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Akai iMPC Pro 2 - opinions?
Just saw an excellent (as always) demo of the Akai iMPC Pro 2.
Just wondering if there are folks here who have bought it and what opinions they may like to share?
To me it looks REALLY cool! But sometimes the devil IS in the detail haha!
Comments
well the fact that no-one has replied indicates a lack of users, which in turn indicates it may not be a very good app. No response is usually a pretty good sign.
Thanks
@pax-eterna Check the version history. It is not a very actively maintained piece of software.
I seem to remember that importing samples was a pain in the hoop, that and connectivity issues…. I think - it’s been a while. There’s lengthy threads on the forum here containing many a grumble.
I have only iMPC and Pro, but not Pro 2.
It may be better than it‘s reputation here, at least as far as I‘m concerned... because I only learned the MPC way of doing things later with an MPC Studio, a rather close approximation to an MPC 2000 xl (if used with software before Akai called it MPC Software).
I‘ve been through almost all versions from Essentials 1.2 to MPC Software 2.x and Beats on Mac and PC.
With that background videos of iMPC Pro-2 actually look much better than before.
The current Akai MPC Software (both hardware and controller mode) isn‘t flawless either.
Akai‘s plan to unify the classic MPC workflow with a DAW is an ambitious idea, to say at least.
In my case that lead to bail out and acquire a classic hardware MPC, but recently I‘ve been tempted to get iMPC Pro-2 just in case of mobility (not a crucial aspect, though).
@Littlewoodg may have more details, just recently he stated he‘s a happy user of iMPC Pro-2.
As someone who started using an Mpc 2000 in the 90's and currently uses an Mpc Live 2 ( and an MPC Studio Black between those two), the developers of IMPC Pro 2 never really got the Mpc workflow down and I don't feel like anyone at Retronymns really used Mpc hardware as their go to frfr. Aside from that, as someone mentioned, getting your own samples into it is a real pita and it just feels like they're more interested in selling samples packs via their Audiocopy app more than actually improving Impc Pro.
I have owned it for some time, but barely used it. I think it’s in need of updates in many areas, but it doesn’t seem to get them. It’s OK, but not something that inspires me to use it much.
as @Telefunky mentioned i’m a happy user, and would’ve jumped in but i took a (rare) break from checking the forum threads…
i can only speak from the perspective of someone who didn’t start on MPCs in the nineties, and hasn’t owned any MPC hardware (except the Element, more about this below).
i don’t find it at all painful to get my own samples in- it has Files App integration, and i move samples in that way. It’s also has a method for sampling songs directly from your downloaded iTunes library or Spotify, with a virtual turntable sampling set up that’s pretty cool and intuitive. another path for generating new samples is resample functionality, recording audio from performance and chopping that to pads etc. Rendering from tracks within the timeline w/fx and dropping that .wav onto pad or chopping to pads is also very fluid. The sample editor is top tier. I’m really only skimming the surface of sample generation and manipulation possibilities. The possibilities and flexibility for developing new user sounds within the app is i think very unusual, if not unique on the platform.
And from what I can tell, working samples and reworking them, and creating new samples within the hardware was a huge, if not defining feature of what the MPCs and MPC workflow were all about. But i’m also given to understand, when looking into the practices of early hardware users (in videos, books etc) that there wasn’t just one workflow for MPCs, and some say that was the whole point.
Connectivity-wise it hosts AUv3 instruments, records from IAA instruments, and hosts IAA fx. I don’t encounter issues in these areas.
I do often use the app with the Akai Element, which is a tightly integrated hardware controller that works with all three of the Akai/Retronyms MPC apps. Pads feel good (and light up in pretty colors), and include all the functionality one expects, including velocity sensitivity. with or without this controller i find the app to be deep, a lot of fun, and inspiring.
I recently got it in the sale and I believe it to be a bargain. Not completed a full track on it yet unlike BeatHawk which I love but it’s deep and has some really good features such as the turntable sampler feature which might be useful to some. I recommend. It’s one of those apps where I look at the feature set and can’t believe the price.
Thanks much! With the lack of AUv3 drums, and bearing in mind I only use these things for live work, this app looks like it might be a way to run various setups within AUM. Instead of having to have multiple open apps (viz Lumbeat et al - IAA only, no "state" saving) .
Plus, that demo made it look like I could simply create a beat quickly at the start of a tune (live) as a simple backing. Might investigate further!
