Akai MPC Key 61

[@joonglegamer9898]

Yes, I bought one too last year a week after it released, being entirely new to the MPC universe. Only reason I bought it - was that it reminded me of an Fairlight CMI that people can actually afford (yes I grew up in the 80s), and I was not disappointed, I've made more music on that thing now than I've done with my entire studio for years.

[@davidcoate8946]

That is SO cool! I can relate. I worked on an album project years ago sequencing nearly everything on a Korg keyboard workstation. Purposeful "limiting" of music technology can be freeing. Computer DAW's are wonderful, but there's something to be said for all in one music creation machines. The Akai checks off that box big time!

[@joonglegamer9898]

@@davidcoate8946 Indeed it does. There's also something about the layout that is so productive. The Old-school Cassette player record section with play, record and rewind. And I like the workflow so much, just press next track, select a sound, and go - on top of that it can control your entire midi setup, and you get started in minutes, not hours fiddling around with setting up sounds, cables, synth adjustments, presets and whatnot. Did you notice how it also records changes you do with the presets? For example, if you're using a plugin like the OPx4 (one of my favs) and you change some settings on one of the presets, it records it with your project, so no need to first save the changes you made on a sound. What system does that? No one that I know of. For example on my Yamaha Montage - the workflow is SO un-intuitive, first you need to save the preset you made changes on with a new name, after that you need to locate the sequencer (which is well hidden), then you have to remember to save the arps you made and then save the sequence, and it's just a nightmare of logistics. But with the AKAI Mpc key 61 - everything is already stored, no matter what changes you made! And you even have endless undo's and retrospective recording if you made that incredible keyboard performace you forgot to press "record" on. I love it to bits!

[@davidcoate8946]

@@joonglegamer9898 AWESOME. I agree with everything you are saying.

[@angelperez7891]

I am looking forward to making my splash into the MPC pool!

[@matthewgaines10]

Nice composition. I got on to the MPC late as a composition tool. Most use it for making beats but being a hardware person who has DAWs, I was looking to workstations keyboards. None were to my liking and stumbled upon the MPC One a couple of years ago. Then I got a live II. Then the Key 61. These units have become my preferred composition tools. They are far from perfect but it’s great for me.

[@davidcoate8946]

Nice! Very helpful feedback Matthew.

[@fredflintstone1428]

Yup, bought one about 6 months ago.......I've paired mine up with a Tascam Model 24 console. With one USB lead I have 24 ins and 24 outs to the Key 61. Not only that, I can mix projects on the Key 61 with real faders. These two pieces of equipment have virtually replaced my whole studio for rock and pop music. My Presonus Studio One 5 / Native Instruments / Komplete Kontrol S88 MKII / Quiet PC rig does all my orchestral / film music.

[@davidcoate8946]

Very cool!

[@billbradleymusic]

Incredible indeed

[@davidcoate8946]

What are your findings re: "incredible?"

[@corvellminzt1107]

Hats off my Brother!!! Love the super soulful sound.

[@davidcoate8946]

Awww.... thank you! Just a jazz comping improv. I was amazed at how quickly it came together on this keyboard.

[@topguide101]

Hello David...in love your work....can you please tell us about your double screens and how u got them tilted,,,,is there any way we can buy that desk or are you just using normal display arms to tilt them....and also why u tilt them..thanks

[@davidcoate8946]

Thank you! They are just inexpensive Acer touchscreens which work great as a virtual console. Also future proofed to a degree since hardware often becomes obsolete quickly. To tilt them, I just leaned them on large rubber trailer blocks- angled ones. A low tech, but effective solution. In this case tilting the screens is necessary to not block either the studio monitors or view through the observation window. Adjustable display arms would work as well. We used to have those, but I am going for more of a minimalist set up these days. :)

[@blackapple116]

Nice set up studio!! 💯

[@D2theGRecords]

How do the keys feel? It says its semi weighted.

[@davidcoate8946]

Keybed is ok, but not great. I wouldn't call them weighted really- rather the feel of most synths.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Nice video, excellent demonstration, have ever used a MPK249? I have one and want to know if the Key 61 has the same keys as the MPK249?

[@davidcoate8946]

I have not used the MPK249. I would think that the keybeds are similar though-but I'm sure Akai would respond if asked that question. The keybed on the Key 61 is OK, but not stellar. In fairness, manufacturers have to figure out 'bang for the buck' and in my opinion, they did a good job in that regard.

[@quantumeseboy]

A lot of people complain about the keyboard action, I hope it's better than MODX.

[@davidcoate8946]

The keyboard action is not great. However, the overall package is just amazing given the feature set, ease of use, quality of sounds, etc.

