Akai MPC Touch User manual

User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.0

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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................9
System Requirements and Product Support .....................................................................................9
About This User Guide .......................................................................................................................10
Important Notes .................................................................................................................................. 11
Setup ....................................................................................................................................................11
1. Installation ................................................................................................................................... 11
2. Connection .................................................................................................................................. 12
3. Getting Started ............................................................................................................................ 13
Unlocking Your MPC Software ....................................................................................................................... 14
Features ....................................................................................................................................................15
Top Panel............................................................................................................................................. 15
Display .............................................................................................................................................18
Rear Panel ...........................................................................................................................................20

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Quick Start /Tutorial................................................................................................................................ 22
Starting Up........................................................................................................................................... 22
Creating a Drum Kit............................................................................................................................ 23
Recording a Drum Sequence.............................................................................................................25
Organizing Samples............................................................................................................................ 26
Editing Note Events ............................................................................................................................ 28
Making Basic Sound Edits .................................................................................................................31
Recording a Bass Track..................................................................................................................... 33
Creating a Song ..................................................................................................................................38
Exporting the Song ............................................................................................................................. 39

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Other Features Explained .................................................................................................................. 40
Step Sequencer............................................................................................................................... 40
Drum Loops and Chop Mode..........................................................................................................42
Pad Muting and Track Muting .........................................................................................................45
Sample Recording ........................................................................................................................... 47
Sample Editing ................................................................................................................................ 49
Recording Automation with the XY Pad .......................................................................................... 51
Using MPC as a Plugin....................................................................................................................52
Operation .................................................................................................................................................. 53
General Features.................................................................................................................................54
Control Types ..................................................................................................................................54
Programs .........................................................................................................................................60
About Programs............................................................................................................................................. 60
Drum Programs.............................................................................................................................................. 61
Keygroup Programs ....................................................................................................................................... 64
Plugin Programs............................................................................................................................................. 66
MIDI Programs ............................................................................................................................................... 68
Menu................................................................................................................................................70
16 Level ...........................................................................................................................................71

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Effects..............................................................................................................................................72
Overview........................................................................................................................................................ 72
Insert Effects .................................................................................................................................................. 77
Send/Return Effects ....................................................................................................................................... 84
Differences Between Plugin and Standalone Usage.......................................................................88
Modes ..................................................................................................................................................89
Main Mode.......................................................................................................................................90
Grid View .......................................................................................................................................118
Track View ..................................................................................................................................... 126
Step Sequencer............................................................................................................................. 130
XYFX Mode....................................................................................................................................136
Sample Edit Mode ......................................................................................................................... 140
Trim Mode ................................................................................................................................................... 143
Chop Mode.................................................................................................................................................. 155
Program Mode............................................................................................................................................. 168
Settings ....................................................................................................................................................... 177
Sampler .........................................................................................................................................179
Pad Mute Mode ............................................................................................................................. 185
Pad Mute ..................................................................................................................................................... 186
Pad Group ................................................................................................................................................... 187

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Pad Mixer ...................................................................................................................................... 188
Levels .......................................................................................................................................................... 191
Panning ....................................................................................................................................................... 191
Mute ............................................................................................................................................................ 192
Send Effects ................................................................................................................................................ 192
Insert Effects ................................................................................................................................................ 193
Routing ........................................................................................................................................................ 194
Next Sequence Mode.................................................................................................................... 195
Program Edit Mode ....................................................................................................................... 198
Drum Programs............................................................................................................................................ 199
Keygroup Programs ..................................................................................................................................... 216
Plugin Programs........................................................................................................................................... 230
MIDI Programs ............................................................................................................................................. 231
Anatomy of an Envelope............................................................................................................................... 232
Looper ........................................................................................................................................... 234
Track Mute Mode .......................................................................................................................... 240
Track Mute................................................................................................................................................... 241
Track Group................................................................................................................................................. 242
Channel Mixer................................................................................................................................ 243
Track Mixer .................................................................................................................................................. 247
Program Mixer ............................................................................................................................................. 248
Return Mixer ................................................................................................................................................ 250
Submixer ..................................................................................................................................................... 251
Master Mixer ................................................................................................................................................ 252