@pax-eterna
if you want to get into it further, Retronyms made an indepth platlist of tutorials for the previous iMPC Pro (the 2nd of the 3 iMPC partnerships with Akai)
the features of the iMPC Pro are all part of Pro 2, and Retronyms didnt create duplicate tutorials for the newest iteration.
23 short videos
the things added are explained elsewhere, there are lots of good stuff to be found in a YouTube search on the Pro2 (including a deep walkthough on Soundtestroom, Doug’s channel, Akai stuff…)
I like DJ Puzzle’s stuff, here’s one:
spen of what he talks about needed a fix has been fixed and he notes some invaluable workflow tips
the app isn’t flawless, i have yet to find anything on the platform that is. But it’s worth finding out what it does, and does very well
I would probably use it more if it wasn't so f'king unstable (random crashes when editing samples) and the polyphony issues (ie. sounds randomly drop out when playing a sequence) drive me nuts, create a loop trigger sustained sounds and they sometimes play back but not always like really?!
(Loading AUv3's is a 'Russian Roulette' The crash happens when you least expect it).
...all crashlogs have been forwarded to the devs (my devices are set to automatically do so) long time ago but nah, I didn't even bother installing it on my 11" M1 iPadPro...
I can't trust the app and will NEVER buy anything from the developer ever again...
Actually you’d have to run Impc via iaa inside AUM like Lumbet as well, you can host auv3 apps inside of Impc Pro 2 , but it can’t be loaded as an auv3 inside AUM. Have you looked at EG Pulse?
That reads like the infamous „note off bug“ of MPC software 2.11.6, supposedly fixed in the latest 2.11.7 release.
If the same midi note appears on multiple tracks/channels (at the same time), the last note off mutes that note on all channels.
I was much surprised to find similar complaints about iMPC as well (by chance) recently.
umm, ok - what I've read with iMPC 2 Pro is it can be run as an AUv3 - will need to re-check that, thanks.
It's a non-issues for 'One-Shots' but for gated sounds it's really a pita...
Guess One-Shots way more popular than playable instrument sounds or something?!
My gut says iMPC Pro 2 will remain mostly un-fixed and we'll get iMPC Pro 3 next year with it's share of new issues...
That‘s probably the way it will go
My biggest (recent) concern: since using non illuminated pads on the old hardware, I get annoyed by the lightshow of the modern ones
@Samu
i count on you to ruthlessly find the flaws- (in every app actually. As they all have tjem though some flaws some people find untenable)
ive had some crashes definitely, not so much with AUv3. I just do a lot of quick saves.
did you also email the devs (along with the forwarded crash logs?). ive had a lot of success writing to them, including features and bug fixes directly implemented. ill try to cooy paste your notes and @Telefunky s….
heres an odd thing: i think the best implementation of the earlier, far less ambitious 1st Pro, as well as the Retronyms/Arturia collab synths (iProphet, iMini) are in Tabletop.
one thing i take solace in, the iMPCs that retronyms and akai collaborated on are so much more workable and fluid than the ultra authentic direct port of the 2000xl that’s currently in circulation. which makes me think the same about at least the early hardware that has become legendary. one had to work so much harder to do the same thing, and without plugs etc
Yes, because but that was years ago I mailed them and since then the bugs remain unfixed so I guess my mails end up in the vertical archive by default. My iPads are still set to send crash reports and every time I pick up the app something goes randomly bonkers to the point where I’m very close to deleting the app and forget it even exists…
We’ll have to see what 2023 brings along…
Guess I’m just not an ‘MPC Head’ but I do enjoy using both Koala Sampler and BM3 which are both in my book are light years ahead of iMPC Pro in every imaginable aspect
So yeah, iMPC will likely be one of the first apps I delete for god once I start my 2023 app cleanup.
Yes EG Pulse looks interesting! Thanks
That's funny because I assume your device is more powerful than mine and I can count the times the app crash on me.
My iPad air 1 holds the app without any issue until I use auv3. Than thigs can get annoying.
But the record from other apps and resample mode save me.
About the dev you're 100% right. They don't even care about update the app anymore.
It's a nice app. Abandoned by the devs.
I like to see this app as a old MPC.
It's very limited but can sound very good.
Some nice ideas with a very bad execution and lack of attention.
@Dizzy_the_Kid nice track
personal update: haven‘t touched iMPC Pro2 for a couple of months, until yesterday.
I‘m in a similar boat as @Littlewoodg, running an old iPad (Air1/IOS12) and have similar experiences.
It seems much more stable than the original iMPC Pro, with a clean surface and a surprisingly well designed sequencer layout.