[@marcutrillogibert9154]

Its noisily and a little small but better that the MODX, but This keyboard is amazing to make music

[@angelperez7891]

Casio offered a very similar keyboard in the MZ-X500. It had 61 keys just like the Akai Professional MPC 61 Key but the screen size was sacrificed for dual speakers built in. Sadly people frowned at the screen which although in full color it was too small and it was almost as expensive as an 88-key Korg Krome so Casio discontinued it due to poor USA sales.

[@davidcoate8946]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@angelperez7891]

Therefore I look forward to snapping up a copy of the Akai Professional MPC 61 Key.

[@wayhighermusic]

Hey David. I heard the quality of the keys or keyboard on the MPC keys wasn’t good. What do you think? How does it feel compared to other keyboards you have played? Sorry for all the questions, I really want one 😆.

[@davidcoate8946]

The keybed and action isn't stellar compared with other keyboards. However, after playing any keyboard for awhile, muscle memory kicks in and adapts to it. To me, it feels like keys don't go down as far (perhaps) as some other keyboards. But bottom line, its really no problem. The overall package is utterly amazing, and this is the first keyboard I have had in years that inspires music creation. On the Akai MPC Key 61 I can quickly come up with a really interesting musical idea versus another keyboard workstation where I would still be fiddling with settings and searching for sounds!

[@wayhighermusic]

@@davidcoate8946 excellent, thanks! I had the Akai Advanced keyboard and I hated the keybed. It was so stiff I didn’t feel like I could get good dynamics out of it. I am hoping the keybed on the MPC Keys will be fine for me. Coming from making music on workstations back in the day and hating the sequencer on my Fathom 06, I am hoping the MPC Keys will be a pleasant addition to my setup. Thanks again!

[@matthewgaines10]

The keybed is somewhat comparable to other workstations. Not great and not bad.

[@wayhighermusic]

@@matthewgaines10 Thanks. I actually got one and I like the keybed. I prefer it over my Roland Fantom 06. It is pretty loud though.

[@davidcoate8946]

@@matthewgaines10 Agreed. An addendum to my previous comments about the keybed is that I had adjusted the keyboard control from light to heavy assuming that heavy would help offset what felt like less vertical excursion of keys compared to what I was used to. However, I have been playing with those settings more and finding that velocity sensitivity is really affected especially with piano sounds. I'm now dialing in more natural keybed feel via those keyboard control settings- and gravitating more towards light settings.

[@EdgyNumber1]

MPC One and Korg Nautilus. Unbeatable.

[@davidcoate8946]

Cool! I love Korg stuff.

[@Beatz-Pocket]

It’s a thumbs up for me Sir.

[@88mokeyz8k]

Really Nice!

[@davidcoate8946]

Thanks!

[@fetti_records_inc.]

Dope 🔥 🔥 🔥 just subscribe! I have one myself and I love it

[@davidcoate8946]

AWESOME!

[@brandonsmith2594]

Good job

[@davidcoate8946]

Thank you!

[@marcusholder495]

May Yahweh bless you brother thank you for the video

[@davidcoate8946]

Thank you!

[@edwardferry8247]

Roland Fantom 06 -- are now cheaper and sound so much better but the workflow is nowhere as good as the MPC. Tricky if working within a budget, which most people tend to be.

[@davidcoate8946]

Good to know! I for one am still learning a lot about the MPC workflow. It's definitely organic but its a lot to digest for someone not familiar with the MPC ecosystem. :)

[@billbradleymusic]

All you need to do is find a friend with a nice keyboard and transfer the sounds. At this point it doesn't sound any better. Next? Oh the key bed ... this is only tricky to finicky keyboard player's. It's a great feeling board to any drummer and guitarist out there. Well worth it's price.

[@maximumguitarage]

@@billbradleymusicMPC 3.0 is coming out and you can add a midi 88 hammer weighted key board to this via usb and you are covered. Just import nord , Yahmaha and Roland sounds and you are good to go 👍

[@kbbayliss]

Nice!

[@davidcoate8946]

Thank you Ken!

[@marcus90mark]

** let's not exaggerate. Instrument for Jazz men. Price too high

[@frankr7239]

But they have no saxophone that sounds good otherwise it would be the perfect keyboard more better than yamaha

[@davidcoate8946]

Wow, that didn't register with me until you mentioned it. I would think that it would be straightforward to obtain a good sax (alto, tenor, soprano...) sample that you could set up in the keyboard. I'm still wading through thousands of other presets. lol

[@maximumguitarage]

@@davidcoate8946MPC 3.0 is coming out - also you can always sample and import saxophone sounds so no worries there