MPC Buyer's Guide: MPC Live II vs MPC One Plus vs MPC X SE vs MPC Key

New 2023 update! In this article I’ll compare the features of all the currently produced standalone MPC models so you can hopefully make an informed decision on which model will suit your specific needs. At the time of writing, the current Akai MPC line up now consists of four distinct MPCs; the entry-level MPC One Plus, the mid-range MPC Live II, the workstation style MPC Key 61, and the MPC X SE (‘special edition’).  So… which MPC is right for you?

The MPC Firmware/Software

These four MPCS all differ in a variety of ways but it’s very important to realise that all four MPCs run the exact same internal software with the same features (the only exception is the MPC Key 61 does not have Ableton ‘Live Control’ Mode). Here’s the main screen of the MPC firmware which gives an overview of all the main features of the operating system.

These MPCs are all completely standalone units – that is, they don’t need to be plugged into a computer, they provide a complete ‘in the box’ workflow all controlled by the large touchscreen UI and a combination of buttons, dials, knobs and pads. They can all also function as dedicated controllers for Akai’s DAW-like MPC Software (which comes free with all these MPCs).

All these MPCs can be used a powerful MIDI sequencers, capable of controlling dozens of connected hardware synths, sound modules, modular synths and even iPad synths, and at their heart all have a powerful sampler with the classic MPC chopping features along with other goodies such as pro-quality FX, built in plugin instruments,  keygroup sample instrument support, audio tracks, step sequencer, piano roll, looper, clips, automation and a range of performance enhancing features including the XYFX interface.

Therefore when it comes to deciding which MPC to buy, it really just comes down to comparing price, hardware features and overall form factor.

Standalone MPC Buyer’s Guide:  Quick comparison

The following table gives a quick comparison of features that can differ across the standalone MPC models.

	MPC One Plus	MPC Live II	MPC X SE	MPC Key 61
Street Price (USD)	$699	$1299	$2499	$1499
Weight	2.1kg	3.38 kg	5.569 kg	8.1 kg
Dimensions (w x d x h)	272 x 272 x 53mm	411 x 244 x 46mm	505 x 424 x 87mm	986 x 313 x 97mm
Internal Battery	N	Y	N	N
Speakers	N	Y	N	N
Pads	16 (compact)	16 (Full Size)	16 (Full Size)	16 (Compact)
Q-Links	4 (+12 ‘virtual’)	4 (+12 ‘virtual’)	16	4 (+12 ‘virtual’)
Function Buttons	31	27	63	44
Button Style	Hard Plastic	Soft Rubber	Hard Plastic	Soft Rubber
Display	7″ Touchscreen	7″ Touchscreen	9″ Tilt-able Touchscreen	7″ Touchscreen
Level Meter (Physical)	N	N	Y	N
Internal Storage (free)	16GB (7.8GB)	16GB  (2GB)	48GB (10GB)	32GB (15GB)
Memory (RAM)	2GB	2GB	4GB	4GB
Internal SATA Option	N	Y	Y	Y
SD Card slot	Y	Y	Y	N
USB (A) Ports	1 (USB 2.0)	2 (USB 3.0)	2 (USB 3.0)	2 (USB 3.0)
Direct USB File Transfer to Computer	Y	Y	Y	Y
Wifi	Y	Y	Y	Y
Bluetooth (for MIDI)	Y	Y	Y	Y
Ethernet*	N (USB-to-Ethernet Adapters OK)	Y	N (USB-to-Ethernet Adapters OK)	Y
Audio I/O	2/2	2/6	2/8	2/4
Phono Input (RCA)	N	Y	Y	N
Mic Inputs	N	N	Y	Y
Instrument Inputs	N	N	Y	Y
**MIDI I/O (MIDI-USB supported)	1/1	2/2	2/4	1/1/THRU
CV/Gate Jacks	4	4	8	8
Ableton Live Control	Y	Y	Y	N
Premium Plugins***	0***	0	6	6

*Wifi and ethernet are currently used to activate premium plugins, OTA firmware updates, syncing files with your online Splice account, Ableton Link and Ableton Live Control.

** MIDI devices can be connected via the traditional MIDI DIN ports, via bluetooth, or via USB (up to 32 devices via a USB hub). You can also connect USB-to-MIDI interfaces to increase the available MIDI DIN ports.

*** At the time of writing the MPC One Plus is being offered with one free premium plugin activation, limited time only. MPC Key and MPC X SE come with Fabric Collection, Studio EP, Studio Strings, Studio Piano, Organ, OPX4, all pre-activated. 

