Chapter 5

Projects, files & sounds

Save your work, find sounds, and keep your drives organised.

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In this chapter · 7

5.1Project window
5.2The Save window
5.3Browser
5.4Sample Assign
5.5Sounds Mode
5.6Favorites and Setlists
5.7Storage and drives

5.1IntermediateManual Project p.57, Audio/Export p.60, Project Load/Save p.64

The Project window lists all the samples and tracks in the current project. Come here to tidy up, to rename or edit a sample, and above all to manage memory: every sample you keep in RAM is space you cannot use for sampling time, audio recording and so on.

To open it, press MENU | PREFS and tap Project at the bottom of the Menu.

What you can do here

Sample list: Tap a sample to preview it, or select it with DATA DIAL or – and +.
Purge: Deletes samples from the project to free up RAM. Choose Unused Samples or All Samples, or Cancel to go back. All Samples takes them from every kit and from audio and MIDI tracks.
Delete: Deletes the selected sample.
Memory and Streaming: Show or hide the files held in memory and the files streaming from disk. Disk streaming must be enabled first.
Save: Saves the selected sample.
Rename: Renames the selected sample. Type on the keyboard and tap Do It.
Edit: Opens the selected sample in Sample Edit mode (Sample Edit Mode).
Audition: Opens the audition settings below. Tap the icon again to hide them.

Audition settings

Auto: Turns automatic audition on or off, so a sound plays when you select it.
Level slider: Drag up or down to set the audition volume.
Sync: When on, an audition during playback waits for the start of the sequence’s next bar.
Warp: When on, samples with an embedded tempo are warped to the project tempo. Samples with no embedded tempo, or an externally embedded one, are not affected.

Disk streaming plays audio files from a drive instead of from memory. By default, drum and keygroup samples load into memory, because that suits rapid triggering of many voices at once.

Stream a sample from disk

Go to Menu > Preferences > Audio/Export and tick Enable Disk Streaming. The MPC needs a restart after you change this, so you may be asked to save or discard changes to your project (Preferences: Audio Device and Audio/Export).
Open the Project window.
Tap and hold a sample name and select Stream From Disk. The choice is saved and recalled with your project.

Where streamed files come from

Once a project is saved, its files stream from the place you saved it.
An unsaved project streams from a temporary location. Set that with Temporary File Location in Menu > Preferences > Project Load/Save, which can be the device itself or connected external media (Preferences: Project Defaults and Project Load/Save).

If a project is too big for memory, the MPC still loads it. The samples that did not fit appear in the Project window with a waveform and a red minus icon. When you have freed enough memory, tap and hold such a sample’s name and select Load To Memory.

5.2BasicsManual Save Window p.66, Saving Your Work p.20

The Save window

Everything you can keep or export starts from one window: the project itself, single tracks and programs, samples, audio renders and MIDI files. What it offers can vary with the type of track you have selected.

Key combinations

SHIFT + LOAD | SAVE: Opens the Save window.

Save a project

Press SHIFT + LOAD | SAVE. Alternatively, press MENU | PREFS and tap Save at the bottom of the screen.
Tap Project As to save a new file.
Choose a drive in the Storage column and double-tap folders to reach the place you want.
Tap the File Name field and type a name on the virtual keyboard.
Tap Save.

What each button saves

Button	Offered when	What it does
`Project`	—	Saves the project, overwriting the last saved version if there is one.
`Project As`	—	Saves the project as a new file.
`New Project`	—	Opens a new project.
`Track`	—	Saves the current track.
`Track FX Rack`	—	Saves the current track’s inserts.
`Drum Program`	A drum track is selected	Saves the current drum kit.
`Plugin Program`	A plugin track is selected	Saves the current plugin program.
`Keygroup`	A keygroup track is selected	Saves the current keygroup.
`MIDI Program`	A MIDI track is selected	Saves the current MIDI program.
`CV Program`	Depends on the selected track	Saves the current CV program.
`Sample`	An audio sample is selected	Saves that sample.
`Track as Audio`	—	Saves the selected track as audio.
`Track as MIDI/Pattern`	A MIDI track is selected	Saves the track as a MIDI pattern file.
`All Tracks`	—	Saves all the project’s current tracks, using the same settings as `Track as Audio` or `Track as MIDI/Pattern`, depending on how you want them saved.
`Audio Mixdown`	—	Saves the project as an audio mixdown (Audio Mixdown).
`Ableton Live Set`	—	Saves the project as an Ableton Live set.
`Drum Pads as Stems`	A drum track is selected	Renders one audio stem for each pad that has events, ready for mixing in a DAW.
`Drum Track as MPC Sample file`	A drum track is selected	Exports the track’s sample and note data for use on the hardware named on the button.

