Akai MPC User manual

User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.5

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Table of Contents
Welcome to the MPC..................................................................................................................................7
System Requirements and Product Support .....................................................................................7
About This Manual................................................................................................................................8
Important Notes.....................................................................................................................................9
Installation ............................................................................................................................................. 9
MPC Hardware Overview ......................................................................................................................... 12
MPC Renaissance ............................................................................................................................... 12
Top Panel ........................................................................................................................................12
Front Panel ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Rear Panel.......................................................................................................................................18
MPC Studio..........................................................................................................................................20
Top Panel ........................................................................................................................................20
Quick Start / Tutorial ................................................................................................................................26
Starting Up...........................................................................................................................................26
Creating a Drum Kit ............................................................................................................................27
Recording a Drum Sequence.............................................................................................................28
Organizing Samples and Editing Note Events .................................................................................29
Making Basic Sound Edits .................................................................................................................30
Recording a Bass Track .....................................................................................................................31
Creating a Song................................................................................................................................... 34
Exporting the Song .............................................................................................................................34
Other Features Explained ..................................................................................................................35
Step Sequencer...............................................................................................................................35
Drum Loops and Chop Mode ..........................................................................................................36
Pad Muting and Track Muting.......................................................................................................... 38
Sample Recording ........................................................................................................................... 40
Sample Editing ................................................................................................................................ 41
Automating Parameters with the Q-Link Knobs.............................................................................412
Using MPC as a Plugin....................................................................................................................42

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Operation (Software)................................................................................................................................43
General Features.................................................................................................................................44
Adjusting the Controls .....................................................................................................................44
Program Types ................................................................................................................................ 46
File Browser.....................................................................................................................................55
Mode Tab Section ...........................................................................................................................58
Transport Section ............................................................................................................................ 61
The Grid...........................................................................................................................................64
Software Menus...............................................................................................................................71
Main Mode............................................................................................................................................83
Q-Link Section .................................................................................................................................83
Pad Bank Section ............................................................................................................................86
Sequence Section ...........................................................................................................................87
Track Section................................................................................................................................... 88
Project Information Section ............................................................................................................. 92
Program Edit Mode .............................................................................................................................94
Master Section.................................................................................................................................95
Simultaneous Play Section (Drum Programs Only).........................................................................95
Mute Target Section (Drum Programs Only) ................................................................................... 96
Keygroup Play Modes Section (Keygroup Programs Only).............................................................96
Key Group Section (Keygroup Program Only) ................................................................................97
Edit Layers Section..........................................................................................................................98
Filter Section..................................................................................................................................101
Pad Play Modes Section (Drum Programs Only) .......................................................................... 104
Velocity Sensitivity Section............................................................................................................ 105
LFO Section...................................................................................................................................105
Controller Mod Section (Keygroup Program Only) ........................................................................ 106
Pad Insert Effects Section ............................................................................................................. 107
Program Edit Mode for MIDI Programs and Plugin Programs....................................................... 108

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Program Mixer Mode ........................................................................................................................ 109
Routing ..........................................................................................................................................110
Levels ............................................................................................................................................110
Panning..........................................................................................................................................111
Mute...............................................................................................................................................111
Send Effects .................................................................................................................................. 111
Insert Effects..................................................................................................................................112
Track Mixer Mode..............................................................................................................................114
Routing ..........................................................................................................................................115
Levels ............................................................................................................................................118
Panning..........................................................................................................................................119
Mute and Solo ...............................................................................................................................120
Send Effects .................................................................................................................................. 120
Insert Effects..................................................................................................................................121
Master Effects................................................................................................................................122
Track View Mode...............................................................................................................................123
Next Sequence Mode........................................................................................................................125
Sequence Playlist ..........................................................................................................................126
Pad Bank Section ..........................................................................................................................126
Next Sequence Section ................................................................................................................. 127
Project Information Section ........................................................................................................... 128
Sample Record Mode .......................................................................................................................129
Setting Up to Record with MPC Renaissance ...............................................................................130
Waveform Display .........................................................................................................................131
Record Control Section ................................................................................................................. 132
Project Information Section ........................................................................................................... 135

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Sample Edit Mode .............................................................................................................................136
Waveform Display .........................................................................................................................137
Edit Section....................................................................................................................................138
Pad Section ...................................................................................................................................140
Settings Section.............................................................................................................................141
Process Section............................................................................................................................. 142
Project Information Section ........................................................................................................... 145
Chop Mode ....................................................................................................................................145
Song Mode......................................................................................................................................... 153
Sequence Playlist Section .............................................................................................................154
Pad Bank Section ..........................................................................................................................155
Song Section .................................................................................................................................155
Edit Step ........................................................................................................................................156
Step Section ..................................................................................................................................156
Project Information Section ........................................................................................................... 157
Pad Mute Mode..................................................................................................................................158
Pad Mute .......................................................................................................................................158
Pad Group .....................................................................................................................................160
Project Information Section ........................................................................................................... 161
Track Mute Mode...............................................................................................................................162
Track Mute Mode...........................................................................................................................163
Track Group Mode.........................................................................................................................164
Project Information Section ........................................................................................................... 165
Step Sequence Mode........................................................................................................................166
Pad Section ...................................................................................................................................167
MIDI Control Mode ............................................................................................................................169
Effects ................................................................................................................................................172
Overview........................................................................................................................................172
Pad Effects .................................................................................................................................... 173
Track Effects..................................................................................................................................175
Master Effects................................................................................................................................177

