The MPC X features both complete standalone operation and full control over the MPC 2.0 software for the best of both worlds. This guide will discuss some of the popular questions about the MPC X and MPC 2.0 features and functionality. 




Frequently Asked Questions

MPC X


MPC Software 2.0



What are the system specs of the MPC X?

The MPC X has its own embedded system which sports a 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. For internal storage, the MPC X has 16GB onboard. There are 10GB of studio-quality sounds pre-loaded and another 6GB for you to work with. You can use the 2 onboard USB ports to add more samples or to provide extra storage. There is also a compartment on the bottom of the MPC X which houses a SATA port for installing an optional HDD or SDD.  



What operating systems will the MPC X be supported on?

The MPC X, MPC Live, and MPC 2.0 software will all be supported for use on Windows 8.1 and up, as well as Mac OS X 10.10 and up. This will only require the installation of a single driver to use the MPC X or MPC Live as a controller with MPC 2.0. As a side note, the MPC X and MPC Live can be connected to virtually any operating system for simple file transfer. That means if you need to transfer files off of your Windows 7 computer, you can connect your MPC and your OS will be able to recognize any connected USB drives or SATA drives.   



How big is the display? Is it a touch screen?

The MPC X features a 10" full color, multi-touch display (Resolution: 1280x800, Aspect ratio: 16:10) for navigating and controlling the internal software. This means that not only is it touch-capable, but it can handle multi-touch gestures like pinching to zoom in/out and double-tap for advanced settings.   



How much storage is there? How big is the internal hard drive?

The MPC X has 16GB of internal storage. There are 10GB of studio-quality sounds pre-loaded and another 6GB for you to work with. You can use the 2 onboard USB ports to add more samples or to provide extra storage. There is also a compartment on the bottom of the MPC X which houses a SATA port for installing an optional HDD or SDD.  



Does the MPC X include MPC Software version 2.0?

MPC X includes the latest version of the MPC Software, version 2.0. You can use the MPC X entirely standalone or as a controller for MPC Software 2.0.  



Can I record audio tracks on the MPC X?

Yes! One of the great new features on the MPC X, MPC Live, and MPC 2.0 software is the addition of audio track recording.  In the standalone mode, the MPC will capable of up to 8 full audio tracks, but the MPC 2.0 software can record as many tracks as your system can handle.   



Can I plug a USB MIDI controller into the USB ports of the MPC X?

The USB ports on the MPC X have a variety of uses. They can be used to transfer files on and off of the MPC X, as extra storage, and as input for USB MIDI controllers.  If you have a class-compliant MIDI controller (one that does not require drivers), you will be able to plug it directly into an available USB port on the MPC X and control MIDI information in the embedded system software.  



Are the MPC X and MPC Live USB 3.0?

Yes! The MPC X and MPC Live will both ship with USB 3.0 cables and work at USB 3.0 speeds when connected to the computer as a controller. While USB 2.0 may work, we do recommend using 3.0 cables and ports whenever possible for the best results.  If the MPC is in standalone mode, any connected thumb drives or storage devices will operate at USB 2.0.  



Can I add additional storage space?

Yes! The MPC X and MPC Live both feature two (2) USB ports for connecting thumb drives and other USB storage devices, an SD card slot for standard SD/SDHC cards, as well as a port for adding an additional 2.5" SATA drive (either HDD or SSD). Virtually all drive sizes are supported, but we recommend formatting drives to exFAT, FAT32, or NTFS for the best results. SATA drives will be mounted to the compartment door with the included screws. Please make sure that the MPC X is turned off before connecting or disconnecting a SATA drive.   



Can I open my current MPC projects on the MPC X?

Yes! The MPC X and MPC Live will recognize MPC projects, programs, and sequences made with earlier versions of the software and even older MPC hardware project and program formats. The MPC will convert them to modern formats upon importing.  



Are there any differences between running a project in standalone vs. with MPC 2.0?

Yes, but not many. You may notice some differences depending on your work style, though the main difference will be with VST support.  MPC 2.0 supports VST plugins when used on your computer, however, these will be disabled when using the projects on the MPC X and MPC Live in standalone.   



Are projects transferable between the MPC X and MPC Live?

Yes! Projects can be transferred and opened on any MPC Live or MPC X considering all of the project's contents (samples, programs, sequences) are transferred as well. Considering there are differences in outputs and inputs on the MPC X versus MPC Live, you may notice that outputs or inputs are disabled if they are not available on the current controller.   



How many inputs and outputs are on the MPC X?

The MPC X features 8 balanced TRS outputs and 4 combo inputs. Inputs 1 and 2 will support mic and line levels (+48v phantom power available) and inputs 3/4 will support phono (RCA) and line-level (1/4" TRS) inputs. Important: The RCA inputs are intended only for phono-level audio. Please be sure not to connect line-level audio sources to this input.  There are also 2 instrument inputs (1/4" TS) on the front of the unit that can be assigned as inputs 1/2 with the Rear/Front switch below the channel gain knobs on the top.  On top of the audio i/o, the MPC X also has 2 full-size, 5-pin MIDI inputs and 4 full-size 5-pin MIDI outputs, as well 8 CV/Gate outputs to sync with your modular synths and sequencers.  



What is a CV/Gate output used for?

