AKAI Professional MPC One

Update: I caved and bought a DIN-5 to USB midi cable/device and that makes syncing between the MPC and other midi devices a lot easier. I'll still deduct a star from features because they simply have elected to not send MTC over USB despite the device supporting USB midi...

Original review below.

So I've just spent most of the day trying to get my DAW and the MPC One to sync through MIDI. This is usually a no-brainer thing but Akai has made it exceptionally difficult and cumbersome for seemingly no good reason. All my other gear can use USB for MIDI, but Akai has elected to use MIDI-over-Ethernet (via a custom driver) or the old-school 5-DIN plugs from the '70es — and this is in spite of them actually putting the USB-B connector in the unit and having it register as a MIDI device over USB. It just can't do MIDI time codes over USB because ... reasons.

When I finally did manage to make something happen via MIDI-over-Ethernet, everything was wildly out of sync. I'm not talking "slightly different BPM" out of sync, but "4 deaf and tired drummers playing in 4 completely different tempos and in different time signatures" out of sync.

So yeah, if you're planning on using this in a setup with MIDI sync, don't.

Other than that, though, it's a nice stand-alone sample-based DAW. Note, however, that you can't have audio tracks longer than whatever segment you're working on, so it's less than ideal for programming a few segments, putting them together and recording live instruments on top of that. It simply can't be done. That's not necessarily a problem though, but I think it's worth mentioning.

Once you get used to the workflow, it's really nice to work with and it's relatively easy to whip up something nice pretty quick. Plenty of good drum sounds to get you started and with more available on Akai's website when you register the MPC.

So yeah, if you're not relying on MIDI sync, then the MPC One is definitely worth checking out.

My full opinion:
I think MPC One (and series) is the greatest ting into sampler’s world. It’s not the all-time classic hardware that may record, upload and reproduce sounds, the central and great difference is THE SOFTWARE into the unit.

The physical part of this Akai artifact: The touchscreen, knobs, pads and buttons are the controls to act over samples with your hands. The software onboard acts like a multitrack “DAW”. In the close form like Cubase, Ableton, Logic, Nuendo and etc may do it.

You can configure knobs to act over filter, modulation, mix, panning, volume and all possible options. Is possible too create and modify easily automation in all controls.

MPC ONE is like a fusion between a laptop, DAW software and factory samples onboard ready to start a song. That´s the reason why is too great. Other samplers series in the market don´t come with own advanced software.

If your are an experienced user of Romplers like Nexus, Avenger, and many more, you´ll be positive surprised with this unit… because with dedicated work and detailed order you may build into this device your own rompler style sounds collections, self expansion packs if you wish. And using that stuff, produce your amazing hits.

A non common use:
Beyond to make music or noise with this unit, It will be a helpful machine to be a mobile recording studio in a box. You can load background music, record your voice, other speeches, Sfx and create a Radio show or any commercial recording. This ting records more than just samples or rap lines.


An experimental use:
One of the functions for samples is “match to tempo” it means, a process into the software may adjust all the samples in a song to the same BPM. Well I started to use it like a DJ station, and It works, but not like a typical controller, It was just an experiment.


A tip for users:
Into software functions and controls, is not present a SideChain Compressor. But it can be easily done with modulation, notch- filter, eq or volume automation … or that four process together.

How easy is work with MPC ONE???

After unpack it, 15 minutes later sure you are doing the basics for a cool song, really it happens. BUT advanced functions needs attention, read the manual, practice. Controls are not complicated, but some of the software functions are into menus you need to know step by step. One month with this piece of technology in one hand and the manual in the other hand and you going to love this unit. I’m sure. Just be patient.

MPC ONE works with VST Instruments???
NO, but into the factory software this unit has on board two synthesizers (part of the software), this plug-ins and internal presets may be activated with just one click. AND many other similar plug-ins may be downloaded. This instrument expansions are Akai exclusive format. Maybe in the future we can download more synths and presents like samples libraries.

Video Demo:
You may follow this link in order to see how this powerful unit can works for your next great production. Its done by Akai… is clearly explained.
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Final words:
I’m really happy working with this unit, it's really a great and a wonderful hybrid workstation. It combines the well done fame from AKAI samplers hardware and the future workstations with on board software to make All-in-one devices. You going to love it, I’m sure.

What about THOMANN?
Thomann was my best option to buy after compare other services and an extra advantage is: 3 YEARS OF WARRANTY… If your MPC ONE explode like a bomb in that time, don’t worry. They fix it :)

Thanks for read it… thanks a lot.
Jesus Arze a.k.a. Jaydee Hollywood.

First off: I'm not yet that experienced with the MPC One, as find little free time to actually sit down and work with it. That being said, I have spent some weekends completely enveloped in it.
It's a great drum machine. Playing a set of drums or samples is as easy and intuitive as it can get. I don't have any previous experience with velocity and aftertouch sensitive pads, so I needed some time to "get" them, but once you're over that phase, it feels just like tapping on your table with your finger (which I like to do, play drums sometimes also).
If melodic instruments are more your thing, you probably don't want to use just the pads, even though the MPC has quite a few different note/cord/etc. presets for many many different genres of music, so sometimes you can get a great idea by just slamming random pads. Pair up a MIDI keyboard and you're done. If the "sample your own instruments" vibe doesn't suit you, that's not a problem. You can sample them, but when you're recording your finished project, you can just *boop* change the track from sample-based to MIDI and record the live instrument (if it connects to MIDI anyway). It has millions of features, truly making it a hardware DAW.
There are a lot more good things to say, but you've probably noticed I gave handling a 3/5. The entire workflow is pretty damn weird and unintuitive. Most functions cannot be found where you would expect them to be. Some functions you would expect would be accessible on buttons are hidden in menus. Speaking of menus, every menu where you have to choose between a lot of options opens on only a third of the screen. This makes working with a lot of samples almost impossible, as you can only see the first like 10 characters of the filename (this can be worked around by using certain filenaming conventions). They could just extend the menu to the entire screen, the extra space helps no one (they even blur it out). Akai is pumping out features lately, so maybe they could polish the existing features sometime, which they probably will.
Tl;dr: Feature packed, can do absolutely anything you want it to, but can be finnicky and unintuitive.