AKAI Force

The Lounge Other Gear
#813

Just tested this.

Yes, we can record up to 8 Audio Tracks simultaneously, but of course there are only 2 physical inputs. Those 2 inputs can be configured as either Input 1,2 (stereo), Input 1, or Input 2.

Yes, we can record to either clips or straight into the arranger.

I only wish Force had more inputs.

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#814

have you heard as a beta tester or otherwise anything about the force getting the ability to record midi into clips in the future?

#815

Recording MIDI into clips is what I do 90% of the time on Force.
I donā€™t understand? :slight_smile:

#816

but on the timeline there isnā€™t a clip container for the midi is that correct or am I misunderstanding what Gxsd is always talking about?

#817

MIDI is recorded straight into the arranger, not into clips or patterns. So itā€™s like a traditional linear DAW timeline like Cubase or Cakewalk.

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#818

so are there any advantages that audio being held within clips has over the midi that is on the timeline?

#819

Itā€™s easier to move the audio clips around the timeline. :grinning: The arranger UI is tiny!
Iā€™m still learning 3.0.5, thereā€™s a lot to cover.

2 Likes
#820

thank you

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#821

Midi not being treated as clips in the arranger is my biggest gripe at the moment but the update was huge, so not going to focus on the negative

#822

thanks for trying out!
wow, this seems a whole new paradigm, as now the Force is also a kind of harddisk recorder. Itā€™s especially interesting if you want to record two live musicians at once.

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#823

With 3.0.5, Force can now import Ableton Live .als files.
I donā€™t use Ableton Live, but was looking for software that can export .als files.

Found this thread on the Audiobus forum: Audiobus forum link

Desktop software that can export .als files:
Ableton Live Ableton Site
Korg Gadget 2 Korg Site

iOS/iPadOS apps that can export .als files:
Thereā€™s an outdated list on the Ableton site
Ampify/Novation Blocs Wave Apple App Store (Tested: Exports audio)
Ampify/Novation Groovebox Apple App Store (Tested: Exports both audio and MIDI)
Dmitrij Pavlov Groove Rider GR-16 Apple App Store (Tested: Only exports audio)
Korg Gadget 2 Apple App Store (Tested: Only exports either audio or MIDI, not both)
Olympia Noise Co Patterning 2 Apple App Store

Hardware that can export .als files:
Akai Force
Akai MPC
Korg Electribe 2/2S

Hardware that can import .als files:
Akai Force

Iā€™d post this in the Force room on the MPC Forums, but thatā€™s dead.
This isnā€™t necessary, but folks may find it useful for other purposes: ABL2MIDI - Ableton Export to MIDI Converter: Discchord link

#824

Anyone know if the clips can be set to loop infinitely with an odd number of steps?

Rather than 1 bar, or 16 beats, I want the clip to loop forever at 5 beats. Maybe 3 beats or 7 beats.

The MPC Live does not let you loop tracks at odd numbered steps (only even numbers). Curious if the Force is different.

Thanks!

#825

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Is this what you mean?
If so, yes.
Same goes for audio clips too

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#826

Yup. 5 steps would be 0:1:24. It can be between 0-95 or 0-959 depending on PPQN. (96 or 960).
And each clip gets itā€™s own Launch Quantization.
Polymetric rhythms are no problem. Polyrhythms are tougher since Force doesnā€™t do multiple time signatures, but a little math & planning ainā€™t too tough.

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#827

Oh boy, I was hoping for a dealbreaker :joy:

But you guys are awesome for this welcome news. Thatā€™s great! Thank you

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#828

And when using clips of different lengths you can also enable ā€œlegatoā€ trigging. So if you change to a new clip it will not restart, but continue from the same place. Very helpfull when doing polymetric stuff.

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#829

Sounds like techno to me :metal:t4::metal:t4::metal:t4:

#830

Can you assign external controller knobs to internal parameters on the Force?

Iā€™m finding information on how to do this with the MPC Live but not the Force.

Curious - thanks!

#831

No, you cant do that. I think i have a workaround, but i havent tested it yet.

But with how the new Macroā€™s work, i rarely feel the need for any external controllers. You have 16 macroā€™s for the q-link knobs for each individual track. And you have a total of 32 macroā€™s for the whole project. You have to push some buttons to change between them, but thats not a problem for me. I usually just set up the ones i need in a ā€œprocjectā€, and tweak those while jamming.

And the renaming of what each knob do makes it so much easier to keep track of. So in my template i have set up midi tracks for all my synths, and midi equipped effects. And i have set up macros for the most used parameters on my effects. And those pesky hidden ones on my Meris pedals.

#832

Force is great, Iā€™m going to keep it just in case but itā€™s coming out of the set up. Maschine+ is taking its place.