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Song Mode ....................................................................................................................................253
Browser ......................................................................................................................................... 256
Pad Perform Mode ........................................................................................................................ 260
Pad Color Mode ............................................................................................................................ 264
Appendix .................................................................................................................................................266
Effects and Parameters.................................................................................................................... 266
Reverbs.......................................................................................................................................... 266
Delays ............................................................................................................................................270
Flangers .........................................................................................................................................275
Chorus ...........................................................................................................................................276
Autopans ....................................................................................................................................... 277
Tremolos........................................................................................................................................278
Phasers..........................................................................................................................................279
HP (High-Pass) Filters....................................................................................................................280
LP (Low-Pass) Filters.....................................................................................................................282
Parametric EQs..............................................................................................................................284
Distortions ..................................................................................................................................... 286
Compressors .................................................................................................................................289
Bit Reducers .................................................................................................................................. 291
Other..............................................................................................................................................292

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Glossary .............................................................................................................................................294
Trademarks and Licenses................................................................................................................ 300

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Introduction
Thanks for choosing the MPC Touch. Fusing Akai Professional’s legendary MPC layout and workflow
with the power of your computer, MPC software is an unrivaled instrument for music production.
Introducing a new approach to music production with an ultra-fast and super-intuitive workflow, the
Touch is powered by a radiant 7” color multi-touch display. Literally grab and pinch waveforms, draw
midi events, adjust envelopes, chop samples, add effects and precisely set your controls using your
fingertips. Combined with the classic MPC feel, sound and vastly improved pads, the MPC Touch
embodies the best elements of our past while taking music production tech into the future.
Welcome to the MPC family.
Akai Professional
System Requirements and Product Support
For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and
product registration, visit akaipro.com.
For additional support, visit akaipro.com/support.

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About This User Guide
This manual should help you get familiar with using the MPC Touch to control your MPC software.
For consistency, the terminology throughout is based on the MPC parameter names.
We also used specific formatting to indicate particular topics of significance:
Important / Note / Tip: Important or helpful information on a given topic.
Names of buttons, controls, parameters, settings, and other options are written in bold characters
throughout the manual.
Examples: Press the Play Start button.
Turn Q-Link Knob 4.
Tap the Mute button.
The Velocity ranges from 0to 127.
Set the Sample Play selector to One-Shot.
Click BPM, and then use the numeric keypad to enter a 120 as the tempo.
Some parts of this manual refer to other relevant chapters or sections, which are cited in bold, italic
blue characters. Click the text to skip immediately to that section.
Examples: Read the Important Notes section before proceeding.
For more information about installing the necessary drivers and software, please see
the Installation section.
To learn more about using send effects, please see General Features >Effects >
Send/Return Effects.

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Important Notes
•Read the included Safety & Warranty Manual before using the MPC hardware.
•Before getting started and connecting devices to the MPC hardware or turning the hardware on/off,
make sure all devices are switched off.
•Before installing the MPC software, make sure your computer meets the system requirements
described at akaipro.com. This applies whether you’ll use MPC software as your host software or
as a plugin.
•Before connecting the MPC hardware to your computer, install the drivers and software. Visit
akaipro.com to download the latest versions. Refer to the Installation section for more information.
Setup
1. Installation
To download and install the required drivers and MPC software:
1. Go to akaipro.com and register your product. If you don’t have an Akai Professional account yet,
you will be prompted to create one.
2. Download the MPC Software Package.
3. Open the file and double-click the installer application.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Note: By default, the MPC software will be installed in [your hard drive]\Program Files \Akai Pro \
MPC (Windows®) or Applications (Mac®OS X®). A shortcut will be created on your Desktop, as well.

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2. Connection
Here is just an example of how to use MPC Touch in your setup. Items not listed under Introduction >
Box Contents of your included Quickstart Guide are sold separately.
Computer Drum Machine Powered Monitors
Power

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3. Getting Started
1. Power on MPC Touch.
2. On your computer, open the MPC software.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to authorize your version of MPC. For more specific instructions,
see the following section, Unlocking Your MPC Software.
4. In the MPC software, click the Edit menu, and select Preferences. Click the Audio tab and select
the sound card you want to use. Click OK when you are done.
5. Remove the protective film from the MPC Touch display, and start making music!
Important: To view the MPC software User Guide click the Help menu and select MPC Help.
Important Note for Mac OS X Users:
If you want to be able to use other apps on your computer as you are using the MPC Touch display,
please do the following:
1. On your computer, open the System Preferences.
2. Select Mission Control.
3. Check Displays have separate Spaces.
4. Close the System Preferences.