Track as Audio

Include Track Volume/Pan Settings: Tick to include these settings in the export.
Bypass Track Effects Plugins: Tick to leave the track’s effects plugins out of the export.
Audio Tail: Adds extra time, in seconds, to the end of the audio files.
Bit Depth: The bit depth of the files.Range 8, 16, 24
Sample Rate: The sample rate of the files. Akai suggests 44.1 kHz in most cases.Range 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz

Track as MIDI/Pattern

Export MIDI As: Exports the track as MIDI files or as MPC Pattern files.Range MIDI, Pattern

Audio Mixdown

Start Bar and End Bar: Under Audio Length: the time range to mix down.
Audio Tail: Adds seconds to the end to catch ringing notes or effects, such as a reverb tail.
Render Source and Render Options: The fields here set the parameters of the mixdown.
Separate Tracks: Tick to render each track of the arrangement as a stem.
File Format, Bit Depth, Sample Rate: The fields at the bottom of the screen set the format of the file.

Ableton Live Set

Export MIDI As: How MIDI tracks are exported. Rendering plugin, drum or keygroup sequences as audio preserves the sound of the instruments; you can also render them as MIDI data.Range Audio, MIDI
Include Track Volume/Pan Settings: Tick to include these settings. Unticked, volume is set to 0 dB and pan to centre (C).
Bypass Track Effects Plugins: Tick to deactivate any third-party effect plugins on the track for the export. Unticked, those effects are active.
Audio Tail: Adds extra time, in seconds, to the end of the audio files.
Bit Depth: The bit depth of the files.Range 8, 16, 24
Sample Rate: The sample rate of the files.Range 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz

Drum Pads as Stems

Audio Tail: Adds extra time, in seconds, to the end of each stem.
File Format, Bit Depth, Sample Rate: The fields at the bottom of the screen set the format of the files.

Drum Track as MPC Sample file

Use Insert FX: Tick to render samples with each pad’s insert effects on.
Use volume and pan settings: Tick to render samples with each pad’s volume and pan settings.
Tail Length: Adds extra time, in seconds, to the end of the audio samples.

That export loads all the rendered samples to the pads of the other hardware and exports the note events as sequence data.

Choosing where it goes

Storage: Lists your drives on the left. Internal is the MPC’s internal drive, MPC Documents is a shortcut to that folder on it, and any drives on the USB ports or in the SD card slot appear here too (Storage and drives).
Folders: Double-tap a folder to enter it.
Folder buttons: The five buttons at the upper right jump to the paths you assigned in the Browser (Browser).
New Folder: Creates a folder. Type a name and tap Do It, and you land inside it.
Folder icon: At the upper left: moves up one folder level.
File Name: Tap to name the file.
Save: Saves the file.
Save as Template: Tick before tapping Save to save the file as a project template. It then shows in the Template File field of the Project Load/Save preferences (Preferences: Project Defaults and Project Load/Save).
Cancel: Goes back to the Menu. The left arrow at the upper left does the same.

From the community

When you build an instrument you like, press SHIFT + LOAD | SAVE, tap Track and save it to a folder on your SD card. You can then load it into any project, so a personal library grows as you work. via Elektronauts: The all things MPC thread

5.3BasicsManual Browser p.133

Browser

The Browser is how you move around the internal drive and any external ones to load samples, sequences, songs and so on. Set up its filters and folder shortcuts to suit the way you work, and audition sounds before you load them.

To open it, press LOAD | SAVE, or press MENU | PREFS and tap Browser. To see the project’s sample pool and pads, tap Sample Assign at the lower left (Sample Assign).

Key combinations

LOAD | SAVE: Opens the Browser.
Hold SHIFT + tap Load All: Loads every file in the highlighted folder.In the Browser
Hold SHIFT + tap Delete File: Deletes the selected file or folder.In the Browser
Hold SHIFT + tap Drive Info: Shows information about the current storage device.In the Browser
Hold SHIFT + tap Format Drive: Starts formatting the selected storage device to exFAT, erasing it.In the Browser
Hold SHIFT + tap a folder button: Assigns the current location to that button.In the Browser

Getting around

Places: Browse by location. Internal is the MPC’s internal drive, MPC Documents is a shortcut to that folder on it, and drives on the USB ports or in the SD card slot appear here too.
Content: Browse by content, using the buttons listed below.
Expansions: Browse your Expansions.
Folder icon: At the upper left: moves up one folder level.
Scrolling: Swipe up or down, turn DATA DIAL or use – and +.
List headers: Tap Name, Size, Date Modified or Date Created to sort the list, and tap again to reverse the direction. You can add or remove these columns in Browser Options.
Selecting and opening: Tap a file or folder to select it. Double-tap a folder, or tap Open at the lower right, to enter it.
Folder buttons 1–5: At the upper right: jump straight to the locations you assigned.

