Akai MPX8 sample player ...Best of its type?

[@alsara2k]

I've enjoyed using my MPX8 a lot mainly because of the limitations forcing you to think outside of the box. I use 22khz mono samples to increase the sample load times, sequence it using an Alesis SR-16, and use the two lines out to seperate and isolate the instruments for routing to effects processors and pedals. It's really a 'DIY Rompler/Sound module' except the sounds can't be modified or edited onboard in any way so you better be sure you like the sounds you're using before you go through the trouble of renaming them and turning them into kits. It's really useful paired with a digital drum kit, or sequencer, for triggering simple phrases ala vocal samples/jingles, and for finger drumming into a real sampler. If your real sampler has an export to .wav function, the MPX8 serves as a decent host for the files. Essentially, it's only useful as a tool to compliment existing hardware and i'd imagine it would just confuse the hell out of beginners who were actually looking for an SP-404.

[@gearfacts]

I agree with all your comments, Albert. I especially liked your intro - limitations do indeed force creative thinking! :) #gearfacts

[@crowfoot7355]

Just got an mpx8 do I have to connect it directly to my laptop to use the samples on the editor.

[@MOGdance]

Helpful review. Thx

[@PMholmes2012]

Thank You!

[@gearfacts]

Welcome!

[@theprogrammerrolandmc3039]

had this a few days realized it doesn't like single drum hits as it makes weird hissy noises so have to create a 1 bar loop with the drum i need at the beginning of the loop. It drops midi notes trying to do this so really it's only for playing loops but it's good at doing that i got it cheap so no big deal.

[@gearfacts]

I agree, it's limited but very cheap so fair's fair :)

[@fischek]

great demo, thanks! I had just one question, I understand you can load up to 8 samples per kit, but don't know if I can switch between kits easily? the thing is I need to trigger 9 samples in one track, so I'd need to switch to another kit for that last one if I understand correctly - thanks in advance!

[@gearfacts]

It’s been a while but yes, I’m fairly sure you could switch entire kits in one move. Beware of the slow load-up time though.

[@kiskadar69]

Workarounds: 1. Use two Akai MPX8s at the same time. 2. Use one Akai MPX16.

[@wireguy123]

Once you have loaded samples on all 8 pads ..can you save as a preset? Are there presets? do the presets load quickly after initial export of wav to pad?

[@gearfacts]

Hi, yep you can save a profile of 8 samples, but any kind of data movement is really slow. So when you turn it on it won't be just ready to go immediately, it has to load them up.

[@jakubtomas9154]

So, how long samples can it actually play? Can it hold even 2 minutes samples? For example some vocal phrases?

[@gearfacts]

Jakub Tomáš I think it could hold a two minute sample. Vocal phrases are no problem at all. If you wanted to do an entire vocal track though, I separate the chorus and each of the verses into separate samples to make it all more manageable.

[@kiskadar69]

There are two missing functions: 1.Disable pad velocity sensitivity 2."Choke"

[@gearfacts]

Yes :) Gearfacts

[@DCPier]

And the device is missing notes in combination with every other sequencer, here it's a Volca Beats and a Novation Circuit Tracks...

[@kiskadar69]

@@DCPier The MPX8 does not support Running Status messages. Running Status is not just a convention, it's part of the core MIDI specification. Every MIDI receiver should understand Running Status or it will risk misinterpreting the incoming data. Releasing firmware that doesn't handle Running Status is not acceptable.

[@DCPier]

@@kiskadar69 I know that. But where are we now, ~7 years after release? Still no fix. I'm totally on your side with nthe unacceptable firmware thing... ;)

[@kiskadar69]

@@DCPier I tested it with MIDI controllers that don’t use the MIDI Running Status protocol (miditech i2 Control-37 Black, Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard), but the MPX8 didn’t work perfectly with either (the sounds of HoLD triggered pads are sometimes “stuck”).

[@futurewillow3269]

So if I wanted to load a sound clip from a movie I could do that with this?

[@gearfacts]

Yep :) Gearfacts

[@gugasobreira]

Hello! Thanks for this video. Did you used the Akai Software to prepare the samples or just downloaded to the sd card?