I have to admit that I didn‘t do Retronyms justice when dissing the app in the past
Eventually understanding the „MPC-way“ after using a classic hardware, some options made sense.
It‘s essential to figure out the program, sample, track, sequence paradigm with it‘s numerous duplication/rename „oddities“.
It‘s not DAW style, but has certain advantages in other situations.
Tbh my MPC4000 is NOT a typical MPC. (it‘s a sequencer plus a Z4 sampler/synth)
As time has shown it was (the original) Akai‘s failed attempt to prevent doom.
This 20year old 30 pound „table“ is still an outstanding piece of technology, but it would have taken an hour to do something that iMPC Pro 2 spilled out in 5 minutes.
Let alone connectivity (Files, AU, IAA, multiple AUM connections, FX paths).
I only scratched the surface, but it was quite stunning how smooth everything seemed to work.
(take with a grain of salt until reliability is verified, at least in my own use context)
Of course this may not apply to the latest IOS versions or hardware (which I don‘t have).
The app may seem „abandoned“, but who cares if it does what it‘s supposed to do ?
An Air One plus iMPC can be found for less than $100...
Well, it didn‘t take long for the house of cards to fall down...
A single AU effect or AUM connection is more than humble, of course no multi out, etc.
for the sequencer and the audio track handling...
Atm it‘s just a
If you want an MPC buy an MPC used or new it’ll be much better than retronyms garbage app. I own MPC X SE and Force, the app blows.
I'm just going to echo @Samu 's recommendation for Koala Sampler and Beatmaker 3. (Although BM3 doesn't work on an iPhone while Koala does, BM3 is super robust if not a bit overkill, with pretty much the best sample editor on iOS. Of course using Koala is a bit more fun for me personally, and since Samu's comment has gotten a couple of really nice IAPs, including a buss mixer.)
Edit: Yeah, I'd avoid Retronyms apps as they have definitely not stood the test of time.
Beatmaker 3 is great. It just seems to get a bad rap because updates are few and far between.
Yeah, but I'm not speaking about the far apart updates. BM3 still works great.
Just a little overkill for my sampler workflow. Koala is my preferred choice. But, I just needed to shout out BM3 anyways. 😉 Simply because it IS an absolute killer app.
Couldn‘t get iMPC Pro 2 to recognize midi from the MPC4000
But succeeded in mapping an old MPD16 pad controller.
(a device with bizarre programming instructions glued to it‘s bottom, invisible when needed)
The pads are the same size as on the MPC4000, and it uses the same sensor sheet (but with a different output size). I got it for 20bucks expecting a replacement for the 4K.
But had to learn that these sensor sheets aren‘t removable, oops.
Now it (maybe) got a new companion app...
It’s fun (frequent saves keeps it fun I think)
I put it somewhere between Koala and BM3. With Dawnbeat jockeying for position…
Personally can’t afford MPC X, Force, Maschine etc, spent that money on this Air 4. Can’t post on AB forum with those toy, and I can play with those other apps
A lot of extra fun = using the app with the Akai Element controller (fully mapped/purpose built for this and the older iMPC Pro)
Imho that‘s not a big loss... you got some of the essential MPC features (combination of the app and Element controller).
I‘m glad I didn‘t go for the MPC-X when it was time to decide. (the MPC4K made the race)
Akai‘s (aka InMusic‘s) evolution of MPC software has a lot of „strange“ feature‘s that made me regard Retronyms a much more forgiving way.
No question, they are far from perfect, but what‘s perfect anyway ?
As you mentioned above a 100% MPC2K xl emulation is a nice replacement of gear, but hard to chew in workflow if you didn‘t grow up with these machines.
When Akai went the software way with MPC Studio and Renaissance they called their software Essentials, and in fact (imho) it‘s essentially an MPC2K + some DAW features.
(I still have version 1.2 with a silver Studio and while I tried all versions up to MPC 2.x on desktop, it was quite obvious the direction into which they were steering with that software was not my cup of tea... at all.)
Back to iMPC Pro 2 I found the upgrade worth the small investment. Definitely more stable than Pro 1, less gimmicky and got some nice additions.
Some modes of operation aren‘t immediately obvious at 1st glance, but one can work it out.
(some patience applies and workarounds for limits are available in many cases )
For example I ignore the single AU/IAA connectivity feature and would simply duplicate the project, replace those channels, and later re-unite them via Stems export.
One gets used to first create a copy of a sample and then start edit.
Drag&Drop of banks/sample does work, but frequently only the drop is shown on screen.
This is irritating initially, but you quickly gain confidence and just swipe it over. Etc bla bla...