Loading and previewing

Load: Double-tap a selected file or tap Load. A sample goes to the project’s sample pool. A project loads in full, and the MPC asks whether you want to close the current one.
Play: Tap and hold at the bottom of the screen to preview the selected sound.
Audition speaker icon: At the bottom of the screen: shows the audition settings below. Tap it again to hide them.

Audition settings

Auto: Turns automatic audition on or off, so a sound plays when you select it.
Level slider: Drag up or down to set the audition volume.
Sync: When on, an audition during playback waits for the start of the sequence’s next bar.
Warp: When on, samples with an embedded tempo are warped to the project tempo. Samples with no embedded tempo, or an externally embedded one, are not affected.

Assign a folder button

Go to the location you want to keep. It can be on the internal drive or on any connected drive.
Hold SHIFT and tap one of the folder buttons 1–5.
From now on, tapping that button takes you straight to that location.

Filter buttons

Icon	Shows only
P/page	Project files
Bars	Pattern files
Four squares	Kit files
Plug	Plugin preset files
Waveform	Sample files
Three pages	All file types

Folders stay in the list whichever filter you choose.

Content buttons

Button	Opens	Shows
`Drums`	`Expansions/The Vault 2` on the internal drive	Program files only
`Instruments`	`Expansions/Instruments` on the internal drive	Program files only
`Samples`	`Expansions/The Vault 2` on the internal drive	Sample files only
`Demos`	`Demos` on the internal drive	Project files only
`My Files`	`MPC Documents`	All files
`Splice`	Samples synced from a paired Splice account (Splice)	Samples

The gear icon opens Browser Options.

Browser Options

Show file size: Tick to show file sizes in the list.
Show modified date: Tick to show when each file was last modified.
Show created date: Tick to show when each file was created.
Search includes subfolders: Tick to search recursively, so files in subfolders appear in the results too.
Hide Project and Track data folders: Tick to keep project and track folders out of the file list.
Clear unused samples on load: Tick to remove samples that are no longer in use when you load a sample, track or program over an existing one.

Format a drive

Select the storage device in the Browser.
Hold SHIFT and tap Format Drive at the bottom of the screen.
Tap OK, then Format in the next window. Cancel backs out without formatting.

From the community

Getting Started on MPC One G2 | Loading Sounds
Akai Professional
Where the G2’s bundled sounds live and how to load them: drums, keygroups, instrument tracks and expansions.

5.4BasicsManual Sample Assign p.136

Sample Assign

Sample Assign shows the project’s sample pool next to the pads, so you can drop what you have just loaded onto the pads you want. To open it, tap Sample Assign at the lower left of the Browser. Tap it again to go back.

Assign a sample to a pad

Press a PAD, or tap it on the screen, so it lights green.
In the Sample Pool list, double-tap the sample. Alternatively, select it with DATA DIAL or – and + and press DATA DIAL, or drag the sample name onto the pad.

Key combinations

Press DATA DIAL: Assigns the selected sample to the selected pad.In Sample Assign
Hold SHIFT + drag a sample: Puts the sample on a specific layer of the pad, marked by a red bar.In Sample Assign

Other controls

Track: Selects a track in the project. Double-tap and tap a track in the list, or tap it and turn DATA DIAL or use – and +.
Sample Pool: Swipe up or down, turn DATA DIAL or use – and + to move through it.
Play: Tap and hold at the bottom of the screen to preview the selected sound.
Audition: At the bottom of the screen: shows Auto, which turns automatic audition on or off, and a level slider for its volume. Tap it again to hide them.
Clear Pad: Takes the sample off the pad you selected by pressing it or tapping it on screen.

Tap and hold a sample name

Delete Sample: Removes the sample from the Sample Pool.
Stream From Disk: Offered for a sample in memory. It leaves memory and streams from a drive instead, and is marked with a green waveform icon.
Load To Memory: Offered for a streaming sample. It stops streaming and returns to memory, and is marked with a grey waveform icon.

5.5BasicsManual Sounds Mode p.146

Sounds Mode

Sounds Mode is made for browsing plugin instruments. It also holds your favourite presets and your setlists, on tabs of their own (Favorites and Setlists).

To open it, use the combo below, or press MENU | PREFS and tap Sounds.

Key combinations

SHIFT + ARRANGE | SOUNDS: Opens Sounds Mode.

