Welcome to this guide on how to set up your MPC Edition | Native Instrument Play Series Plugins for operation with MPC3 standalone hardware and desktop.




TABLE OF CONTENTS


FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions


Do I need MPC3 to install Play Series Plugins?

Yes - Native Instruments Play Series plugins are not compatible with MPC2 Firmware and require MPC3.


MPC3 is a free update for MPC OS Hardware - Akai Pro MPC | Firmware Update Walkthrough


Which MPC Hardware is compatible with MPC3 & NI Play Series Plugins? 

  • MPC Live
  • MPC Live II
  • MPC Live III
  • MPC One
  • MPC One+
  • MPC Key 37
  • MPC Key 61
  • MPC X
  • MPC X SE
  • MPC XL


Which NI Play Series Plugins are available for MPC3 OS?

  • Cloud Supply
  • Nacht 
  • Sway
  • Analog Dreams
  • Homage 


The following titles require MPC 3.5 or later:

  • Luxa
  • Duets
  • Soul Sessions
  • Ignition Keys
  • Utopia


I already own these Play Series plugins, can I still redeem them for my MPC?

No - Play Series plugins for MPC Hardware are exclusive editions specifically built for MPC3 Hardware and need to be purchased separately on the Native Instruments store: https://www.native-instruments.com/en/catalog/


Users who already own Play Series Plugins are not eligible for a free upgrade to MPC Edition builds of these plugins. 


How many activations are available between my MPCs?

Each license allows up to 3 activations between MPC Hardware signed into the same account.


The license serial supplied by NI post-sale can only be redeemed on a single inMusic Profile account. 


Does my MPC require storage to download/install  Play Series Plugins?

Yes - In most cases, the internal storage of MPC Hardware will not be large enough to download/install your Play Series Plugin. 


MPC hardware supports read and write capability for exFAT, FAT32, NTFS, and EXT4 file systems as well as read-only capability for HFS+ file systems. (We recommend using an exFAT file system as it is the most robust one supported by both Windows and macOS.


Do I need an internet connection to activate/install Play Series Plugins?

Yes, a stable internet connection is required to activate/install Play Series Plugins. 


Note, for MPC One which does not feature integrated WiFi - Users should refer to using either an ethernet connection or a class-compliant USB WiFi adapter upon connectivity to the USB Type-A port on the rear. 


Are MPC Edition Play Series Plugins available for MPC Desktop?

Yes (3.5 and higher)


MPC3 on standalone hardware is backwards compatible with MPC2.15.1 Desktop - Upon navigating to controller mode operation with your Windows or Mac computer, we suggest exporting your Play Series plugins as an audio file.

See this guide MPC Series | How to Export Individual Tracks


Is Akai Force Compatible? 

Yes - Akai Force now supports MPC Edition NI Play Series Plugins from OS 3.5 or later. 


Can I redeem via Native Access?

No - The code you receive from Native Instruments post-sale is not available to redeem via Native Access.


Your purchase is exclusively available only for MPC OS Hardware and is redeemed directly on your Hardware. 


I'm experiencing an issue activating my Play Series Plugin, who should I contact?

First, check and ensure that the code entered on your MPC OR within the inMusic Software Center is displayed exactly as seen in the order confirmation email from Native Instruments. 


If the message 'invalid license' appears, ensure a '0' (Zero) is not mistaken for an 'O'. 


If for any reason you're experiencing an activation issue, please view this setup guide Akai Pro MPC Series | Troubleshooting Activation Issues on MPC Standalone Hardware


Akai Pro / inMusic Support is available to assist concerning any issues associated with activating your MPC Edition Native Instrument Play Series Plugin by submitting a support ticket. 


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Purchasing your Native Instruments Play Series Plugin


  1. Visit Native Instruments site to purchase the Plugin
  2. Add MPC Edition Play Series plugin to the cart
  3. Checkout
  4. Receive order confirmation email
  5. Follow the instructions in this confirmation email containing your serial number
    • Users can deposit their software directly onto their MPC Hardware or by using the inMusic Software Center


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Setup / Installation MPC/Force Standalone


Updating your MPC Hardware


Ensure your MPC is updated to MPC3 Akai Pro MPC | Firmware Update Walkthrough


Redemption / Download / Installation

  1. Connect to the internet - Ensure your MPC is connected to a stable internet connection


  2. On your MPC Hardware, press the 'Menu' button

  3. Navigate to 'Preferences' and tap the 'Activations' tab on the left

  4. Login to your inMusic Profile


  5. Tap 'ENTER SERIAL' towards the top of your display


  6. Type / Enter the 30-digit license supplied by Native Instruments from the order confirmation email and tap REGISTER

    Note, upon entering your license ensure to type this exactly as seen while including the '-' between each of the 5 digits: NIAD0-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

  7. Observe your list of plugins from the Activation Pane to view your newly redeemed NI Play Series plugin

    • Tap 'REFRESH' if it is missing from the list, ensure you're connected to the internet

  8. Tap the 'ACTIVATE' Button


  9. Select a drive as the download location

    Tap the 'CHANGE' button and select your drive



  10. Tap the Download button to begin the Download



    • Ensure a storage device (formatted to exFAT) is connected to your MPC

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Loading a Play Series Plugin on your MPC Hardware

  1. Press the 'Main' button on your MPC
     
  2. Tap 'New Track' on the bottom left side of your display




  3. Select 'Plugin'




  4. Double tap the plugin drop down box (the example below currently shows Jura), and select your Play Series plugin 

  5. Tap the 'Editor' Icon to view the GUI






Setup / Installation MPC Desktop


Download the inMusic Software Center


To manage your plugins, you need to download the inMusic Software Center. You can download it here: Download inMusic Software Center.


Log Into the inMusic Software Center


Open the inMusic Software Center and log in using your Akai Professional account credentials. These should match the account associated with your purchase.


Access / Activate Your Native Instruments Play Series Plugins 

  • Once logged in:
    1. Navigate to My Software > Native Instruments Plugin Instruments
    2. Here, you'll find all of your purchased Native Instruments Play Series plugins
    3. To activate, click the 3-dots and select ACTIVATE


You can also activate your Native Instruments Play Series plugins in MPC 3 Desktop Beta


  1. Open the Preferences

    Windows: Click the menu icon (≡), select Edit, and click Preferences.

    macOS: Click the MPC menu, and click Preferences.

  2. Click Activations on the left panel
  3. To activate a plugin, click on ACTIVATE