AKAI MPC Key 61 - How To Make Your First Beat!

Beginners guide for the AKAI MPC Key 61 workstation. This is how to make your first beat on it! I'll walk you thru a few key steps and common mistakes every new MPC user makes. If you want to learn more. I have a full master class on this unit at 6teenlevels.com. Make sure to join the university and get more content in the future. Also, we give away free content like drum kits, preset banks, sample packs, and other gifts too!
MPC Key 61 MasterClass: 6teenlevels.com/products/akai...
My social media & gear list: linktr.ee/avemcree
BGM: • MPC Beat Tape: DJ Ave ...
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0:00 important message
0:47 getting started
1:20 the main screen
1:42 sequence options
2:16 the different types of track programs
3:02 browsing sounds
4:49 brower options
6:01 how to select your sound
6:43 naming tracks
7:07 setting up metronome
8:37 editing a drum program
9:33 Q link intro
10:59 recording your first drumline
11:40 timing correct bka quantize
12:20 note repeat
13:13 common recording mistakes
14:10 note repeat in action
14:55 16 level
16:23 plugin programs
16:42 sounds menu and favoriting
17:56 pad performance and music theory
20:33 another common mistake new MPC owners do
21:06 bassline
21:33 keyboard ctrl and scale locking
22:15 mixing with touch strip
24:05 selecting a track
25:40 arpeggio
28:00 adding effects
30:08 sponsor
30:54 how to save a project
31:50 how to make an 808 keygroup
#AKAI #mpckey61 #beatmaking

[@treyhudson73]

I finally gave up on MPC because I really wanted keys. Aaaaannnd now they do this...

[@brightonic]

Absolute mood.

[@AveMcree]

😂it’s been out for a whole month

[@treyhudson73]

@@AveMcree No no, I knew that. But anything MPC (for me) isn't out until you drop a vid like this. 🤘

[@AveMcree]

@@treyhudson73 well thanks 🙏🏾

[@JaySain69]

Mpc is legendary they always advance

[@MikeSteinSeaTac]

As a brand new MPC user I've scoured KZbin for helpful videos. This one right here is in my top 3. THANK YOU ! ! ! ! !

[@MezikeEllzy-or8sh]

Ave just got the 61 key I was waiting for the 37 key so I got impatient and gave in on the 61 key and I’m glad that I did . Thank you for your content and God Bless brother

[@earldjjones]

Thank you Ave! I just got my mpc 61 delivered yesterday. I have been out of the music scene for almost 30 years and go back to when the AkaiX7000 was my controlling keyboard and sampler. thank you for this valuable tutorial. Your insight is great and you are obviously very knowledgeable. Peace and blessing brother!

[@ChangeforJonathan]

Got mines today and I promise your a blessing 🙌🏿

[@edgaba]

Excellent!

[@splattdaddydog1041]

I love your vids brah you really explain everything so well

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

FINALLY a sensible step by step video for this thing. Needs the display to be more visible and close up though.

[@howardturner9080]

This is in my top 5 videos on the mpc key 61 great job. Man this dude is dope to be one of us OH's

[@TikiHutGuitar]

Thanks for the helpful vid! Just got my Key 61 and as a beginner this was very easy to follow.

[@roderickalbus5818]

Very useful please we need more tutorials 🙏🏻 as a beginner this is very helpful thanks & much appreciated!

[@B-free7]

Thanks Ave your videos are 🔥 very informative helped me out a lot, I'm glad I traded my MPC live for the MPC key 61 this in is more my style

[@tanatiliekirkland4343]

Very nice!!!... Learned more in your 30 min video than in the 1 to 3 he videos... Thank you very very much...

[@tempmode37]

AVE MANNNN THAT BEATS DOPE!!! PLEASE KEEP IT

[@roberttaylor9241]

Love your videos! Very informative!

[@RaystudiosProduction]

@Ave Mcree Good demonstration 😎; once again very insightful. 🙏

[@locutz]

AVE doing it for the culture 🙌🙌🙌

[@protoolsguru2853]

Once again another amazing video.

[@JaySain69]

Thanx for the info I just got mine in, you really helped me out homie

[@tyronnhamilton254]

Excellent video.. thank you!

[@eflem]

Excellent presentation bro, definitely subscribing to your channel!

[@tempmode37]

AVE MANNN THE BEAT IS FUNKY AND DOPE BRO U ARE gifted I know it

[@tommidd8042]

Nice presentation. Thank you. 👍

[@omarrodrigues6610]

I have a dope baseline to that first one you made

[@maing.i5265]

Right on bro that helped a whole lot✊🏾🤙🏾🎹🎵💯💯🔥

[@sooesoss6063]

Great Video Ave!