[@gearfacts]

I just copied my own wav files to an SD card. Gearfacts

[@BD-zg7is]

i do not understand what the point of this thing is. it looks well made but i just don't get it at all. looks like a solid midi controller but i don't undertstand the SD card part

[@gearfacts]

I guess it's just for performers who don't want to do sampling as such, but need to play samples on stage. But I agree, it's usefulness is questionable...

[@kiskadar69]

It can also act as a sound sample player. The concept is good, but the implementation has failed.

[@BD-zg7is]

@@gearfacts thanks for the video. it's funny to me that i'm here two years later looking at buying this again lol

[@Shoebox817]

So can you sample into it.. Like if I were to hook the main jacks up to my phone with an adapter could I record a sample?

[@gearfacts]

No, it's just a sample player. You have to load your sounds into it via USB or SD Card :) Gearfacts

[@HoodHandyman]

i have never heard of this Akai MPX8 till today 1/28/2024 doesn't look like i missed anything

[@gearfacts]

Correct 👍

[@joje4713]

I have question, i’ve got this gear a momth ago ,and i tried to make new sample with daw (logic pro) and i made 16bit wave mono files (drum kick, hat etc) then i put it on the mpx8 with sd card. but it seems dosent work with my mpx8 I dont know whats wrong really😕 Because i down loaded some wav samples frome the “akai web site” ( basic drum kit)its working well But when i try my sample ( made my self) its dosent work ,when i select my sample they just show me”invalid format” Could you give me some tip ,advis for how to make right format file to sd card ? (By the way ,I couldnt update firmware, it also dosent work thats why , but it still have to work with 16bit mono samples) actually i made 16bit wav mono files and its just separation drum kit files(kick, snare, hat) there is no wrong way i guess Thats why im kinda lost now😭 And if you know how to check my firmware ver on mpx8 also ?

[@joje4713]

It could be problems with my sd card ? My sd card is sandisk SDUNC 32g 😕

[@gearfacts]

I wish I had some ideas but it sounds like you are doing everything correctly. I guess the best thing to do is join an online forum for Akai products and ask the question there. Then it'll get seen by hardcore enthusiasts who will have better knowledge than me :) #gearfacts

[@thebmxband1t]

I looked about a bit and found this snippet in an Amazon review. Basically make sure they’re 16bit PCM as this reviewer had same issues with his MPX16. Also check the sample frequency is compatible ie 44.1khz or 48khz. Hope this helps. First problem is that It wouldn't play some samples. Even after converting them with the conversion software that is downloaded from the Akai website they still wouldn't play. However, I discovered that if just imported them into Audacity and then exported them as 16 bit PCM WAV (the default option) they worked fine.

[@JackstandJohnny]

Whats the largest SD card it can use? How many minutes of samples can it hold? Do you gave to load up indovidual samples every single time you power it on? Or can you save preset banks of 8 samples and just move from bank A, bank B etc? Seems like waiting for each samppe to load ev ry time you power it on...really sucks. Thanks!

[@gearfacts]

I'm pretty sure it held the samples when powered off, if I remember correctly. The card size limit was at least 64GB, so it could hold hours of samples. I have a feeling the sample limit may have been something like 90 seconds ...but this was a long time ago so I'm open to being corrected on that. See full manual by googling "Akai MPX8 PDF" :) Gearfacts

[@anthonydominguez1721]

I’m looking for a sampler that can record your own sounds when beat boxing for my son! Does this do that? Thanks in advance!

[@gearfacts]

No, it doesn’t record at all. Maybe try as korg electribe sampler? There are lots of other options :)

[@anthonydominguez1721]

@@gearfacts ok thanks so much for getting back to me I appreciate you!

[@benmorales9246]

Just ordered this right now. Are the midi converters able to connect to external out on a drum machine?

[@gearfacts]

Yes that should work.

[@kiskadar69]

The MPX8 fw v1.0.01 does not support the MIDI Running Status messages.

[@areabass]

hey, few years down the line on this but I just purchased one for myself but having some trouble getting started.I've loaded in samples (software didn't work so had to load them from the card in the machine). I want to trigger a loop whilst finger drumming. Everytime I trigger the loop, any other button just retriggers the same sample. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

[@gearfacts]

Hm, it sounds like all the buttons are assigned to the same sample. If you look in the menu on the device, you can assign different files to different buttons. It's done entirely separately from the computer. Sorry I don't have exact instructions, I don't have this unit anymore :) #Gearfacts

[@areabass]

@@gearfacts it was a bit glitchy, they were all assigned different samples but turning off and on solved the issue.

