Akai and Native Devices are kind of just like the Nintendo and Sega of music manufacturing. These long-time rivals supply many comparable merchandise, however some musicians get drawn to Akai’s MPC workflow whereas others select NI’s Maschine platform. Quickly, of us could not have to decide on in any respect. These two icons of the area are teaming up. The MPC platform will quickly be residence to Native Devices sound packs.
Because of this in case you at the moment use an MPC Dwell II or a Key 61, or every other variety of standalone music-making machines by Akai, you’ll be capable of pull up legit Native Devices sounds to your tracks. It is a actually large deal. The MPC workflow is iconic and lots of genres of music wouldn’t be the identical with out it. On the identical time, NI is understood for its top-tier devices and sounds.
“This collaboration bridges two iconic manufacturers to supply creators with a totally built-in ecosystem,” stated Matt Dircks, CEO of Native Devices. “By combining Akai’s legendary {hardware} with our expansive sound libraries and instruments, we’re pushing the boundaries of music creation.”
We spoke to legendary instrument designer Roger Linn, who initially invented the MPC platform all the way in which again in 1988, about this partnership. He’s not with Akai in an official capability however stated that placing NI devices on Akai merchandise will “actually profit each corporations.” He additionally stated that the transfer completely positions MPC units “to be the following normal musical instrument just like the guitar or piano.”
Linn, who additionally invented trendy digital music-making ideas like swing and quantization, heaped reward on newer MPC units, because the platform has come a good distance because the MPC60 in 1988. He says that merchandise just like the Dwell II are “nonetheless heat and fuzzy for the people who find themselves accustomed to the MPC, whereas shifting towards a DAW (digital audio workstation).” The Native Devices integration guarantees to make these merchandise even hotter and fuzzier.
The one caveat? MPC units can solely entry Play Collection devices and official Expansions, that are genre-specific sound packs. You received’t be capable of pull up, say, the complete Huge X synthesizer or Kontakt. All informed, there are 5 devices that will likely be out there in the course of February, together with 5 Expansions. These have all been “expertly tailor-made for the MPC platform.” Extra releases are more likely to comply with, assuming optimistic consumer suggestions.
We requested Native Devices CPO Simon Cross if there are plans for compatibility within the different path. Will the Native Devices Maschine+ standalone groovebox be capable of pull up Akai plugins and sound packs? There are not any present plans, which is one thing of a bummer. It’s a bit comprehensible, on condition that the corporate solely has one standalone machine, however nonetheless.
Lastly, the partnership extends to MPK controllers. Akai’s line of MIDI controllers will quickly combine with Native Devices’ Native Kontrol Commonplace (NKS). Because of this Akai controllers will be capable of “seamlessly management all NKS-compatible plugins.” The combination permits for pre-mapped controls and “intuitive navigation” straight from MPK units. The software program replace drops at finish of February.
This expands controller compatibility to over 1,800 new devices and plugins. The NKS normal can be coming to third-party controllers within the close to future from corporations like M-Audio, Novation and Korg, amongst others.
To have fun the burgeoning partnership, all present MPK Collection homeowners will obtain a free copy of Komplete 15 Choose. It is a curated bundle of Native Devices devices and results. Once more, that is free for all MPK Collection homeowners, and never simply new purchasers.
As for Linn, his firm at the moment manufactures the ultra-expressive MIDI controller LinnStrument. The machine tracks finger actions in 5 methods, to convey acoustic-like expressiveness to digital devices. He additionally (comparatively) lately co-designed certainly one of my all-time favourite drum machines, the Tempest, together with MIDI and synthesizer luminary Dave Smith, who handed away in 2022.