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Unlocking Your MPC Software
To unlock the MPC software:
1. Connect your MPC Touch to a USB port on your computer and to a power source.
2. Power on the MPC Touch.
3. Open the MPC software.
4. In the dialogue box that appears, click Unlock Now.
5. Enter your information in the window that appears.
6. If your computer is connected to the Internet, click Unlock Now, and enjoy your MPC!
If your computer is not connected to the Internet, follow these additional steps:
7. Click Use Web Form.
8. The window that appears will have your name, serial number, and software ID number. Click Save
Details to save this information as a .txt file, or copy the information from each field into another file
of your choosing.
9. On a computer connected to the Internet, go to authorizations.akaipro.com/MPC, enter the copied
information, and click Unlock My MPC.
10. Copy the unlock code from the window that appears.
11. In your MPC software, go to the window from Step 5 and click Enter Code.
12. Enter your name and the unlock code generated by the webpage.
13. Click Unlock, and enjoy your MPC!

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Features
This chapter explains the features and functions of your MPC hardware.
Top Panel
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5
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891110
12 13 14 15 16 17
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1. Display: This full-color multi-touch display shows information relevant to MPC Touch’s current
operation. Touch the display (and use the hardware controls) to control the MPC software. See the
later Display section to learn how to use some basic functions.
2. Display Brightness +/–: Use these buttons to increase/decrease the brightness of the display.
3. Data Dial: Use this dial to scroll through the available menu options or adjust the parameter values
of the selected field in the display.

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4. Q-Link Knobs: Use these touch-sensitive knobs to adjust various parameters and settings. The
knobs can control one column of parameters at a time. The lights above the Q-Link Knobs indicate
the currently selected column. Press the Q-Link button above them to change which column of
parameters they currently control.
5. Q-Link Button: Press this button to change which column of parameters the Q-Link Knobs currently
control (indicated by the lights above the Q-Link Knobs). Each press will select the next column.
Press and hold Shift and then press this button to select the previous column instead.
6. Pads: Use these pads to trigger drum hits or other samples in your software. The pads are velocity-
sensitive and pressure-sensitive, which makes them very responsive and intuitive to play. The pads
will light up different colors, depending on how hard you play them (ranging from yellow at a low
velocity to red at the highest velocity). You can also customize their colors.
7. Pad Bank Buttons: Press any of these buttons to access Pad Banks A–D. Press and hold Shift
while pressing any of these buttons to access Pad Banks E–H. Alternatively, double-press one of
these buttons.
8. Note Repeat/Latch: Press and hold this button, and then press a pad to trigger that pad’s sample
repeatedly. The rate is based on the current tempo and Time Correct settings.
Press and hold Shift and then press this button to “latch” the Note Repeat feature. When latched,
you do not have to hold the Note Repeat button for it to be activated. Press Note Repeat once more
to unlatch it.
9. Full Level/Half Level: Press this button to activate/deactivate Full Level. When activated, the pads will
always trigger their samples at the maximum velocity (127), regardless of the amount of force you use.
Press and hold Shift and then press this button to activate/deactivate Half Level. When activated,
the pads will always trigger their samples at half-velocity (64).
10. 16 Level: Press this button to activate/deactivate 16 Level. When activated, the last pad that was hit
will be temporarily copied to all 16 pads. The pads will now output the same note number as the
initial pad, but a selectable parameter will be fixed at values that increase as the pad numbers
increase (e.g., Pad 1 is the minimum, Pad 16 is the maximum), regardless of how hard you press
them. In the window that appears, use the Type selector to choose the parameter: Velocity, Tune,
Filter, Layer, Attack, or Decay. See Operation >General Features >16 Level to learn more.
11. Erase: As a sequence is playing, press and hold this button and then press a pad to delete the note
event for that pad at the current playback position. This is a quick way to delete note events from
your Sequence without having to stop playback.

