Akai Force 3.1.1 performance with explanation!

Hello techno, synth and groove box lovers!
Welcome to my latest live set with the brand new Akai Force update 3.1.1. In this live set I use several instances of the three new plugin synths Odyssey, Solina and Mellotron. I also incorporated new effects, the new midi learn function, the new randomization function when using shaker and hi hat patterns, etc.
But the best thing is that during the liveset, I do not only comment on the new features of the update while performing live, I also give you general tips on how to build a live set, build up tension and make transitions within a live set.
Enjoy, like and subscribe!
#technojams #technoperformance #akaiforce

[@Radhinio]

This is excellent. I've dug my Force out of retirement since the update. This has inspired me to make music with it again. Thank you Wolfgang!

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thanks Alex! Just play around with the new synths a little, make sum drum patterns and before you know it, you got yourself a new project going!

[@KaosEngineering]

Thank you for your generous videos

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thank you for being such a loyal supporter!

[@bramesque]

Great work! i intended only to take a quick listen, but got absorbed and stayed till the end. Grows effect as usual!

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thank you Bram. Your positive words mean a lot to me! Making people who are into electronic music listen to my music and getting absorbed is my biggest reward.

[@poet2012]

I like your workflow, smooth and professional.

[@ckjjclan]

Heck yeah! Nice!

[@jerefreeman2488]

Excellent! I am looking into this APC40 connection. Thank you

[@thecalver]

Informative, enjoyable and inspiring thanks Wolfgang

[@marysia_c]

Inspiring 🤩

[@just_pierre9730]

Impressive, sounds really good!

[@Pheonix0114]

So so good, both as music and as a mini-tutorial

[@bestsample3744]

Great set!

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thanx!

[@dimitriousnichols785]

Very nice set. Sweet sounds nice work I need to brush up on the updates love my Force only getting better 🤙😎👌

[@mrCharlesG]

Nicely done

[@digitaldiezel5870]

This is great 👍!! Great for parties!

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thanks, the Force was basically made for the clubs!

[@davidsorce6047]

TIME FOR THE DROP WOOOOOOUUUUUU !!!!!!!! greAt !!!! bravo wolfgang !! je pense que je vais l acheter ... ▶🔁 great mix again ..

[@wolfgang_grows]

Merci beaucoup pour ton mots gentils!

[@davidsorce6047]

@@wolfgang_grows :) :)

[@TheSynthZone]

I decided that this makes sense for sure, decent video! Any chance to see more of the mpc in action in midi learn mode? =)

[@TheMachoram]

Hi Wolfgang, thaks for your videos. Its realy halps me a lot to realyze the process. Impatrant question - How do you connect Akai APC40 to Akai Force? I have the same equipment, but my Akai 40 not responding.

[@wolfgang_grows]

Hey Michael, I just plug my APC 40 in via USB and the Force recognizes it automatically. Sometimes, I noticed that some usb-cables don't work with certain controllers. Try other cables. I hope that helps.

[@TheMachoram]

@@wolfgang_grows Eap! I did it! Found it in the preferences af Akai Force in the midi page. Thanks for your valuable shows.! Happy Tiger year!

[@amaghafi]

Hallo Wolfgang, ich habe auch beide Geräte und wollte mal wissen wie du den APC40 geroutet hast. auf den Fadern sind die Synth Parameter, richtig? hast du alles manuell angelernt? Danke !!

[@damtdtdw5317]

Great stuff. General question, I thought the Force has only 8 tracks but I see you scrolled to the right (and back left) for additional clips, so how many are there really?

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thanks, You've got 128 tracks in total, but you only have 8 plugin and 8 audio tracks. The other 112 tracks (midi, drum group, etc.) are not limited.

[@damtdtdw5317]

@@wolfgang_grows Ah I see....so if I import audio samples, I could put them in a drum group, hence have more audio sounds/tracks than just the 8?

[@wolfgang_grows]

@@damtdtdw5317 Exactly!

[@damtdtdw5317]

@@wolfgang_grows Amazing, thanks man! This puts me a few steps closer to getting one in the future.

[@markvelasco3060]

How did you map the apc40? Can you use the apc40 pads for notes?

[@DENISDNSM]

what is l'intéret d'avoir une matrice de pads alors qu'on peut utiliser ceux de l akai force ? Du coup un midimix ou launchcontrol 2 s'avère plus pertinent

[@dergitarrenspieler7853]

Verry Good 👍🏻👍🏻

[@prueph]

White APC40 MK1 That's a living dinosaur!!!!! A myth, a legend... The white buffalo! lol 😝

[@wolfgang_grows]

It is. Just imagine how awesome it would be if you could expand the clip view of the Force and use the matrix of the APC 40 to trigger scenes... but this will probably never happen

[@SamyKdj]

Very nice setup ! Please can you explain me how to map Odyssey parameters to the APC 40 Faders ? Thank you :)

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thanx. A mapping tutorial is on the akai pro youtube channel and in the manual.

[@SamyKdj]

@@wolfgang_grows Thank you for your answer but i can't find it ? Please can you send me the link ?

[@mariowillstorfer2481]

Hello Wolfgang. How long do you work on the Force? Is it easy to handle?

