This would be a nice midi keyboard for My Akai Force.
2 Likes
Having used a live a one and an X I can say that the X is dramatically different in that it has 16 available q links with screens that adapt to a variety of purposes. Itās a whole different experience to be able to use all functions immediately. On the other hand the keys doesnāt have these. Itās confirmed to be running regular mpc is 2.11. The new update has shown that itās focused towards adapting current OS to the keys, itās highly unlikely that akai will diverge it to its own OS theyād have to maintain considering itās called MPC, itās running MPC, and all current MPCs have the same OS. In other words, it is literally the same as using an MPC with a midi keyboard of your choice.
Itās not a bad thing to throw it all together. Some people who play keys would like a keyboard attached to their MPC. But nonetheless it will be exactly the same as an MPC and a midi keyboard, but less ergonomic. I do mean this politely but I think to expect anything except that is a little naive and a quick road to disappointment. Akais game is clearly make as much money from as few parts as possible hence why all the boxes and software are the same. Iām surprised the force software is actually different but they did mention some time back that the intention was to merge. Whether that stands remains to be seen.
@Starscream honestly Iād bet a maschine keys is coming
6 Likes
You can?!
Still tho, its easier to just be one unit
1 Like
Itās cheaper, quicker and more portable to get the MIDI keyboard of your choice instead of waiting for AKAI to release a product they never announced.
I think itāll bring a lot, personally. Thereās a great deal of potential in some of the MPCās synths that you just canāt get at with the pads - not least range - and I expect a lot of users have never hooked a keyboard up. I have, but I donāt use it very often because if Iām using an MPC I want to use the pads, restrictions and all. So the Keys isnāt for me - itās too much. I think it goes past the point where Iād simply start using a DAW instead, with discrete components rather than a single massive device. The Force is just on the other side of that line for me, and I think the X would be the same. I feel like I still have a few eggs outside the basket there. But for someone else, the Keys could be a dream come true, which is great. Go for it! I hope it pays off for Akai and leads to more MPC developments. Specifically, one with an 8-channel interface bolted on, if anyoneās listening,
2 Likes
61 is the minimum for me and workable, I consider more kind of a bonus. 49 is frustrating
Iām still waiting for NI to release a full key workstation. Not sure whatās talking them so long.
I was thinking the same thing. Iām personally not a fan of the newer-Akai workflow, but their whole āall-in-one-boxā direction is right up the street of people who bought those circa-2000 keyboard workstations (Fantom et al) and still want all those songwriting features in one unit.
2 Likes
You just have to become an Octave switch ninja.
37 is the limit for me, I can work with thatā¦ I prefer 49 as the all-rounder, and 61 is as much as I ever really need. I do have all bases covered tooā¦ good olā GAS.
1 Like
Yeah @DonovanDwyer and @NickD totally with you.
Iām a keyboard player. The Digitone Keys and Analog Keys are to my superior in workflow and convenience compared to the boxed versions with a midi keyboard attached. I donāt think it compares.
And Akai are pretty clever when it comes to hardware workflow, so Iām going to give this a spin in the store when it arrives.
1 Like
To be honest neither my idea nor the new product is all that enticing- that was kinda my point.
I do two handed playing at both ends of a 61 key board more often than you might think.
Also 61 keys makes splits way more practical.
I downgraded from DNK to DN and didnāt miss the little keyboard. If the DNK had more voices, more keys, and a more traditional layout I might have made that my workhorse but instead I have a NL2X and a MPK261.
Although this was something I always wanted I wonāt bite, but I can def see the attraction for it. All in one box with keys, mic preamps and 8 audio tracks. Hypothetically, this and monitors is all you need.
2 Likes
I guess in my case, Iāll always come back to the fact that no synth sounds like the Prophet 12, so Iāll return to that and realise Iāll always keep a batch of gear around that do their special thing like nothing else, then explore all in one solutions thinking āMaybe the streamlined workflow outdoes the need for that soundā, realising nope, it doesnāt, and go back to my assembling again, until next All In One appears ā¦
And round and round we - or at least me - go 
1 Like
This is the ultimate problem with the notion of an MPC as an all-in-one - the onboard synths and FX are pretty good until you have something dedicated to compare them to. Which is fine, because theyāre fun, they do a hell of a lot and they can definitely fill a gap at times, but it means Iām going to be happier with a One or Force and room for a couple of external devices, rather then a single monolith like the Keys. If I had more cash and more room Iād give it a whack, but I must stress to any anonymous benefactors thinking of stepping in that I do need both.
3 Likes
Yeah and in my case, then I already got a flow thatās working for me, with the blackbox.
If thereās no fundamental gain for me to go all in one, my current rig stands.
2 Likes
I think it is all on one only add far as structure and sequencing sometimesā¦ I still sequence on my digitone keys sometimes and use other synthās, like my prophet 6ā¦ my mpc doesnāt replace them, but sometimes I donāt need themā¦ At the end of the day, my mpc is my main brainā¦ the fact it had synthās in it even betterā¦
You missed people making excuses for a 3rd version of the same thing, but underpowered and overpriced. Whereas you could sort of see the use of the first 2 versions.
It was called Syntactless or something. 
Now that was excitement!
1 Like
who is this guy at akai who keeps putting the pads on the left side of sh*t, dammit I donāt like to curse but wtf man I wish dude would bounce rock skate, agitate the gravel, leave the premises man!!! 
5 Likes