Akai MPCX User manual

User Guide
English
Manual Version 2.0.8

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Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................ 6
System Requirements & Product Support ..... 6
About This User Guide ..................................... 6
Important Notes ................................................ 7
Setup .................................................................. 7
1. Connection ................................................ 7
2. Installation.................................................. 8
3. Getting Started .......................................... 8
Features .................................................................. 9
MPC X ................................................................ 9
Top Panel....................................................... 9
Navigation & Data Entry Controls.......................9
Pad & Q-Link Controls.....................................10
Mode & View Controls.....................................11
Transport & Recording Controls ......................12
I/O & Level Controls ........................................13
Touchscreen ...................................................14
Front Panel .................................................. 15
Rear Panel ................................................... 16
MPC Live.......................................................... 17
Top Panel..................................................... 17
Touchscreen ...................................................19
Rear Panel ................................................... 20
MPC Touch ...................................................... 21
Top Panel..................................................... 21
Touchscreen ...................................................23
Rear Panel ................................................... 24
Basic Concepts.....................................................25
Tutorial...................................................................26
Starting Up .......................................................26
Creating a Drum Kit.........................................26
Creating a Drum Sequence ............................28
Saving & Renaming .........................................29
Editing Note Events.........................................31
Making Basic Sound Edits..............................33
Creating a Bass Track.....................................35
Recording an Audio Track..............................38
Creating a Song ...............................................39
Exporting the Song..........................................40
Other Features Explained ...............................41
Step Sequencer............................................41
Drum Loops & Chop Mode ..........................42
Pad Muting & Track Muting .........................44
Sampling (Recording)...................................46
Sample Editing .............................................48
Recording Automation with the XY Pad ......50
Using MPC X or MPC Live as a Controller ..51

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Operation .............................................................. 52
General Features............................................. 53
Control Types .............................................. 53
Knobs .............................................................53
Parameter Values ............................................53
Drop-Down Menus / Lists................................54
Selectors.........................................................54
Buttons ...........................................................55
Checkboxes....................................................55
Tabs ...............................................................55
Sliders.............................................................55
Envelopes .......................................................56
Grid View Tools ...............................................57
Audio Edit Tools ..............................................58
Programs ..................................................... 59
About Programs..............................................59
Drum Programs...............................................60
Keygroup Programs ........................................62
Clip Programs .................................................63
Plugin Programs..............................................65
MIDI Programs ................................................66
CV Programs ..................................................67
Menu............................................................ 68
Save ...............................................................69
Preferences.....................................................70
Info .............................................................70
Sequencer ..................................................70
Sync ...........................................................71
Hardware....................................................71
Project Defaults...........................................72
Auto Load/Save ..........................................73
General/Other .............................................73
Bluetooth ....................................................74
Wi-Fi ...........................................................75
Legal...........................................................75
Sync ...............................................................75
Mode ..............................................................75
System Resources ..........................................76
Time Counter/Locate ...................................77
Timing Correct (TC) ......................................79
Metronome (Click/Metro) .............................81
Automation ...................................................82
Global .............................................................82
Programs & Audio Tracks................................82
16 Level ........................................................83
Erase.............................................................84
Effects ..........................................................85
Overview .........................................................85
Insert Effects ...................................................87
Pads...........................................................87
Keygroups ..................................................89
Audio Tracks...............................................91
Programs....................................................92
Submixes....................................................94
Masters ......................................................95
Send/Return Effects ........................................96
Pads...........................................................97
Keygroups ..................................................98
Audio Tracks...............................................99
Programs....................................................99
Submixes..................................................100
Audio Mixdown ..........................................101
Battery Usage.............................................102
Standalone vs. Controller Mode ................103