On the screen

Instruments: Selects a different track type to search for: Drum, Plugin, Keygroup, MIDI, CV or Audio. The search covers factory and user expansions on any attached drive. In an expansion or user folder, tap a cell to load that program.
Locate Preset: At the top of the screen: opens the preset list for the selected plugin instrument.
Gear icon: At the top of the screen: opens the Sounds settings below.
Edit Instrument: At the bottom of the screen: opens Track Edit Mode so you can adjust the instrument’s parameters (Track Edit for plugin tracks).
Track –/+: At the bottom of the screen: switches to another track.
First tab: The first tab at the bottom of the screen swaps between the Sounds and Favorites menus.
Empty space: When searching for anything other than plugin tracks, tap and hold an empty space to set a preferred folder for your saved tracks.
Headphones icon: When viewing drum and keygroup track samples, tap to turn auditioning on. Then tap and hold a cell’s play icon to audition that sound.

Sounds settings

Default View: Sets what Sounds Mode opens on.Range Instruments, Current Preset
Loading instrument opens editor: Tick to open Track Edit Mode whenever you load an instrument.
Sync: When on, an audition during playback waits for the start of the sequence’s next bar.
Warp: When on, samples with an embedded tempo are warped to the project tempo. Samples with no embedded tempo, or an externally embedded one, are not affected.
Level slider: Drag up or down to set the audition volume.

From the community

5.6BasicsManual Favorites p.147, Setlists p.147

Favorites and Setlists

Both of these live inside Sounds Mode. Favorites stores the presets you use most, ready to load and organise. Setlists keeps a list of projects you can call up easily, for example at a live show.

Save a preset as a favourite

Choose the plugin and preset in the Sounds menu.
Tap the bottom-left tab in the Sounds menu, labelled Sounds, to open Favorites.
Press and hold an empty slot. The preset is saved there.

Tap and hold a filled Favorites slot

Clear: Empties the slot.
Overwrite: Replaces the favourite with the preset you have selected now.

Build a setlist

Open the Setlists tab from the Sounds page.
Tap and hold an empty slot, then tap Choose Project.
Find the project you want in the file browser and tap Select to load it.

Tap and hold a filled Setlist slot

Choose Project: Puts a different project in the same slot.
Clear: Empties the slot.
Copy: Copies the project so you can place it in another slot: tap and hold an empty slot, then tap Paste.

5.7BasicsManual Technical Specifications p.476, Browser p.133, Rear Panel p.364, Hardware p.62

Storage and drives

The G2 has 64 GB of built-in storage, and you can add more with an SD card or a USB flash drive. Akai’s FAQ covers the ports and the computer connection, and the manual’s specifications cover the file systems and audio formats.

Where your files can live

Storage	Connects by	Good to know
Internal drive	Built in, 64 GB	Listed as `Internal`. `MPC Documents` is a shortcut to that folder on it.
SD card	One SD card slot	Appears in the same list as the other drives (Browser).
USB flash drive	One USB Type-A port	Its files can be used directly on the G2. In Controller Mode, your computer can reach it too (Controller Mode).
USB-C flash drive	One USB-C port	The port works as a host or a device, so the same socket can take a flash drive, a MIDI controller or a computer (USB-C and USB-A).

File systems

File system	Access
exFAT (recommended)	Read and write
FAT32	Read and write
NTFS	Read and write
EXT4	Read and write
HFS+	Read only

Akai recommends exFAT because it is the most robust system that both Windows and macOS support. The Browser’s Format Drive command sets a drive to exFAT, and it erases the drive (Browser).

Supported audio files are AIF/AIFF, FLAC, MP3, OGG and WAV. Whatever the format, a sample you load into a project becomes full-quality uncompressed audio, so it can take up more room than it did on the drive (Browser).

Drive space is not the same as memory. The G2 has 4 GB of RAM, and Project window shows how to free some up or stream samples from a drive instead.

Over USB-C, a computer can reach the G2’s internal drive, which makes it easier to back up the projects, samples and expansions saved there. Akai’s FAQ says this needs the MPC One G2 audio driver, which also lets the computer detect any attached flash drive for file transfer.

Install the audio driver

Open the inMusic Software Center application, which you can get from your inMusic Profile.
Select My Hardware and click MPC One G2.
Scroll down to find the MPC One G2 Driver.

Operating systems Akai lists

Windows 10
Windows 11
macOS 14 Sonoma
macOS 15 Sequoia
macOS 26 Tahoe

From the community

MPC One G2 | Frequently Asked QuestionsAkai Professional — Akai’s answers on USB-C roles, drive formats, internal-drive access, plugin counts and Ableton import. Check here first.