Comparison: Portability & Size

If you’re like me, you probably already have a studio stuffed to the brim with samplers, synths, computers and keyboards, so an increasingly important buying factor for many these days is the footprint of any gear you buy. Where is is going to live? The MPC One Plus and MPC Live II are very desktop friendly, they can tuck into small spaces or sit comfortably on a floor stand. The MPC X SE and MPC Key 61 not so much! If you go for these larger MPCs then it’s probably going to become the centrepiece of your studio – and once it’s in place all your other gear has to fit around it!

If you’re often carrying your MPC around, then portability is an important factor – the smaller and lighter the better, especially if the MPC can sneak its way into a laptop bag. Here, the MPC One Plus is the clear winner and at 2.1kg and 27cm wide it’s a similar weight and size as a 16″ MacBook Pro. The MPC Live II at 3.38kg and 41cm wide is probably still within the limit of being considered portable, although it’s nearly 0.7kg heavier than the original MPC Live.

Finally  there’s also the ‘beats on the go’ factor – whether it’s banging out a tune on the train or in the park, or lounging around chopping breaks on your couch, these smaller MPCs again have the MPC X nailed. But with its internal battery and built in speaker, the MPC Live II is of course the ‘out of the box’ winner here – just pull it out, turn it on and make beats anywhere (but you might want to use headphones if you’re sitting on a train!).

That said, all these MPCs can actually be powered for several hours by off-the-shelf 19V rechargeable laptop batteries, which give the MPC One Plus a bit more flexibility for mobile beat making, albeit for an extra $95 battery cost and around 600g extra weight to carry around. Here’s Flux with one of these batteries:

Inputs & Outputs

As you might expect, the more expensive the MPC, the better the audio input and output options. The MPC X SE is by far away the winner here, with eight individual audio outs, two standard inputs, dedicated mic inputs (with phantom power), instrument level inputs (to directly connect guitars, Rhodes etc) and phono/turntable input (with grounding). Definitely the most studio ready MPC for recording vocals and instruments.

The MPC Key 61 has 4 audio outs, and 2 inputs which support line, mic and instrument level signals, but there’s no support for phono signals. This is probably less of a deal these days, as many turntables now feature a line out, or vinyl is often sampled indirectly via a DJ mixer which will always output at line level.

The MPC Live II keeps the phono inputs but forgoes the mic and instrument inputs and goes with 6 individual outs. CV/Gate jacks are halved compared to the X and Key.

The budget MPC One Plus has the tightest selection, with just two individual outputs and no mic, phono or instrument inputs.

You’ll have to decide what type of inputs you’ll need from an MPC, but if you know you’ll be needing lots of varied I/O, you’re probably going to find life is easier grabbing an X or MPC Key.

However, no matter which MPC you use there’s normally a workaround for lack of a specific input or output.As mentioned previously, lack of phono input is bypassed using a DJ mixer or phono preamp. Lack of dedicated mic inputs and phantom power just means you’ll have to use a dedicated mic pre-amp or the preamps on a separate mixer.

it is worth remembering that  all MPCs now ‘support’ class compliant USB audio/MIDI interfaces, which means you can substitute  the built in audio device with a better quality interface with more I/O. The problem is that support is a bit patchy, not all interfaces work with many prone to clicks and pops. Check out the MPC-Forums USB Class Compliance topic for the latest user feedback on which interfaces to use.

The most recommended USB interface for the MPC (and the one used by Akai in their promo videos) is actually a complete mixer and recording solution, the Tascam Model 12, which effectively provides your MPC with 12 inputs, 10 outputs, hands on dials, knobs, EQ, FX, mic preamps and a host of other features. So if you’re happy ‘outsourcing’ these tasks to an additional device like this, even the MPC One Plus could be used as a studio ‘hub’.

Ergonomics

This is very difficult area to judge as it really comes down to personal taste. Obviously the MPC X SE has been given the full suite of buttons and dials, with more than double the buttons of the MPC Live/One ensuring that you can access any screen in the MPC OS without needing to reach for the touchscreen. It’s also the only MPC that retains the classic MPC ‘cursor’ keys for button-based navigation, and the only one with dedicated ‘STEP’ and ‘BAR’ buttons to quickly navigate the sequencer timeline.

Then there’s those 16 Q-Links which give you immediate hands on control of essential parameters which dynamically change depending on the screen you are currently using (you can also manually configure these to suit your exact needs). And the little OLED display above each dial lets you know exactly what that currently assigned parameter is.

With the MPC One Plus, MPC Key and the MPC Live II, there’s only 4 physical dials – to access the other 12 Q-Links you have you hit a button to select the appropriate virtual Q-link ‘bank’, This is of course nowhere near as intuitive as the MPC X and (for me at least) means that the Q-Links tend to be used a lot less on these MPCs.

When it comes to hardware function buttons, the MPC X SE is king with 63 (this includes ‘secondary’ functions found by holding down the SHIFT key, or by quickly double tapping a button). The MPC Key has 44, and then surprisingly the MPC One Plus is next with 31. The MPC Live Mk 2, as was the case with the Live Mk 1, have a pretty poor selection of buttons, there’s not even a dedicated ‘program edit’ button (which is probably the screen I use the most).

Are the lack of dedicated buttons an issue on the MPC Live Mk 2? Maybe, but probably not as much as you might expect. You do tend to adapt your workflow accordingly. the firmware now also features a quick swipe shortcuts menu which can be customised with your favourite shortcuts so this can speed up workflow. But nothing really compares to having dedicated buttons!

Another area where these MPCs all differ is overall the layout of elements. Both the MPC One Plus and the MPC X SE place the screen directly above the pads, while the MPC Live II and MPC Key place the pads to the left of the screen. Q-Links are on the left for the MPC X, but on the right of the screen for all other MPCs.  Function buttons are also arranged somewhat differently on each unit (and perhaps a little bit arbitrary).

One layout isn’t necessarily better than the other, and I do feel this is simply another area where you quickly adapt your style accordingly.

A couple of other things to mention. The MPC X SE has that bigger titling screen, it’s the same resolution as the 7″ screen so everything is just scaled up in size – this means if you have big fat fingers you’ll probably enjoy the touchscreen UI a lot more (some areas of the UI are a bit fiddly to use at the best of times). The adjustable screen is also definitely an ergonomic bonus as it helps avoid having to ‘hunch’ over your MPC. The workaround for the other MPCs is to use some kind of tilting stand.

Oh, and about those ‘compact’ pads on the MPC One  Plus ands MPC Key – in my opinion they are absolutely fine (I have average size fingers). If you are used to the normal sized MPC pads it will take you a few hours to adapt, no problem at all. If in doubt, try them out in a music store.

RAM & CPU

All four of these MPCs feature the same CPU, in this respect there is no difference in processing power. However the MPC X SE and MPC Key feature 4GB RAM, while the Live 2 and MPC One Plus have 2GB. As I’ve noted previously, the MPC firmware and Linux OS seem to use approximately 1GB of RAM, so the Live and One Plus have around 1GB of RAM free for sampling and audio tracks, but this means the MPC Key and MPC X SE both have 3GB of spare RAM, i.e. three times the memory.

Is this a big deal? Well, maybe, it just depends on the type of projects you create. 1GB of RAM is a decent amount of memory and unless you are running lots of audio tracks or memory thirsty plugins and keygroups, you’ll probably never run out of RAM (remember RAM is just needed to hold the current ‘active’ project in memory). But, some of Akai’s premium plugins are a bit naughty with the RAM usage – for example one instance of Studio Strings on an MPC One Plus/Live 2 uses up a whopping 31% of system memory! On an MPC Key or MPC X SE, it’s only 10%.

So, there’s more breathing space on the 4GB models which means you can more free and easy with your plugins, and maybe more lazy with your project sample management. But of course you don’t have to use plugins like Studio Strings (‘synth’ plugins use barely any RAM), and for acoustic instruments there’s keygroup instrument alternatives such as MPC Orchestral which are more highly optimised to use minimal RAM.

The fact is, people have been using the 2GB models for 6 years now and it seems most people are fine with 2GB, so I personally would not stress too much about this unless you think you’ll want to be using lots of long audio tracks in your MPC. But if that’s the case perhaps also consider the Akai Force which utilises disk streaming and thus making RAM less of a concern.

Storage & File Transfers

All MPCs ship with an internal disk which houses the supplied factory sound library. It’s also possible to save your work to this disk, and there’s typically a few GB of free space (only 2GB free in the Live 2).  However the elephant in the room is that this disk is not accessible from a computer, therefore you can’t easily back up your work or move projects over to the computer to continue working in the MPC Software. You also cannot transfer any files over to this disk (there’s no way to move files from other attached disk either). That means you cannot actually copy your existing sound library to this internal drive.

So in my opinion, the size of the internal disk is generally of little importance when making a buying decision, because you really should be using an ‘attached’ disk for all your file storage needs and just let the internal factory disk be reserved for storing factory content. Attached disks are fully accessible via your computer when you connect the MPC via USB cable, they simply appear as a removable disk in your computer’s Finder/Explorer.

If you have an MPC X SE, MPC Key or MPC Live II, I recommend you add a large, good quality SSD drive to the internal SATA port. Once installed you can connect your MPC to a computer via USB and copy over your sound library. You can also back up any projects that you may have saved to your MPC, as well as accessing those projects while in controller mode.

The MPC One Plus does not support adding an internal hard drive so here I would recommend a large, high quality SD card (or micro SD card placed in a suitable adapter) which you can just leave in your SD card slot at all times.  Please note that the MPC Key does not support SD cards, which is really odd.

Alternatively you can use USB disks but this will use up one of your USB ports although you can use USB hubs to expand this on all models. It’s important to note that the MPC One Plus is only USB 2.0, while the others use USB 3.0, so USB speeds will be slower on the One.

Check out my article comparing the different Standalone MPC disk options.

Power

Most models our powered with a19v, 3.4A PSU, but the One+ uses a 12v 3A PSU.  I’m not sure why it needs less juice compared to the original MPC One, but if you are looking for an external battery unit for the One+, make sure it meets the 12v, 3.0A spec, as running 19v through the One+ is likely to fry it.

Software Extras

All four MPCs run the same ‘MPC firmware’ with the same features, but Akai have bundled each MPC with its own unique factory library (sounds, projects, kits etc) but the MPC X SE and MPC Key both include the following premium plugins; Fabric Collection, Studio Strings, OPX 4, Organs, Stage EP, Stage Piano.  You should note that this is not the complete set of premium plugins, there are others that are only included as trials such as Mini D, Jura, Flavor Pro etc.

At the time of writing no other MPC has any premium plugins pre-installed, although the MPC One Plus is advertised as including one free premium plugin of your choice, but this is apparently a time limited offer.

Price

If price is important to you then the MPC One Plus wins hands down. It’s currently a nearly 50% cheaper than the MPC Live II and runs the same software and the same CPU and RAM as the MPC Live 2,  so you are definitely getting a lot for your money.

The MPC X SE is eye-wateringly expensive, but that bigger screen, 4GB RAM, premium plugins, the complete suite of I/O and all those lovely Q-Links and buttons are always going to come at a price. However I do feel it’s somewhat overpriced compared to the other MPCs, I’d like to see. the pricing come below $2000.

The MPC Key has dropped in price since it’s release and currently seems like a pretty decent deal considering the suite of included plugins, 4GB ram and of course the integrated keyboard.

The MPC Live II sits somewhere in the middle, maybe a little overpriced especially considering it’s ultimately running the same 2GB ram as the MPC One Plus.  But it is unique with its internal battery and speaker as well as it’s decent I/O.

Standalone MPC Buyer’s Guide: Conclusion

As you can see, each of these MPCs is a powerful, modern sampling groovebox, all of which are also more than capable of acting as a centrepiece for a sample and MIDI-based studio, so I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.

Best Beginner Option: If you are just starting out and have a limited budget my pick would definitely be the MPC One Plus. It’s  great entry level MPC and perfect if you don’t really have any specific need for all the additional inputs and outputs found on the more expensive units. It’s small, takes up minimal desk space and can be carried around easily. Storage options are a bit more limited, but SD cards are fast and cheap so I don’t think you’ll miss the internal SATA option. It has the same software features of its big brothers, the exact same CPU and RAM as the Live 2 and is very competitively priced. It might be worth trying one in the flesh to make sure you are happy with the smaller pads, but in my opinion they are perfectly fine.

Best ‘Beats on the go’ Option: With its internal battery and speakers the MPC Live II is definitely the most naturally suited to making music whenever the mood takes you, snd with its decent array of audio ports and flexible MIDI options it’s equally at home in the studio.  If the MPC One Plus didn’t exist I’d be recommending the MPC Live II to everyone, but as it stands I just think that unless you really need those extra ports and are going to make good use of that internal battery, the MPC One edges it with its comparable features, ultra-portability and significantly lower price, and don’t forget it can be used with an external rechargeable battery if you really need that additional portability.

Studio Workhorse, Money No Object Option: If you crave those 16 Q-links, the complete array of robust buttons, the dedicated mic inputs, the additional I/O, that bigger tilting touchscreen and have no desire to take your MPC anywhere, then the MPC X SE might be the one to look at… if you can afford it. Just remember that those additional MIDI ports can easily be replaced with a USB MIDI interface.

Keyboard Warrior Workhorse:  The MPC Key 61 has a decent set of I/O and the integrated semi-weighted keybed, so if you need an all-in-one workstation type of workflow, the MPC Key seems like the obvious choice.

The MPC Bible

Whichever MPC you go for, check out my definitive beatmaking course for all the current range of standalone MPCs, the MPC Bible. It will teach you everything you need to know about creating music on these standalone beasts, featuring a comprehensive set of carefully structured tutorials that take you on a step-by-step journey into quickly developing your own perfect MPC workflow.