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Modes............................................................. 105
Main Mode................................................. 106
Sequence Section .........................................111
Track Section................................................119
Program Section ...........................................125
Grid View ................................................... 130
Audio Edit Mode ........................................ 135
Track View ................................................. 143
MIDI Tracks...................................................145
Audio Tracks .................................................146
Step Sequencer ......................................... 147
XYFX Mode................................................ 151
Sample Edit Mode ..................................... 154
Settings.........................................................156
Trim Mode ....................................................157
Assigning Samples....................................161
Processing Slices & Samples ....................163
Chop Mode...................................................168
Converting or Assigning Slices ..................171
Processing Slices......................................174
Program Mode ..............................................177
Assigning Samples....................................180
Processing Slices......................................181
Program Edit Mode ................................... 184
Drum Programs.............................................184
Master ......................................................187
Samples ...................................................188
Pan Velocity ..............................................195
Filter Envelope ..........................................196
LFO Modulation ........................................197
Effects ......................................................199
Keygroup Programs ......................................201
Master ......................................................202
Samples ...................................................205
Pan Velocity ..............................................211
Filter Envelope ..........................................212
LFO Modulation ........................................213
Effects ......................................................215
Clip Programs ...............................................217
Program ...................................................219
Pad...........................................................220
Plugin Programs............................................223
MIDI Programs ..............................................224
CV Programs ................................................225
Anatomy of an Envelope................................226
List Edit Mode............................................ 227
Browser ......................................................231
Browse .........................................................231
Sample Assign ..............................................233
Sampler ......................................................234
Sample .........................................................237
Slice..............................................................239
Pad Tap ........................................................240
Pad Hold.......................................................241
Looper ........................................................242
Pad Mixer ...................................................247
Levels ...........................................................249
Panning.........................................................249
Mute .............................................................250
Send Effects..................................................250
Insert Effects .................................................251
Routing .........................................................251
Channel Mixer ............................................252
MIDI Tracks...................................................255
Audio Tracks .................................................256
Programs ......................................................258
Returns .........................................................260
Submixes ......................................................261
Masters.........................................................262
Pad Mute Mode..........................................263
Pad Mute ......................................................264
Pad Group ....................................................265
Track Mute Mode .......................................266
Track Mute....................................................267
Track Group..................................................268
Next Sequence Mode ................................269
Song Mode.................................................271
Q-Link Edit Mode .......................................274
Project ..........................................................276
Program/Audio Track ....................................278
Pad Scene ....................................................280
Pad Parameter ..............................................281
Screen ..........................................................282
Pad Color Mode .........................................283
MIDI Control Mode.....................................285
Pads .............................................................286
Buttons .........................................................287
Q-Link Knobs................................................288
XY Pad..........................................................289
Pad Perform Mode .....................................290

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Appendix ............................................................. 293
Effects & Parameters.................................... 293
Reverbs...................................................... 293
Delays ........................................................ 295
Flangers .. .. ....... .. ....... .. .. ....... .. ....... .. ......... .. 2 98
Chorus ....................................................... 299
Autopans.................................................... 299
Tremolos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 0
Phasers ...................................................... 300
HP (High-Pass) Filters................................ 301
LP (Low-Pass) Filters................................. 302
Parametric EQs.......................................... 303
Distortions.................................................. 304
Compressors ............................................. 305
Bit Reducers .............................................. 306
Other .......................................................... 307
Glossary..........................................................308
SATA Drive Installation .................................313
MIDI Machine Control (MMC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 4
Technical Specifications...............................315
MPC X ........................................................315
MPC Live ....................................................318
MPC Touch ................................................320
Trademarks & Licenses ................................321

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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing your MPC. At Akai Professional, we know how serious music is to you. That’s why we
design our equipment with only one thing in mind—to make your performance the best it can be.
This user guide explains how to create music using MPC X, MPC Live, and MPC Touch. There is similar documentation
available for MPC products that use an LCD and for the MPC software application. To view these user guides, click the
Help menu in the MPC software, select MPC Help, and select an option.
Questions, comments, suggestions? Let us know at akaipro.com/support or on Facebook™. We’d love to hear
from you.
Welcome to the MPC family.
Akai Professional
System Requirements & 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.
About This User Guide
This manual should help you get familiar with using your MPC X, MPC Live, or MPC Touch. For consistency, the
terminology throughout is based on the MPC nomenclature. 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.
Tap BPM, and then use the numeric keypad to enter 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, see Setup > 2. Installation.
To learn more about using send effects, see General Features > Effects > Send/Return Effects.

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Important Notes
Read the included safety & warranty manual before using your MPC hardware.
Before getting started and connecting devices to your MPC hardware or turning the hardware on/off, make sure all
devices are switched off.
To use your MPC hardware in Controller Mode (to control the MPC software):
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 in another digital
audio workstation (DAW).
Before connecting your MPC hardware to your computer, install the drivers and software. Visit akaipro.com to
download the latest versions. Refer to the 2. Installation section for more information.
Setup
1. Connection
Here is just an example of how to use MPC X in your setup. Items not listed under Introduction > Box Contents of
your included quickstart guide are sold separately.
Computer
Turntable
Microphone Power
SD Card
(to front-panel SD card slot)
USB
drive
Powered Monitors
Footswitch
(to front-panel FS1 input)
Headphones
(to front-panel headphone output)