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12. Shift: Press and hold this button to access some buttons’ secondary functions (indicated by gray
writing). Alternatively, double-press the desired button.
Double-press this button to see which buttons have secondary functions—the buttons will flash for a
few seconds.
13. Menu/Browse: Press this button to open the Mode Menu. You can tap an option on the Menu
screen to enter that mode, view, etc.
Press and hold Shift and then press this button to view the Browser. You can use the Browser to locate
and select programs, samples, sequences, etc. on your computer as well as in the current project.
14. Main/Track: Press this button to enter Main Mode in the display and software.
Press and hold Shift and then press this button to enter Track View Mode in the display and software.
15. Undo/Redo: Press this button to undo your last action. Hold down Shift and press this button to
redo the last action you undid.
16. Copy/Delete: Press this button to copy one pad to another. When the From Pad field is selected,
press the “source” pad (the pad you want to copy). When the To Pad graphic (of all pads) is
selected, press the “destination” pad. You can select multiple destination pads, and you can select
pads in different pad banks. Tap Do It to continue or Cancel to return to the previous screen.
Press and hold Shift and press this button to delete.
17. –/+: Press these buttons to decrease/increase the value of the selected field in the display.
18. Play: Press this button to play the sequence from the audio pointer’s current position.
19. Play Start: Press this button to play the sequence from its start point.
20. Stop: Press this button to stop playback. You can double-press this button to silence audio that is
still sounding once a note stops playing. Quickly pressing this button three times will act as a “MIDI
panic” and shut off all voices and stop all audio processing. You can also press this button to abort
the loading any files that are being loaded (e.g., if you select a project or program by accident).
21. Rec: Press this button to record-arm the sequence. Press Play or Play Start to start recording.
Recording in this way (as opposed to using Overdub) erases the events of the current sequence.
After the sequence plays through once while recording, Overdub will be enabled.
22. Overdub: Press this button to enable Overdub. When enabled, you can record events in a sequence
without overwriting any previously recorded events. You can enable Overdub before or during recording.
23. Tap Tempo: Press this button in time with the desired tempo to enter a new tempo (in BPM) in the
software.
Press and hold Shift and press this button to switch between the sequence tempo and master tempo.

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Display
Here is some general information about how to use the MPC Touch display:
Tap a button or option to select it. Use the
Data Dial or –/+buttons to change its
setting or value.
Double-tap a button to access advanced
editing options. In some cases, this will
show a numeric keypad that you can use
to enter a value (an alternative to the Data
Dial or –/+buttons). Tap the upper-left
part of the display to return to the
previous view.
x2

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Spread two fingers to zoom in (into a section of a
waveform, for example). Pinch two fingers to zoom out.
The upper edge of the display shows the
toolbar, which contains information about the
current view (often the name of the current
track, sequence, audio pointer position, etc.).
Tap an item to select it.
The lower edge of the display shows various
buttons that you can use in the current view.
Tap a button to press it.
To return to a previous view, either tap outside
of the window currently in the display or tap
the left arrow (») in the upper-left part of the
display.
When the left-most button at the bottom of
the touchscreen shows an upward arrow (©),
it means there are additional buttons you can
use when you press and hold Shift. Press and
hold Shift to show the secondary buttons, and
any of them, if desired. Release Shift to return
to the previous buttons.

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Rear Panel
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1. Power Input: Use the included power adapter to connect MPC Touch to a power outlet.
Alternatively, you can power MPC Touch via the USB port only, but the display will be disabled.
2. Power Switch: Turns MPC Touch’s power on/off.
3. USB Port: Use the included USB cable to connect this high-retention-force USB port to an available
USB port on your computer. This connection allows MPC Touch to send/receive MIDI and audio
data to/from the MPC software.
You can power MPC Touch via the USB port only, but the display will be disabled.
4. Rec Vol: Turn this knob to adjust the volume of the inputs.
5. Master Vol: Turn this knob to adjust the volume of the outputs and phones output.
6. Inputs: Use standard 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS cables to connect these inputs to an audio source (mixer,
synthesizer, drum machine, etc.). In the software, you can select whether you want to record either
channel or both channels in stereo or in mono.
7. Outputs: Use standard 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS cables to connect these outputs to your monitors, mixer,
etc.). In the software, you can select whether you want to record either channel or both channels in
stereo or in mono.
8. Phones: Connect standard 1/8” (3.5 mm) stereo headphones to this output.