Could AKAI Pro be poised to release the MPC XL?
4,5 / 5,0 | 
It’s the 35th anniversary of the Akai MPC this year. And buried in software scripts appears to be a reference to an unannounced MPC XL. Is Akai about to go extra large?
MPC XL
The MPC XL reference was brought to our attention via a video from SampleKings, who have their ear to the ground for these sorts of things. But the reference was actually unearthed by someone at the MPC Live X and Force hacking modding custom group and posted to GitHub.
The point is that within the installation scripts for the Air instruments that ship with MPC products, there’s a reference to an MPC XL as denoted by its AVC5S hardware ID. Akai refers to its MPC products using a AVC## naming convention. The MPC X has an ID of AVC5, and so the AVC5S for an MPC XL seems right on the money.
The script showing the MPC XL name · Source: TheKikGen – Github
Anything else at this point is pure speculation.
Thoughts on features
The MPC X was released in 2017. Along with the MPC Live it marked a return to the behemoth machines of the classic MPCs of their heyday. It’s a fully standalone production studio, the likes of which we hadn’t seen since the 2008 MPC 5000. Since then, Akai has mixed between standalone machines and software-based controllers, but it does feel that the time is right for an upgrade to the MPC X.
Previous XL versions tended to focus on upgrading the internal memory. That would have been a big thing at the time when memory was at a bit more of a premium. But there was very little change to the hardware. So it’s unlikely that we’re going to be seeing some revolutionary new idea. It will probably be the MPC X with the odd extra bolted into the firmware. And let’s go for an optimistic 16GB of RAM and a whopping TB of internal storage.
The obvious window for launch would probably be around NAMM in April, but if we catch wind of anything else in the meantime, we’ll let you know.
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17 responses to “Could AKAI Pro be poised to release the MPC XL?”
The MPC X is a top 5 piece of gear in my studio. I’m old school and still love the classic MPC workflow. I would LOVE an MPC XL, but ONLY if it truly is XL. A memory bump ain’t gonna cut it. I want double the CPU power, loading speed, plugin count, audio tracks, etc. Otherwise, it’s just a repackage of likely 10 year old tech.
There already is an MPC that does all that. It’s the Akai MPC Force. The charm of the ”main” MPC’s models is their limitations.
It’s 35 year of AKAI but not that AKAI.
The people who created MPC and whole AKAI professional are not there, the company belongs to someone else. The whole new MPC series is a joke compared to what MPC 1000 is capable to do and it was produced 20 years ago.
I’m using 16 audio track in my compositions as I use my own old analog synthesizers sampled and I need to have track mutes to record whole composition on the fly. Try do it with new MPC… you can’t. And I can with 20 year old machine, that’s fucking suspicious.
day one purchase for me probably! I wish they did too a Live III!!
“The whole new MPC series is a joke compared to what MPC 1000 is capable to do and it was produced 20 years ago.”
Completely disagree. In most areas, the new-gen MPC’s are far more capable machines than the old ones. The sheer number of (very capable) plugins that you can run in standalone is proof alone. And the fact that the new-gen MPC’s are essentially a standalone DAW makes the old gen look archaic. And once the new-gen MPC’s get the Arranger from Force and probably a similar Ableton Live clip-based workflow, it’ll be a home run.
All the modern MPCs are junk as they have a lot of Alesis parts and lower qulaity conpoents. even the MPC X have screen issues as you see quite a few threads on screen burn in and complete black screen. The modern MPCs aren’t going to last as long as the legay models from the 90s. They just aren’t built the same nor its the same company anymore. You are basically buying into planned planned obsolescence. I gotten rid of my MPC 5000 after the power supply went out on and moved back to software based sequcing after loosing over a decade of beats as the power supplies on the 5000 was poorly made. Its a known issue that effects all the 5000s and the Alesis Fusion HD.
None of the MPC’s, new or old ones, are indestructible. The only good thing about the old ones is that the parts are cheaper because the technology that was used there was very basic. Replacing a screen on a 1000? No problem, you can even put a XLCD. Replacing the touchscreen in One/Live II/X? That’s something else.
you can’t load expansion and plugins into your old 20 year old MPC and don’t have a big touch screen to see it all.
Yes and only YOUR workflow sets the reference for a multi million Dollar company and hundred thousands of their customers.
Cause what you need has to be the sole purpose of Akai’s whole existence.
It would be good for the X to get some better guts; bigger processor, more RAM and on-board storage.
But if they did that, it would inevitably lead to question, “Why didn’t Akai do this with the Key 61?”
Key 61 *DID* get more RAM. It’s double the Live/Live II, One, and Force
35 years since the first MPC….and yet the current OS/MPC still has bug after bug….
Sort the OS out first instead of releasing newer hardware thats still going to suffer with the ongoing bugs….
Release a device with 8-16GB of ram, stronger processor and the same algorithms as the desktop software and it’s a deal.
“And let’s go for an optimistic 16GB of RAM and a whopping TB of internal storage.”
LMAO – you guys are smoking crack. Mark my words, once the MPC-XL does finally make an appearance, the following two things will be “new”: a retro edition skin and 4 GB of RAM (just like the Key 61). AND THAT’S IT.
If I’m wrong, I’ll buy everyone here a beer.
It would be great if Akai would create a replacement CPU board for the MPC-X to increase the CPU speed and RAM. Looks easily doable.
Meh. If Akai was the same company I would buy another MPC. The Japanese have nothing to do with the new Akai Pro every since they sold the company to Numark. All the 90s MPCs were made in Japan. Anything made post 1999, it aint going to last. Most of the modern MPCs are junk with plaqued with quality issues and full of Alisies parts. They really started cheaping out on the quality of components. The 5000 was one of the worst MPCs ever made as mine only lasted 8 years while my 20 year old MOTIF ES and Fantom out lasted it. The 5000 shares the same power supply as the Alesis Fusion HD6/H8 from what I read was low quality power supply prone to failure which is common on both the 5000 and Fusion.
Agreed…. After Roger Linn left, all of the MPCs after the 3000 just kept having issue after issue, the main one being crappy OS, and not great sounding converters (too clinical for me – I like some character). I’ve used ALL of them and none of them can come close to the 3000.
My dream would be for Roger Linn to create a new type of 3000 with similar guts (great converters) but with just a few basic but solid extras… I don’t need fancy bells and whistles – I want stable OS and warm sound.
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