with radio or phone simulations, distortion, tape flutter, and more to add new characters into your sounds.

Additionally, MPC 2.10 adds the WayOutWare Odyssey plugin instrument – a faithful recreation of the all-time favorite analog duophonic synth. Odyssey was created using circuit-modeled oscillators and filters and adds a fully automated GUI. This powerfully versatile synth plugin completes the MPC synth engine collection now including an array of 8 powerful plugin instruments.

MPC 2.10 also adds 7 new Insert Effects plugins: Half-Speed, Stutter, Diode Clipper, AIR Diffuser Delay, Granulator, Sample Delay, and AIR Limiter – which lends itself well to MPC standalone mastering capabilities. 10 new Drum Pad Effects are also included to mangle and distort audio in a myriad of ways – a truly unmatched arsenal of standalone tools to fuel your creativity and your music creation.

More Effects, More Connections, More Power

The standalone MPC now supports USB Class Compliant audio interface devices. Connect any eligible audio interface and enjoy up to 32-Inputs and 32-Outputs. Increase your input count to record more tracks on your MPC One, or expand the outputs of your MPC Live II and MPC X to route audio into your favorite analog outboard gear, all via a single USB cable.

Advertisement

With the 2.10 features update being the most significant in MPC history, the standalone MPC experience has evolved exponentially. Akai Professional, Senior Product Manager Dan Gill stated, “The MPC Feature Update 2.10 is the most significant firmware/software release we have ever delivered. Being first to market with a vocal processing suite— including an automatic vocal tuning plugin for standalone MPC users is exciting and something we have worked hard on. Combining that with 14 new plugins and the ability to connect up to 32 inputs and outputs with Class Compliant USB devices untaps new creative potential for MPC users.”

Pricing and Availability

MPC 2.10 is available now. It is a free update for MPC One, MPC Live, MPC Live II, MPC X, and MPC2 Desktop users.

Advertisement

Akai Professional® Introduces EWI Solo

Akai Professional, a leading manufacturer of music equipment for performers and producers, today announced the latest addition to their Electronic Wind Instrument family, EWI Solo.

This next-generation wind instrument is primed for any setting, fusing all the expressive musical capabilities and control found in traditional acoustic wind instruments with the versatility of an electronic instrument and a go-anywhere specification.

Standalone Performance

Woodwind and Brass instrumentalists will appreciate EWI Solo’s completely untethered performance capability. New to the EWI Series is EWI Solo’s built-in speaker, calibrated for the most natural sound reproduction experience to recreate every subtle nuance of the instrumentalist’s performance. When fused with an internal, rechargeable long-life lithium-ion battery for 12+ hours of uninterrupted play time, EWI Solo is perfect for practice and impromptu performances alike.

Hundreds of Sounds Included

Akai Professional’s EWI series has a reputation for sounds that inspire creativity and guarantee multi-genre application right out-the-box. EWI Solo is no exception, primed for any performance with 200 premium onboard tones that react immediately to even the most subtle of inflections. From luscious, evolving synth pads to an authentic, sultry jazz clarinet, every genre is covered with an expertly curated catalog of exclusive tones. EWI Solo’s ultra-responsive mouthpiece, with an air-pressure level sensor and bite sensor, precisely controls volume and pitch dynamics for an uncompromising response. Combine this with dedicated FX controls to add Reverb, Delay, and Chorus, plus editing facilities for Pitch, Tuning and Dual LFOs, and EWI Solo provides everything musicians need to shape their signature sound.

Connect for More Control

Whether it’s practice, live performance or studio recording, EWI Solo’s arsenal of connectivity options provide complete hookup flexibility. Delve into a world of software instruments with EWI Solo’s USB-MIDI connectivity. Connect directly to PA systems with the ¼-inch output. Practice privately, at any hour, with the 1/8-inch headphone output. Users can even connect a playback device to the EWI via the 1⁄8-inch aux input to play along with a backing track. Whatever your needs, EWI Solo delivers.

Building Upon a Legend

EWI mainstays from Akai Professional’s flagship EWI5000 are also thoughtfully included for optimal performance capability. Octave rollers instantly shift the note key’s range, effortlessly changing the playable register. Users can add portamento using the conveniently located glide plate. Get exactly the expression needed with an adjustable pitch bend plate. Musicians can even save any program edits and recall them on the fly with the handy favorites feature.

Familiar Technique

For Woodwind and Brass instrumentalists, no additional fingering technique is needed. EWI Solo adapts to all main fingering styles at the twist of a dial, offering flute, oboe, saxophone and EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument) fingering modes.