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Operation (Plugin) ..................................................................................................................................178
Differences Between the MPC Plugin and Standalone Application............................................... 178
Appendix .................................................................................................................................................179
Keyboard Shortcuts..........................................................................................................................179
Effects and Parameters ....................................................................................................................181
Glossary.............................................................................................................................................213
Trademarks and Licenses ................................................................................................................218

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Welcome to the MPC
Thanks for choosing the MPC!
Fusing Akai Professional's legendary MPC layout and workflow with the power of your computer, MPC
software is an unrivaled instrument for music production.
MPC Renaissance is a fully integrated hardware-software system, allowing you to create using classic
hardware controls and an integrated pop-up display, while its exclusive MPC software empowers you with
unprecedented, expandable production capabilities on your Mac or PC.
MPC Studio offers the most streamlined MPC experience yet. At under one-inch thin, with low-profile
controls and a brushed aluminum body, it's made to move. MPC Studio merges real MPC pads, iconic
workflow, and the same MPC software used by MPC Renaissance to give you a fully integrated portable
production solution.
Welcome to the MPC family.
— The Akai Professional Team
System Requirements and Product Support
For complete system requirements, compatibility information, and product registration, visit the Akai
Professional website: akaiprompc.com.
For additional support, visit akaiprompc.com/support.

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About This Manual
This manual was written to help you get familiar with the MPC hardware and software.
To avoid confusion, the terminology in this manual is based on the MPC parameter names. You will find
the various terms explained in the Glossary at the end of this manual.
We also used a uniform set of symbols to show topics of particular interest or significance:
Information: Important or helpful information on a given topic.
Hardware: How to use a software feature with your MPC hardware's controls. Note that these
paragraphs are not the only parts of the manual that mention the MPC hardware!
All buttons, controls, and parameters are highlighted in bold characters throughout the manual.
Examples:
•"Press the Prog Edit button."
•"Turn the Level dial."
Specific settings or values are indicated in italic characters.
Examples:
•The Velocity ranges from 0to 127.
•Set your Sample Play to One-Shot or Note-On.
Some parts of this manual refer to other relevant sections, which are cited in bold and italic characters.
Examples:
•Read the Important Notes section before proceeding.
•For more information about installing the necessary drivers and software, please see the
Installation section.

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Important Notes
•Read the included Safety and 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 connecting the MPC hardware to your computer, install the drivers and software. Visit
akaiprompc.com to download the latest versions (recommended), or insert the included DVD. Refer
to the Installation section for more information.
Installation
Before installing the MPC software, make sure your computer meets the system requirements described
at akaiprompc.com. This applies whether you'll use MPC software as your host software or as a plugin.
Windows®
From a DVD:
1. Power on your computer and operating system, and insert the DVD into your DVD drive. If you have
enabled the Autostart function in Windows, the installer will start automatically and you can proceed
with Step 5 below. If not, please proceed as follows:
2. Launch the Explorer or open the window My Computer.
3. Double-click the icon for the drive that holds the DVD.
4. Double-click the MPC installer icon. This launches a special installation program.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: After installing the MPC software, you need to unlock the program on your computer.
Please refer to Unlocking the MPC Software.

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From a downloaded installer file:
1. Open the folder where the downloaded .zip file is located.
2. Double-click the file to extract it.
3. Double-click the MPC installer icon. This launches a special installation program.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: After installing the MPC software, you need to unlock the program on your computer.
Please refer to Unlocking the MPC Software.
Mac®OS X®
From a DVD:
1. Power on your computer and operating system, and disable any system activity monitoring software
or extension. Then, insert the DVD into your computer's DVD drive.
2. If required, double-click the MPC icon to view the DVD's contents.
3. Double-click the MPC installer icon. This launches a special installation program.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: After installing the MPC software, you need to unlock the program on your computer.
Please refer to Unlocking the MPC Software.
From a downloaded installer file:
1. Open the folder where the downloaded .zip file is located.
2. Double-click the file to extract it.
3. Double-click the MPC installer icon. This launches a special installation program.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: After installing the MPC software, you need to unlock the program on your computer.
Please refer to Unlocking the MPC Software.