[@Netm8kr]

Bruh, this is exactly what I needed to get me going. Being new to the Akai gang, this answered lots of questions for sure. Keep em coming. 👍🏾✌🏾✊🏾

[@SOPM2007]

Now I finally understand where the 16 level feature is good for, this wasn't clear from the manual for me. So with that you can record easy and precise dynamics in your beats. Thanks for demonstrating!

[@AveMcree]

My pleasure

[@RaystudiosProduction]

Word! Me too.

[@darthknowl9222]

You’re too learn more from these type videos than a manual

[@user-eo6wk3re1y]

nice track making examples always👍

[@tronlady1]

It IS an 80s masterpiece ❤

[@Metallicgld12]

Great lesson and good teacher. Thanks!

[@AveMcree]

Appreciate your time

[@marcusholder495]

May Yahweh bless you brother and thanks for the video

[@mathiasoskarsson]

So helplul. Thanks a lot👍

[@ablack9431]

Thanks for this man, just got the keys and in disbelief there isn’t even a basic manual for this board!

[@adilbakhsh4327]

Thanks 🙏

[@giuseppeverdi6260]

Thanks

[@myreasoning]

Hey Ave, Thanks for the time you put into the videos. I have 3 questions, 1. How long are the the Master course videos? 2.If someone owned the Live and Key 61 which master course would you recommend? 3. Can you sample and chop directly to the keys like you could on the ASR10 and the Triton, not using pads, if so would you put up a quick video? Thanks

[@earldjjones]

Hello Ave. I had previously sent you a problem I encountered with my mpc 61 not bouncing to audio or bouncing to sample. I contacted akai and they open a ticket for me. This was about a week and a half ago. Today they emailed me that they have fixed this issue with a upgrade 2.11.7. Havent been up to my lab to install this but thought you might want to know. thanks for all you do my friend!

[@ContentScientist]

Bruh, your MPC Vids are the best...can you do another vid showcasing the Key 61 using those Soul Chord Progressions with ya boy (Ripchord) for this MPC Please?

[@ArthurWorth]

Hi Ave, great video very helpful, Can you tell me as a guitarist mainly can the MPC 61 automate key and chord progressions automatically?

[@studio1productions1]

How do I find the key of a sample that's in one of the drum kits. ..please help and bruh I really appreciate all your videos. Your on point. Thank you

[@THEREALTWISTEDINSANE]

How do you write touch strip automation?

[@OGBlackBridge]

The MPC61 is my first "keyboard" that isn't a DGX or basic midi controller. When my Akai showed up, it was my first MPC experience ever and I was a little over my head. I finally made my first beat(s) in a series of "a-ha" moments and have become addicted. I still have a ton to learn, but this video got me up and running and alleviated a lot of confusion. Thanks!

[@MrSlowjams915]

Opened it up. Updated it. Registered it. Not even 3 minutes and 54 seconds and I think I'm going to sell it and let yall stick to making the beats. You make it look good and simple though😂. Enjoy❤❤❤

[@dennishunter5552]

What happened

[@MrSlowjams915]

I was being a big old baby. I grabbed that MPC bible and started studying. It is coming along well. We all learn differently and the step by step from square one is what I needed.🎉🎉🎉

[@dennishunter5552]

@@MrSlowjams915 Did you sell or do you still have the mpc.

[@petercastle4381]

Ave thanks for the video, will you be releasing the Akai 61 Mpc key Vs Fantom you filmed. Please also post your videos in the akai 61 mpc key group on face book.

[@AveMcree]

which fb group?

[@Onelychild]

Hey Ave, Have you heard of the Expressive E Osmose 49-key Polyphonic Synthesizer and MIDI Controller?

[@jesussantosmartin653]

Eyy.. Desde España

[@ContentScientist]

Wha up Ave Mcree.....I am on the fence about an MPC....I'm sick of computer issues and updates and compatibility and DAWs.....I have a question for you Brother Man - as aa MPC Newbie - should I get the Keys 61 or wait for the new MPCs coming out this year?

[@ernestm8884]

So when I want post a finished product how do we export it??? I use MPC2 and or Maschine.