EWI Solo Highlights

• Authentic wind-instrument performance and response for the digital era
• 200 onboard premium acoustic and synth sounds
• 12+ hours of play time using the rechargeable lithium-ion battery (charging adapter included)
• Built-in speaker calibrated for the most natural sound reproduction experience
• OLED display to easily view presets and parameters
• USB port for USB-MIDI connection and battery charging
• 1/4inch audio output, 1⁄8-inch headphone output
• 1⁄8-inch auxiliary input

About Akai Professional

The world’s most influential manufacturer of music production gear, Akai Professional develops creative technologies to empower music makers with tools that are unmatched in expressive capability. Akai Professional is best known for creating the legendary MPC, an instrument that has inspired generations of producers and performers and spawned entirely new genres of music. Akai Professional is a part of the inMusic family of premiere music brands.

Pricing and Availability

Advertisement

EWI Solo will be available Q3 2020 and ships with a retail price of £399.99.

An expansive 2GB content library, 3 built-in MPC plugins, and MIDI hardware controller compatibility make MPC Beats the choice for the entry-level beat maker

Akai Professional, a leading manufacturer of music equipment for performers and producers, today announced the latest addition to their DAW software lineup, MPC Beats. Built on the legacy of the legendary MPC hardware and innovative MPC2 desktop software, MPC Beats is available to anyone as a free download from the Akai Professional website and empowers new beat makers with all the tools to create excellent sounding beats.

MPC Beats Highlights

• Free software based on the legendary MPC workflow
• 2 Audio, 8 Midi/Instrument Tracks
• 16 Pads, Sample Editing, VST/AU support
• Ready to create right away – sample/sound content, effects, and virtual instruments built-in
• Can be mapped to any MIDI controller, including MPC and MPK mini
• Easy, unified software, plugins, and virtual instruments installer
• Special Affordable MPC Beats version of Expansions (starting at $9.99)

Intuitive MPC Workflow

Aspiring beat-makers ready to delve into the world of music production will find MPC Beats an ultra-intuitive, inspiring entry-point for producing professional sounding music. Underpinned by the renowned MPC workflow, MPC Beats offers an easily accessible 4×4 drum sample grid, a piano roll, sample library browser and sample edit window. Users can seamlessly switch between these workspaces to discover, create, and edit their beats to perfection. For immediate accessibility, MPC Beats includes smart layouts from the included beat templates – the ideal starting point for new users looking to master the MPC workflow.

MPC Beats Academy

To make sure new users can start creating music quickly, Akai Professional created the MPC Beats Academy – a series of videos that walk you through the process of creating different styles of music using MPC Beats. Find the MPC Beats Academy here

Samples & Sounds for Success

MPC Beats comes with a 2GB content library with selections from the most popular MPC Expansion Pack sound libraries. The carefully curated selection gives beat makers the freshest in-demand sounds for modern beat-making. From drum kits with punchy kicks and crispy claps, to 3 plugin instruments (Bassline, Tubesynth & Electric) from MPC, everything needed to create great sounding beats is here. Adding the final pro polish to tracks couldn’t be simpler with over 80 FX plugins from the AIR Effects collection – a premium selection of mixdown and mastering tools – giving beat makers everything they need to finish tracks and get them ready to share on any streaming platform.

Controller Connection

Get even more out of MPC Beats with integrated hardware control. MIDI keyboards like the venerable Akai Professional MPK mini, 4×4 and 8×8 pads, or even standalone MPC hardware all work seamlessly with MPC Beats so beat makers can connect their devices and elevate their workflow to greater heights with immersive tactile control of the software. For complete setup simplicity, MPC Beats comes auto-mapped to some of the world’s most popular controllers from numerous brands. So whether it’s an Akai Pro MPK mini, Alesis V-Mini or M-Audio Keystation, there are no setup headaches and roadblocks to your creativity.

Advertisement

More Power Packed Tools

MPC Beats features 2 stereo audio tracks to sample your vocals, instruments, sound design elements and more. MPC Beats also supports AU/VST plugin instruments and audio effects, allowing beat makers to continue to expand their instrument collections. For complete integration with existing systems, MPC Beats opens as a plugin in all mainstream DAWs to merge the best of all DAW worlds. With MPC Beats, the power and performance the modern beat maker demands is there for any workflow imaginable.

About Akai Professional

The world’s most influential manufacturer of music production gear, Akai Professional develops creative technologies to empower music makers with tools that are unmatched in expressive capability. Akai Professional is best known for creating the legendary MPC, an instrument that has inspired generations of producers and performers and spawned entirely new genres of music. Akai Professional is a part of the inMusic family of premiere music brands.

Pricing and Availability

MPC Beats is be available as a free download since July 21st, 2020.