[@Nilsa1909]

Hi Wolfgang du hab ne Frage und bin mal so dreist und hau sie hier herein. Hab die force seit vorgestern und arbeite mich grad bisschen ein. Bin begeistert von dem Teil aber es kann echt dezent überfordern am anfang. Mein kleines Problem ist dass ich ein drumkit lade und dort ein Sound ist der mir gefällt. Diesen möchte ich aber gerne in zwei verschiedenen Höhen spielen. Ich kopiere den Sound also auf eine weitere Taste und verändere dann die Höhe mit tune. Dies macht er aber immer parallel zeitgleich auf beiden Tasten des Sounds. Hoffe das war verständlich ausgedrückt hehe. Würde mich sehr über eine Antwort freuen auch wenn das für dich jetzt vll ne lächerliche Frage ist aber wenn wenn man Sun Gerät neu hat weiss man manchmal nicht wo einem der kopf steht. Danke schonmal im voraus. Mach weiter so!

[@wolfgang_grows]

Hallo Nilsa, wenn ich einen Clip kopiere und dann bei beiden eine unabhängige Tonhöhe einstellen will, klappt das ohne Probleme. Daher vermute ich, dass du Edit Zones verstellt hast. Ganz oben rechts auf der Sample Page neben dem Rädchen ist ein Symbol, dass so aussieht wie ein GPS-Standort Symbol->Edit Zones. Klicke darauf und stelle es so ein, dass du nur ein Pad einzeln anstatt mehrere Gleichzeitig bearbeitest. In der gleichen Reihe oben ist auch eine Klaviatur abgebildet. Wenn du darauf klickst wird eine neuer Keygroup-Kanal erstellt. Dort kannst du dann das Sample wie ein Instrument in allen möglichen Tonhöhen abspielen. Ich hoffe die Erklärung war hilfreich.

[@johng004]

Finally ordered my akain force been waiting for almost 2 years to get the ok from wifey. Excited.. I am thinking about adding an analog synth at some point that is able to receive midi through USB and have effects I can use through the outputs, any suggestions?

[@wolfgang_grows]

Good for you. However, your wife will regret her decision when she notices how much time you spend with the Force😄 Honestly, with the new updates and all the software plugins on board, you don't need to buy any hardware synths. But if I had to choose a synth, it would be the minilogue xd, the new minifreak or the subsequent 37.

[@johng004]

@@wolfgang_grows thanks. 'll keep you up to date. I'll be watching

[@reverendcarter]

dope. i put in a feature request in akai's beta testing forum for the force. if anyone else is interested in that they should head over there and express their opinion

[@jrv8709]

-any tricks to get apc40 to work with the force ? Or just plug usb , midi learn and play. Can’t wait to dust mine off 😀

[@wolfgang_grows]

No tricks. Just plug it in, map and play. It's pretty easy and straightforward, but also limited as you can read in another comment of mine...

[@elissitdesign]

I bought the APC40 years and years ago and never really used it! Hopefully I’ll finally get it going with my hardware setup.

[@nathandavidhall]

Are the drum sounds from a force kit or drum synth, or imported samples?

[@wolfgang_grows]

The drum sounds I use in my videos are always a mixture of factory samples, ni maschine drum samples and recorded drum synth hits or loops.

[@mabu.x2639]

Nice set and thanks for the details on how it's done. I have a question if you don't mind (I'm sorry if I missed it) but I don't understand how the APC40 is connected here. It looks like it's connected directly to the force via usb. Is it that simple? I thought it needed specific drivers and Ableton Live etc.

[@wolfgang_grows]

Thank you. Yes, it's that simple. Just plug in any midi controller and map the respective faders, buttons and knobs the way you want them to work. Unfortunately you can't fire any scenes or clips from the apc 40 and select a certain part of the grid like you can do with ableton.

[@mabu.x2639]

@@wolfgang_grows that's still awesome, thanks for the reply! I nearly sold my APC 40 during the last lockdown and I'm super glad that I didn't now. It's old but the knobs and faders are still super smooth. It would be nice if you could use the pads but I won't complain at all.

[@elissitdesign]

@@wolfgang_grows - Good to know! Thanks! Hopefully they add better support.

[@kisho2679]

how could it be used as a live looper/sampler (e.g. for improvised performance as a DJ)?

[@wolfgang_grows]

You just hit a pad of an audio track after you have armed the track, record the phrase you want to loop and hit the same pad again shortly before the the amount of bars you want to record is reached. Then it will loop your sample. You can also set the clip length to e.g. 4 or 8 bars. Then you only have to hit the pad you want to record to once and after you've recorded your fixed length it will play back the clip automatically. So it basically works like any other sampler, looper or Ableton.

[@kisho2679]

@@wolfgang_grows thx

[@salanami]

It was over 2 years fight... I win and it seems so did you! ;)

[@wolfgang_grows]

I wouldn't call it a fight, but definitely a long journey. However, I liked the Force with its limitations from the start, but it is amazing how many additional features Akai added, especially with the last two big updates. The future updates are probably mainly about fine tuning and eliminating some of the existing bugs.

[@salanami]

@@wolfgang_grows it surely was fight. That massive all-in update happened after my little open letter, so it is quite hard to deny the fight. ;)