[@pauloyoshizaki2103]

AKAI : KEYBOARD : MPC - KEY- 61 : TOP : TECLADO : DIGITAL ; TOP : MÉDIA : 61 : TECLADOS ; RÍTMOS ; TIMBRES ; EFFCTOS ; ARPEGGIOS : TELA : PANEL : TOUCH ; MUDANÇAS : FÁCIL ; PRÁTICO ! ; NEW - GERAÇÃO ; TOP : AKAI : KEYBOARD : ATUALIDADE : DIGITAL ; SUCESSO !!! : PÚBLICO !!! ; MÚSICOS !!! ; AKAI : KEYBOARD :MPC - KEY-61 ; AKAI :ELETRÔNICS : 2023 ~ 2024 ; AKAI .

[@peeterutsi4028]

Is it better buy than Roland Fantom 0?

[@formercakid]

When you are in the main screen how do you get back to the sound to further edit it?

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

How long is the MPC 61 instructional video course for sale in terms of minutes?

[@1976barce]

How do I save my beats because I lost 2 of them

[@julienmartin3796]

Great stuff! Would like a bit about instrument/ mic (audio?) recording workflow! Wanna plug in my guitar!

[@efgdf]

Hi, Can I use this synthesizer as a MIDI controller, that is, to assign functions to the softsinthes that I have installed on my computer through the faders and knobs?

[@JDMEXforme]

Just load whatever sounds you have on your computer into the MPC. This MPC can do everything the computer can do.

[@71251360]

Ave how are you? I have a question concerning the Key 61. Since we only have 8 tracks for instruments, can i connect the Tascam Model 12 to increase the track count?

[@AveMcree]

Yes

[@jameshallahan769]

I’m 10 minutes in where he’s explaining the Q link buttons in the envelope window. Why are my Q link buttons not functioning at all here? Even the config button doesn’t scroll through the different parts of the window. They’re not broke, it’s like they’re all turned off. ?

[@JamesLangston-ru2ei]

Jaime parks studio thanks

[@michaeljones3125]

Bro I want to ask a question remember back in a day Ensoniq ASR 10 how come companies like MPC Yamaha companies don’t revamp that type of keyboard I’m just asking

[@AveMcree]

Licensing issues

[@michaeljones3125]

@@AveMcree Oh OK I understand but it seem like if they can found out a way to revamp that type of keyboard it’ll be amazing

[@michaeljones3125]

@@AveMcree Have you ever thought about that type of idea for the ensoniq keyboard if a company can actually revamp that type of keyboard it would be off the chain

[@michaeljones3125]

@@AveMcree Thank you so much for your input brother I greatly appreciate you I watch you all the time laugh out loud

[@coldfirebeats1]

MY COLOR BLOCKS NOT LIGHTNG UO WHEN I HIT THE PAD

[@brianszpot7989]

Probably broken. Trade it in for a Casio CT-636.

[@albertorolon137]

did you be able to use it with FL Studio?

[@AveMcree]

Using keyboard ctrl

[@treyhudson73]

If they produce a 25 key version, lookout!!

[@AveMcree]

Bro that would look stupid lol ijs

[@thenet3d]

They already have, it's called the MPC one with the lpk25 combo.

[@AveMcree]

@@thenet3d definitely not the same experience

[@treyhudson73]

@@AveMcree Probably. Guess I'll just have to build my own version!

[@treyhudson73]

@@thenet3d Why not make it an all-in-one somehow?

[@SirMalikCobra]

So you basically paying for sounds and new buttons with keys🎹 🤷🏾‍♂️🙅🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️The X is still the better choice for the money. Good information though 🤙🏾

[@AveMcree]

Hooking up a keyboard to the X doesn’t yield the same results.

[@SirMalikCobra]

@@AveMcree I agree Ave. However, let me say I love Akai but I hate being spoon fed technology when we all know plug-ins are really the future. In addition, why not fix the looper first? I’d buy another unit all together if they just did that. I have almost all the MPC’s and JJOS 2 still has just as much current technology and some stuff the current MPC still doesn’t have. I just can’t wait till they open the floodgates for plug-ins developer’s to make plug-ins then it’s a wrap everyone is buying it. They would make the whole industry have to do the same-thing to compete. Oh and yeah, fix the looper the current one this nonfunctional for live performance you have to stop the looper to switch tracks. That defeats the point of a looper. It’s supposed to record seamlessly allowing you switch tracks live and record different instruments. Who buying a looper that’s marketed not to switch tracks seamlessly without stopping it first?

[@tommidd8042]

Make my 1st beat? I just smack something with a stick.

[@AveMcree]

😂

[@thaskunkmob]

[@lonniechance5498]

Thanks man 💪

[@danielstartek1497]

1: sell your AKAI and buy a razor. 2: stop beating it in the ghetto. 3: $150.00 for a course? Are you high?

[@giuseppeverdi6260]

Thanks