AKAI Professional MPC Live II

If you don't want to work in front of a computer with mouse/keyboard, this is what you need. Not everyone has a powerful / decent modern computer to use DAWs. This can serve as a decent standalone machine to replace a DAWs. And you can always export the project into Ableton live if you need more refinement.

The speakers sound great, you can take it to anywhere from bed/sofa or even outdoor. The update made it possible to use class compliant audio interface to expand the audio in and out, so you can take a portable audio interface with you on the go too. You could build a mobile studio with all these features and maybe go to your friend place etc etc.

The plugins are great starting point if you don't have a lot of hardware or you don't have them near you. And the fact that you can create sample packs with this and take the sound with you as you go is crazily convenient. So you can make a draft, return home and plug in the actual hardware and record again. And this is only one of the many features/ workflows you can use with this machine.

If you use it in studio with lots of midi devices, you can make it the brain for midi too, no need to buy stuff like Bome box or MRCC. ( of cuz they are great if you need one in your setup ).

Last but not least, the constant update from Akai makes buying into the system a good investment. You can see how many great and killer features they have added through post-launch updates ( more plugins / class compliant audio interface )...

It is like a jack of all trades, especially you are into a more mobile / constantly changing setup person.

Спасибо Thomann! AKAI Professional MPC Live II это идеальный и продуманный до мелочей прибор для создания музыки! Очень качественно собран! Звук огонь! Akai это топ.....однозначно....лучше не бывает,хотя дело вкуса разумеется! Как профессиональный музыкант с опытом более 30 лет мне есть с чем сравнить, поэтому я в 100% Рекомендую AKAI Professional MPC Live II-всем творческим людям! Вы не пожалеете что приобрели такой крутой инструмент,он воплотит ваши музыкальные мысли в крутую реальность! Спасибо Thomann,моя мечта сбылась благодаря вам!
AKAI Professional MPC Live II -это бомба!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I acquired the MPC Live II over a year and a half ago to be my all-in-one music box for studio, rehearsal and live use (In an alternative rock setting).

I previously used a Virus TI, OP1, OP-Z and iPad... it was a lot of weight to carry around and long setting up time!
Now the MPC replaces all this and with the built-in battery, it only takes a minute to plug the audio cable and controller keyboard and voila!

Here are my favorites features:
-Probably the best sampler on the market, with ease of sample editing, auto chop and a wonderful auto-sampler which allows use to easily capture any synth or sound modules as a multisample key group.
-An amazing array of plugin ranging from Drum synth, polyphonic VA, macro synth, E-piano, and some beautiful recreation of Odyssey, Mellotron and Solina. In addition to those free plugins, you have the option to acquire paid deep FM synth, Piano/Organ/Strings plugins, great sounding rompler and now a Mini D recreation (an MPC is the perfect GAS killer).
-A HUGE selection of effects that cover all your needs and be applied at any level of your sounds chain.
-Superb sequencer, and easy access to your favorites projects/setlists
-A wide array of connections, including a SATA port to have your samples library and project everywhere.
-And all this is in a sturdy box with quality speaker and 6h battery, allowing you to play everywhere with ease.

All this made the MPC the centerpiece of my studio and the perfect travel companion for composition abroad.
My workflow is to create songs ideas and structure on the MPC then transfer the project to the MPC software and Audio/Midi in Ableton.
However, with the plethora of effects and plugins, one could create mix and master a song totally in the box.
Then, I can bring our songs to live environment with the same instruments, launch recorded drums track if needed, easy access to live parameters with the Q-links and song transition with the XY-Fx.

You will need to invest some time to get into the MPC workflow and the few quirk and limitation. However it is more than worth it and I cannot imagine my music life without it.
Also, the new MPC keys 61, the MPC X and MPC one share the same processor as the MPC live 2 thus we can expect long support from AKAI (there have been multiples useful updates in the last year).

The original MPC Live was good: the pads are sensitive, the vintage sound emulation is fun, there are enough ins and outs to work with. And the software — it's not perfect, but you can get used to it.

I used the original MPC Live to make tracks on vacation, and it was a breeze. You get in the chair, you look out at the sea and enjoy making music.

The MPC Live II is basically the same, only now you have speakers. The speakers are obviously not monitor studio quality, but they are good enough to arrange, listen and chill.

With the speakers, this machine is perfect for travelling and making music on the go.

For the studio, I'd suggest MPC X or just go with Ableton.

The MPC Live 2 is a fantastic piece of studio gear! As an absolute beginner, I so appreciate its options, handling and build quality. The Live 2 being my very first foray into music creation and production was an excellent decision for me, and one which took awhile to make.

For me; one of the biggest pros of the MPC Live 2 is the overall ease of use. Its a groove box, so obviously sounds can be performed immediately. There is a learning curve, simply because of the many options the Live 2 offers. However, even being brand new to all of this; I felt that with little practice and a few errors, understanding how to make music becomes much easier in a short amount of time.

MPC Live 2 comes with a great library of sounds, and although not all of them are To my liking; the feeling of what you can do with these sounds with a little work and patience, is very rewarding. I am also looking forward to the release of the new advanced sample chopping technique, coming in March or April.

Having the option to operate the MPC Live 2 with batteries, and having a built in speaker really do make this a portable standalone groove box. Although I have not yet used the MPC with batteries, I do find that the built in speaker is excellent for casual playback monitoring. I appreciate that the headphone socket is located in the back of the MPC Live 2, as apposed to the front socket location of the MPC One. The pads are very playable, although I prefer to use full level every time, as half level playing pads leave me with a feeling of inconsistent sound.

Overall, a fantastic piece of equipment, and a very capable groove box!

I’ve had my Live II since mid-August, my very first experience with Akai Pro & the MPC world. I’m over 50, and over the years, I’ve owned electronic hardware & software products/instruments by Roland, Korg, Yamaha, Native Instruments. There’s been good & bad in all that… no complaints about those companies & products, you take the good with the bad, BUT…

I just turned on the Live II, and it let me know that version 2.11.5 firmware update was ready for download (Wi-Fi), then it did so, flawlessly, followed by other new instruments, 5 minutes, DONE, ! The ease of installation is awesome and the sounds ROCK.Yeah, it’s not a Fantom or Kronos, but it sure does the job intended, and the auto sampling, including VST auto sampling takes care of that. I’d never sampled before, and it’s easy as pie, even for an idiot like me.

I’m no pro, neither as a musician nor as a producer, although musically, I know what I’m doing, and I can honestly say, in terms of ease of use, intuitive interface, company responsiveness to user requests, but most importantly: just plain FUN with creating music, NOTHING I’ve owned (including Korg Kronos, Roland Fantom, Yamaha Motif, NI Maschine & Komplete), NOTHING beats the last two months of pure musical joy messing around with the MPC.

So there’s that 😂😂😂😎🎶☮️🎶☮️❤️

This is my first MPC. After a few months of use, I have to say I really like the Live II. It's not as intuitive as I first imagined, but I enjoy how it makes me think about sounds and compositions. I've made more tracks on it in a few months than using my regular setup over the past 3 years.

The downside is that the MPC Live II isn't any good in a live setting. I found myself going back to my SP404 for that.

Overall, it's a cozy groovebox to jam on while relaxing on the couch. Even though this image could seem pedestrian, the music that you come up with often sounds like you wouldn't have been able to create it any other way.