Bring an Experimental Hip-hop Edge to Your Project
Thanks to the exciting partnership between Akai and Native Instruments, the latter’s Play series plug-ins are ready to wield within the evocative expressivity of the MPC ecosystem. Utilizing the iconic sounds of the LA beat scene, Native Instruments' Drift Theory MPC library brings revolutionary tonal life directly to your MPC's onboard sound bank. From moving textures to gritty synths and dusty drums, every tone is accounted for — complete with onboard effects, Native Instruments' Sound Editor engine, and programmable macros for an entirely personalized playing experience. Drift Theory includes 50 MPC kits, 42 instrument presets, 303 drum samples, and 34 loops, injecting more than enough energy into your hip-hop-inspired creations. As Sweetwater producers continue to attest, Native Instruments' expansions are easy to set up and install, making them a must-have addition to your pre-existing plug-in collection.
Note: This software expansion requires MPC Key 37, MPC Key 61, MPC One+, MPC One, MPC X, MPC X Special Edition, MPC Live, MPC Live II, MPC Live 3, or MPC XL hardware running MPC version 3.4 or above. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer with any questions or concerns regarding compatibility.
State of Play: the Native Instruments ethos
Native Instruments’ sound-design prowess has been an integral element in the evolution of myriad permutations of electronic, dance, hip-hop, pop, R&B, and beat-making genres. While no effort is spared with any endeavor, the Play series of plug-ins was crafted with a premium placed on its namesake usage: to play. The series’ range spans numerous styles, eras, and instrumentation, from imaginative vocal synths and boom-bap-inspired drums to sample-based texture warping and scorching dark-techno sonics to glimpse the tip of the aural iceberg. What binds them, however, is their dual-layer design that hosts an array of modulation, dynamics, effects, and playability tools for each layer, intersecting at the user-adjustable balance between the two. Versatile signal-chain customization supplements an additional layer of sound design, including 16-step sequencing, macro-mapping adjustments, key-range editing, and deep modifications to velocity and aftertouch. No two Play Series plug-ins are the same, but every instrument is optimized for imaginative, inventive, and inspiring performances, all in real time.
Akai X Native Instruments: the evolution of MPC magic
When Akai debuted the Music Production Center — the MPC60 — in 1988, this groundbreaking tool transformed the process of making music. As Akai developed the MPC line, innovating and expanding upon its proto-DAW formula, Native Instruments emerged in 1996, officially debuting its modular-synth software, Generator, in 1999. These foundations ultimately flowered into the industry-mainstay virtual instrument, Reaktor. Both companies’ shared penchant for sound design, sonic exploration, and the constellation of DJ/beat-production possibilities led both to the epicenter of artistic potential, waiting to bloom amid the soil nurtured by the boundaries of historic genre, style, and performance through the end of the millennium. MPC Edition instruments and MPC Expansion packs mark the inevitability of this collaboration, transposing Native Instruments’ state-of-the-art sound design for the time-tested wealth of creative potential that defines the iconic MPC interface. From the massively diverse sounds and samples of the MPC Expansion packs to the unrivaled expressive capabilities of MPC Edition virtual instruments, the transformative magic of Native Instruments’ performance prowess is your key to unlocking next-level MPC aural alchemy.
Native Instruments Drift Theory MPC Edition Features:
- Expansion library for compatible MPC hardware
- Redesigned visual interfacing and fine-tuned playability considerations ensure seamless use with select MPC models that highlight the best of both companies’ worlds
- Packed with lo-fi instruments, loops, kits, and more for authentic synth and hip-hop-inspired flair
- 42 instrument presets span basses, leads, pads, percussion, FX, and more for a diverse palette of performance possibilities
- Structural emphasis on real-time playing and live performances means expressivity and personal flourishes are always on full display
- Deep customization of per-layer parameters, macro controls, and modulation tools guarantees instrumental design is tailored to your style