[@francescocorasaniti6077]

is possible to connect it also to AKAI MPX16?

[@gearfacts]

Not as far as I know, but it might be worth searching for "MPX8" in the MPX16 manual :) #gearfacts

[@humanbuoy1123]

Hey thanks for the vid - is there an option to make the notes/samples "choke" or cancel each other out as opposed to being played simultaneously?

[@gearfacts]

That's a good idea. And no, this unit only allows for the usual one-hit, gate and loop modes :) Gearfacts

[@wireguy123]

MPX16 has more features...Hey its $99 bucks

[@deadbone99]

Will the samples sync other gear if i use the midi option and use another drum machine as master...

[@gearfacts]

No, they won't.

[@KwtalKhorang]

Can I play without soundcard or Computer?

[@gearfacts]

It's a stand-alone machine :) #gearfacts

[@KwtalKhorang]

This pad will play without Computer or laptop ?

[@gearfacts]

MUSIC METHOD no computer connection is needed, but you do have to bring samples into it using an SD card

[@djr_drums]

Sooo......this will play my mp3 backtracks live? If I have an entire set would it wig out because the files are too big.

[@gearfacts]

It could do it but it would take a long time to load them. I'd feel nervous about the risk of a crash, too. I've never seen that happen on this unit but yeah ...nervous...

[@RedRubyStudio]

this is the same thing i want for live shows,to load a whole mp3 backtrack..! any idea of other sampler which can do this job?

[@kiskadar69]

It can only play WAV files.

[@komiku3966]

How to record the sound of it?

[@kiskadar69]

It does not have an A/D converter, so it can only play WAV files created elsewhere.

[@pete19ify]

dammn! I wish you could edit your sample thank you gearfacts

[@gearfacts]

So true. I should add that you can change the pitch of your samples by a couple of tones. I would have thought a sequencer would be cheap to implement as well, I mean surely that's just a few kilobytes of code. Oh well, it's still a good machine for its purpose. Thanks for watching Gearfacts again :)

[@bryanmalicdem2559]

Hi. Can i play a 5 minute track with that device?

[@gearfacts]

I've got a feeling the limit is about 180 seconds ..I'd have to have the manual to know for sure. You can google "akai MPX8 PDF" if you want to check it out :) #gearfacts

[@johnnyguitar7921]

i bought an Akai mpx16, havent recieved it yet, but can return the product, i have been reading very ngative stuff, and the thing about the load times etc..... i dont know if try it before returning it or just right away return it and buy something else.... i mean, the Boss 303 sampler that came in 2001 seems like a better machine. im confused....

[@gearfacts]

I thought the MPX16 looked pretty cool but I didn't buy it because it doesn't have a sequencer of any kind. That's a big shame I think. The Korg Electribe got a lot of bad reviews but personally i found it excellent. Maybe that's an option? Thanks for commenting on Gearfacts, JG :)

[@bertg5294]

its type...

[@gearfacts]

Quite right, thanks for pointing that out. I'll go ahead and fix that :)

[@musicliveshow5455]

loading sample too slow…

[@gearfacts]

Yes 👍

[@kiskadar69]

Workaround: on stage, use two MPX8s alternately. While one is loading samples, use the other to play music.

[@mayrasherwani8336]

akai

[@promethiousb1489]

Without a doubt,,the MOST useless piece of garbage i have EVER had to deal with,,,so far,by far,,the worst piece of gear EVER,,total crap.

[@xangodango]

Wow this device is so dumb in every way! Jacks for midi? WTH? Cant even sample?! Takes a minute to load then cant play it? What a hunk of cr______!!!

[@gearfacts]

Well it's only about $75, it's got that going for it. Hope I didn't get a thumbs-down.

[@xangodango]

@@gearfacts oh no, its not your fault! Mine was a comment on the device not the review.

[@gearfacts]

@@xangodango Phew! And it was a fair comment btw :)