CV/Gate signals are similar to a standard MIDI connection in that they are responsible for transferring pitch and sequence timing data to other gear, usually modular synths or sequencers. Unlike MIDI, CV and Gate signals use simple voltages in varying ranges and lengths to control the other devices which opens a lot of possibilities for implementation. For example, modular synths will often have a CV Pitch input (deciding the pitch of the synth at any given point), but they may also have filter input to control the filter instead. The gate would tell the synth when and how long to play a note, again just like the regions in a MIDI sequence.  For more info, check out the article here.  



What is the CV range? Can all outputs be used simultaneously?

The MPC X uses the 0-5v range. All outputs can be used simultaneously.  



Can I transfer content directly to the internal storage?

All content will need to be stored on a thumb drive or the internal SATA drive before transferring to the internal storage on the MPC X or MPC Live. The Internal storage will not appear as an available drive when connected to your system.   



Are there any cases or bags available?

There are no plans for official MPC X or MPC Live cases at the moment, but we’re glad to hear that there is interest! In the meantime, you may be able to find an alternative third-party case/bag that meets the size requirements:

  • HxWxD in mm:
    • When display is flat: 87.3 x 504.5 x 424.4
    • When display is upright: 213.5 x 504.5 x 387.9
  • HxWxD in Inches:
    • When display is flat: 3.4 x 19.9 x 16.7
    • When display is upright: 8.4 x 19.9 x 15.3


  

If I record a sample while the MPC X is in controller mode with MPC 2.0, is the sample recorded to my MPC X or my computer?

The sample will be recorded into your MPC 2.0 sample pool and saved to the hard drive once the project is saved. While connected in controller mode, the MPC X will act only as a controller/interface, similar to the MPC Renaissance. But once disconnected from controller mode, your project can be transferred to a USB drive, SD card or additional drive on the MPC X to open in standalone.   



Will the MPC X support legacy file types?

Absolutely! The MPC X will be fully compatible with projects, programs and sequences from previous MPC versions and legacy hardware MPC's such as the MPC5000, MPC4000, MPC3000, MPC2500/2500XL, MPC1000, and MPC500. The MPC X will support the following file types: .AKP, .ALL, .IPT, .PGM, .PRJ, .SND, .MID, .SEQ, .APS, .50k, and .50s.    



Will the full MPC 2.0 software be available as a free upgrade for all MPC Touch, MPC Renaissance, and MPC Studio/Studio Black owners?

See our guide here for a full rundown on upgrade options for MPC 2.0.  



Where can I download MPC 2.0?

All MPC Touch, MPC Live, and MPC X users can find a download link and authorization code for MPC 2.0 in their Akai Pro account once they have registered their product. For a complete walkthrough on downloading, installing and activating the MPC 2.0 Software, see our video and guide below: Akai Pro MPC Software 2.0 - How to Download, Install, and Activate


 



How many times can I authorize MPC 2.0?

The MPC 2.0 license can be authorized on two separate computers/iLok dongles simultaneously, so you can have two active versions at the same time. If another computer or iLok dongle needs to be authorized, the license can be deactivated and re-authorized to a different location using the iLok License Manager. This means that you are fully in control of your software authorizations! Check out our article here for a full walkthrough on activating and deactivating iLok licenses.  



Can I authorize my MPC 2.0 license to an iLok dongle?

Absolutely! Make sure your iLok is connected to the computer while authorizing the software and you will be able to choose it as a location to store the license during the authorization process.   



What operating systems will MPC 2.0 be supported on?

  • Windows: Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.1 (64-bit) 
  • Mac: Mac OS X 10.10 - 10.12 (Yosemite - Sierra)  



Can I use MPC 2.0 with my MPC Renaissance, Studio, or Touch?

Yes, MPC 2.0 will support the older MPC series including the Renaissance, Studio, Studio Black, Element, and Touch, as well as the new MPC X and MPC Live.  



Does MPC 2.0 support audio recording?

Yes! one of the big new features with MPC 2.0 is the addition of full audio track recording! Audio tracks will playback over the course of an entire song while any sequences loop behind it, similar to recording in arrangement mode in Ableton.   



Is there a limit to the number of tracks I can use?

MPC 2.0 and standalone MPC X and Live will have a total track limit of 128.  Keep in mind, this is still subject to each system's limitations and CPU constraints.   



Will MPC 2.0 run as a VST plugin in my DAW, just like the previous MPC software?

Yes! MPC 2.0 will come with VST, AU, and AAX versions to run as a plug-in in your favorite DAW, exactly like the older MPC software versions.   



Can I open this as a plugin in my 32-bit DAW?

The MPC 2.0 software is 64-bit only and will only run on 64-bit systems and DAWs.  



Does MPC 2.0 support third-party plugins? 

Of course! MPC 2.0 will support VST2 plugins, as well as AU plugins for Mac, just like the previous MPC software versions.   



Can I open my current MPC projects in MPC 2.0?

Absolutely! MPC 2.0 will be fully compatible with projects, programs and sequences from previous MPC versions and even legacy hardware MPC's like the MPC5000 and MPC2500. MPC 2.0 will support the following file types: .AKP, .ALL, .IPT, .PGM, .PRJ, .SND, .MID, .SEQ, .APS, .50k, and .50s.  



What if I run into trouble with the software?  Is there a way to send a report to Akai?

Because this is a beta version of the software, we want to hear what you have to say; what features you like, dislike, and anywhere improvements can be made. In the MPC 2.0 Beta, you'll find a feedback module where you can send notes and crash reports to be reviewed by our team and considered for the next update. Click on the smiley face in the bottom right for feedback options: