Next-gen 3D Performance Designed for Game-changing Beat Making
Without the innovations of Akai’s original MPC, hip-hop, dance music, and more would be unrecognizable. The proto-DAW redefined the landscape of how we make music and interact with sounds and samples — the Akai Professional MPC Live III arrives to change the game once again. Armed with four times the processing power of its predecessor, the MPC Live III features the most advanced performance and interfacing tools yet, meticulously engineered to bring your beat-making vision to life at the speed of your creativity. The MPC Live III marks the debut of Akai’s state-of-the-art MPCe performance pads to elevate your expressivity beyond the realms of aftertouch — a capability expanded by the customizable Performance Touch Strip. Workflow enhancements and a wealth of included Live III-exclusive tools join a flood of wired and wireless — CV/Gate, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RCA, 5-pin, combo jacks, and more — connectivity options, while deep integration with Ableton, direct iPhone sampling, and multichannel functionality as a USB-C audio and MIDI interface make the Akai MPC Live III the most expressive, powerful, and versatile beat-making machine yet. Game: changed.
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Finger-flex with ferocious finesse: explosive MPCe expression
Under the hood of the MPC Live III’s familiar form factor, this groovebox pushes the latest iteration of Akai’s MPC3 OS to its most explosive creative reaches, boasting an 8-core processor and 8GB of RAM — and you’ll use every bit of it. Akai’s engineered an evocative new method of expressivity that exceeds the detail and nuance of every groovebox to come before the MPC Live III, with which it debuts: MPCe performance pads. This 3D-sensing technology supports multi-axis interfacing with each pad, ensuring your every flourish and finger-drumming flex is fired with ferocious finesse.
Think of every pad as containing the X-Y-axis interfacing capabilities of previous MPCs, combining aftertouch-like qualities with assignable RGB-backlit quadrants, allowing you to morph through modulations, assign distinct elements to parts of each pad, and beyond. Plus, the inclusion of the Performance Touch Strip brings expansive user-customizable expression to every onboard, MIDI-connected, and virtual-instrument sound, from classic pitch-/mod-wheel bends to evocative automation.
MPC3 OS: professional Live III-exclusive power
As Akai’s aural architrave for the MPC Live III, the supercharged processing power of MPC3 OS goes beyond expanding your workflow to include more of your favorite virtual and NKS instruments. With this next-gen groovebox, its cutting-edge OS unlocks a slew of Live III-exclusive firepower: Pro Reverb, EQ, CV Playgroup, Clip Matrix, Utility Plug, Super TS, and Pro Stems Separation. Across the newly integrated clip-launch production mode, these galvanizing tools level up every aspect of arranging and performing.
For Sweetwater’s DAW-less beat weavers, the CV Playgroup is the key to transforming your hybrid workflow, as this allows you to expand the 8-channel CV/Gate connections to transmit cycling and modulation signals — such as LFOs or envelopes — to Eurorack modules, synthesizers, drum machines, and any other compatible destination. Moreover, the immense customization of the four touch-capacitive knobs, 7-inch multi-touch screen, Performance Touch Strip, and MPCe pads includes everything on offer from CV Playgroup and the rest of the Live III-exclusive tool kit.
Perform at the speed of your imagination — no more menu diving
With the transformative power of the MPC3 OS, the MPC Live III was carefully constructed to balance interfacing, accessibility, and ergonomics, without compromising creativity or workflow fluidity. Current users of MPC3 OS and those familiar with its enhancements will be delighted to learn that the MPC Live III migrates the lion’s share of the OS’s beat crafting tools to the top portion of the instrument via methodically arranged yet intuitive shift-function controls. When you’re not using the 16 buttons for the MPC Live III’s searing step-sequencing capabilities, tools and attributes such as automation, step editing, track arming, pad-management elements, Q-Link configurations, and more are effortlessly and instantly accessed. And because the MPC Live III comes with its own studio monitors, high-quality playback is always within reach.
Built to play your way: XYFX, sequencing, sampling, and beyond
With the MPC’s historic emphasis on tactility, the MPC Live III takes up the mantle of hands-on sound design at every turn of its series-defining design, adding to the workflow enhancements of its MPC3 OS-minded interface. The time previously spent on menu diving now lets you wield the full force of the MPC Live III’s versatile multi-touch screen—enter XYFX. In this mode, the screen becomes an X-Y pad that’s deeply customizable, while preserving the interactivity to keep you inspired, moving, and in the groove. Effects are color-coded to differentiate beat-synchronized and manually controlled options, while flexible routing allows you to choose between tracks and stereo output pairs as the point of activation, letting you seamlessly move between global and track-specific performance possibilities.
On the sampling and sequencing front, Akai has spared no effort with the MPC Live III to ensure your sonic vision is brought to life in complete, prismatic power. Comprehensive trimming and chopping tools blend classic MPC flow with the modern producer’s sample-fueled creativity, while four selectable banks of the four touch-capacitive Q-Link knobs mean your fine-tuned control over on-the-fly sequence and sample editing is more detailed, dynamic, and inspiring than ever. What’s more, the MPC Live III introduces direct sampling from your iPhone or computer via USB-C connection, which — combined with a rechargeable battery and a portability-minded chassis — promises to preserve every moment of inspiration, no matter when, how, or where it strikes. With the step sequencer, exhaustive editing options span velocity, timing correction, triplet-based values, automation, nudging, and grid-locking parameters, to name a few — the last of which is an especially powerful option to avoid the staleness that can accompany projects with copious quantization. In essence, you define your place in the pocket.
Connect and configure your creativity: audio/MIDI interfacing abounds
One look at the rear side of the MPC Live III tells you that Akai’s engineers placed a premium on inclusivity, inspiration, and exploration, rewarding them all with equal aplomb. A quartet of 1/8-inch TRS CV/Gate jacks connect the classic to the contemporary, while the 2-in/2-out 5-pin MIDI ports expand interoperative possibilities to include untold combinations of MIDI-compatible instruments, controllers, effects, and more. Dual USB-A ports and a class-compliant USB-C port further augment the aural aperture of the MPC Live III, with the USB-C connection supporting immense, bidirectional functionality as an audio and MIDI interface, facilitating 24 and 32 channels of each, respectively. An onboard SD card reader provides extra storage for data, tracks, audio samples, and project management (on top of the 128GB of internal storage), making malleable use of the trio of USB ports. Combination jacks for 3-pin XLR and 1/4-inch TS plugs, alongside a stereo RCA input pair, complement six 1/4-inch audio outputs, ensuring every instrument, turntable, mic, sample source, and output destination is completely supported.
Dedicated Ableton integration that goes deep
In addition to continuing the Ableton Link compatibility over Wi-Fi, the MPC Live III comes pre-mapped for direct DAW use via Ableton Live Control mode. This transforms your MPC Live III into a dedicated Ableton powerhouse, blending the detailed controls and satisfying tactility of the MPC with the full power of Ableton — clip-launching matrix, MIDI management, quantization tools, phase nudging, comprehensive arranging, in-depth mixing, and in-Ableton device control are only the beginning. Best of all, the MPC Live III allows for seamless transitions in and out of Ableton Live Control, meaning your workflow stays firing on all cylinders, regardless of when and where Ableton fits into your timeline. And to suit every producer’s process, Akai has included the ability to export your standard MPC projects as Ableton-compatible files.
Note: Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer with any questions regarding compatibility with your version of Ableton Live.
Akai Professional MPC Live III Features:
- Innovative engineering brings next-gen performance and iconic MPC workflow to your DAW-optional arrangement
- State-of-the-art MPCe performance pads utilize advanced 3D-sensing technology to maximize expressivity and playback possibilities that exceed the nuance and detail of aftertouch
- Performance Touch Strip gives you customizable interactivity for enhanced real-time expression
- RGB backlighting gives you color-coded real-time feedback for painless workflow management that won’t distract on the stage or in the studio
- XYFX mode transforms the 7-in. multi-touch screen into a powerful, pliable X-Y controller for user-assignable beat-synchronized and manually adjusted FX
- Dedicated function buttons for the 16-step sequencer let you stay hands-on with your composition and performance processes — no menu diving needed
- Clip-launching matrix expands and enhances your creativity and workflow across studio arrangements and explosive performances
- 8-core engine and 8GB of RAM give you 4x the processing power and speed of the previous MPC Live for massively expanded workflow and instrument support
- MPC3 OS unlocks a wealth of galvanizing features exclusive to the MPC Live III: Pro Reverb Clip Matrix, CV Playgroup, Utility Plug, EQ, Super TS, and Pro Stems Separation
- 128GB onboard storage guarantees you're never short on space, while USB-A ports and an SD card reader provide flexible additions for project management
- Built-in studio monitors and a microphone mean high-quality sampling and playback are never out of reach
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections support wireless file management, collaboration, and Ableton Link-driven configurations
- 4 touch-capacitive Q-Link knobs join 4 banks of customizable Q-Link functions for uncompromising control and personalized production tools
- Direct sampling via USB-C means your iPhone is always eligible for audial excavation
- 8 CV/Gate outputs make pain-free work of connecting to synths, sequencers, drum machines, Eurorack modules, and more
- Extensive I/O suite includes 2-in/2-out 5-pin MIDI ports, dual XLR/TRS combo-jack inputs, 6 audio outputs, RCA stereo in, 2 USB-A ports, and Class Compliant USB-C connection
- Dedicated Ableton Live Control mode provides comprehensive audio-MIDI controls and production tools directly within Ableton Live
- USB-C port allows for use as an audio and MIDI interface, with 24 and 32 bidirectional channels of each, respectively
- Multi-MIDI functionality means that up to 32 distinct MIDI devices can be connected and controlled from your MPC, all at once
- Rechargeable battery supports up to 4 hrs. of full-powered use