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Remember to remove the protective film from your MPC hardware touchscreen!
To use your MPC hardware in Standalone Mode, just connect it to a power outlet using the included power
adapter, and power it on!
Note: We highly recommend checking akaipro.com for any available updates to the MPC software/firmware and/or
drivers.
To use your MPC hardware in Controller Mode, continue to Step 2. Installation.
2. Installation
To use your MPC hardware in Controller Mode (to control the MPC software), follow these steps to download
and install the required drivers & 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. In your Akai Professional account, 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 (macOS®). You can also create a shortcut on your Desktop.
3. Getting Started
1. Power on your MPC hardware.
2. On your computer, open the MPC software.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to authorize your version of MPC.
4. You will need an iLok account to complete this. You can create an account at ilok.com.
Make a note of the PACE code in your account, and enter it when asked for it during the authorization/unlock
process.
5. On your MPC hardware, check the upper-right corner of the touchscreen:
• If there is a monitor/cable icon, then your MPC hardware is already in Controller Mode.
Continue to Step 6.
• If there is a chip icon, then your MPC hardware is in Standalone Mode. Follow these steps:
i. Press Menu to enter the Menu.
ii. Tap the MPC chip icon in the upper-right corner.
iii. In the Enter Controller Mode window that appears, tap Controller Mode. Looking
for computer may appear briefly on the screen before your MPC hardware recognizes
the USB connection as a controller.
6. 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.
Important:
We highly recommend using your MPC hardware’s sound card (Akai Pro MPC X/Live/Touch ASIO). If you need
to use the internal sound card on a Windows computer, we recommend downloading the latest ASIO4ALL driver
at asio4all.com.
To view the MPC software user guide, click the Help menu in the MPC software, select MPC Help, and select
MPC User Manual.

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Features
This chapter explains the features and functions of each MPC model with a touchscreen: MPC X, MPC Live, and
MPC Touch.
MPC X
Top Panel
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
21
28 29 30
32 33
34 35
36
37 38
39 40
41
42
43
44
47 48
49
50
51 52
53 54
55 55
45 45
46
44
31
23 24 25 26 27
22
12
15
11
13
16 17 18 19 20
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Navigation & Data Entry Controls
1. Touchscreen:This full-color multi-touch display shows information relevant to MPC X’s current operation.
Touch the touchscreen (and use the hardware controls) to control the MPC interface. See the later Touchscreen
section to learn how to use some basic functions.
Tip: If you adjust the angle of the touchscreen, use the stand on its back panel to secure it in place.
2. Cursors: Press these buttons to navigate through the fields of menus and options shown on the screen. Press
and hold Shift and press these buttons to zoom in or out of the Grid View or Audio Edit Mode. Press and hold
Shift and press the up and down cursors simultaneously or the left and right cursors simultaneously to return
to the default zoom setting.

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3. Data Dial:Use this dial to scroll through the available menu options or adjust the parameter values of the
selected field on the screen.
4. –/+: Press these buttons to increase or decrease the value of the selected field on the screen.
5. Numeric Keypad: If the selected field on the screen is a number, press these numbered buttons as you would
on a standard numeric keypad to enter a value. Press the keypad’s Enter to enter it. (A numeric keypad with
additional operations will appear on the screen, as well.)
6. Undo/Redo: Press this button to undo your last action.
Press and hold Shift and press this button to redo the last action you undid.
7. Shift: Press and hold this button to access some buttons’ secondary functions (indicated by red writing).
Double-press this button to see which buttons have secondary functions—the buttons will flash for a few seconds.
8. F-Key: Press this button to activate or deactivate the F-Key feature. When active, the six buttons under the
touchscreen correspond to the options shown at the bottom edge of the screen. The F-Key button and those six
buttons will be lit red when active. When inactive, the six buttons under the touchscreen will access their normal
modes instead (Menu, Browser, Step Seq, Sampler, XYFX, and Looper).
Pad & Q-Link Controls
9. Q-Link Knobs: Turn these touch-sensitive knobs to adjust various parameters and settings. The display strip
above each knob indicates the parameter it is controlling. If the display strip shows a meter to indicate its value,
you can touch or turn its Q-Link knob to temporarily show its precise numerical value.
10. Pads: Press 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.
11. Pad Bank: Press these buttons to access Pad Banks A–D.
Press and hold Shift while pressing these buttons to access Pad Banks E–H. Alternatively, double-press one of
these buttons.
12. 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 Close to return to the previous screen.
Tip: To quickly copy a pad, press and hold Copy, press the source pad, press the destination pad, and then
release Copy.
Press and hold Shift and press this button to delete a pad’s sample assignment. When the Delete Pad window
is shown, press any pad/pads whose sample assignments you want to clear. Tap Delete to continue or Cancel
to return to the previous screen.
13. Full Level/Half Level: Press this button to activate or deactivate the Full Level feature. When activated, the pads
will always trigger their samples at the maximum velocity (127), regardless of how much force you use.
Press and hold Shift and then press this button to activate or deactivate the Half Level feature. When activated,
the pads will always trigger their samples at half-velocity (64).
14. 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 screen 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.
15. 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.