— From the community
Videos & links
60 videos and 34 articles, threads, tools and official pages that explain the MPC One G2 and MPC 3 well, from Akai’s own videos to the community’s best tutorials. Each one also appears beside the guide section it covers. Videos load from YouTube only when you press play.
Getting Started on MPC One G2 | Getting Started
Akai Professional
Akai’s own first stop on the actual hardware: what’s new in the G2, the core controls and how to find your way round.
MPC Gen2 Units are here! MPC One G2 and Key37 G2 Review
Tefty Music Tech
An independent launch-day review of both G2 models with 3.9 on board; Tefty kept the review units but says Akai didn’t pay for the video.
MPC ONE Gen 2 DEEP DIVE - Full Setup & Beat Making
Ave Mcree
A 37-minute beginner walkthrough on the G2 itself, from setup and menus to sequencing your first drums.
MPC Key 37 G2 & MPC One G2 | Overview
Akai Professional
Akai’s 16-minute overview of both G2 models: the eight-core processor, MPC 3’s track and arrangement tools, and USB-C.
Getting Started on MPC One G2 | Making a Beat
Akai Professional
A track built from the ground up on the G2: choosing and editing sounds, then layering tracks.
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.
Getting Started on MPC One G2 | Sampling
Akai Professional
The ways in: vinyl and hardware through the inputs, computers and phones over the USB-C port.
Getting Started on MPC One G2 | Arrange Mode
Akai Professional
A short official route from loop to finished track in Arrange Mode on the G2; filmed on 3.9, so the 3.10 selection modes aren’t in it.
MPC 3.10 Update | Walkthrough
Akai Professional
Starts at the Arranger chapters, the part that matters on a G2: the MRQ, TRK and ARR selection modes and Loop to Marquee. The 8×8 chapters need MPCe pads.
MPC 3.9 Update | Walkthrough
Akai Professional
Akai’s chaptered tour of the update this guide’s manual covers: oscillators, the Arranger edit menu, Insert Clip Row and per-sequence time signatures.
MPC 3.8 Update | Walkthrough
Akai Professional
Akai’s walkthrough of 3.8, the update that added five effects from MPC Sample and moving drum tracks between the two.
MPC 3 | Overview
Akai Professional
Akai’s 33-minute tour from the public beta: Main Mode, one-to-one tracks, the XL channel strip and the Arranger. Some screens have moved since.
Getting Started with MPC Live III | Clip Launching Deep Dive
Akai Professional
Tefty’s full breakdown of clip launching, filmed on a Live III, where the Pro Pack is included; on a G2 you need to buy it.
Getting Started with MPC Live III | MPCe Pads Deep Dive
Akai Professional
Filmed on a Live III, so ignore the MPCe pad gestures: what carries over is how Tefty assigns parameters in the Mod Matrix.
Getting Started with MPC Live III | CV Playground
Akai Professional
Tefty’s deep dive into modular and CV tips, filmed on a Live III; the G2 gets eight CV channels from its four 1/8-inch jacks.
Getting Started with MPC Live III | Reverb Pro and Visual EQ
Akai Professional
Akai’s short look at shaping sound with two Pro Pack plugins, filmed on a Live III.
Getting Started with MPC Live III | Pro Stems
Akai Professional
Five minutes on Pro Stems, filmed on a Live III; Akai’s FAQ says the G2’s CPU can run it, but Stems Separation is sold separately.
MPC 2.7 | Ableton Live Control Integration
Akai Professional
From firmware 2.7 on a Live or X, but the mode is unaffected by MPC 3’s track changes: a tour of the Matrix, Mixer and Device tabs. A G2 can also connect over USB-C.
Hype Synthesizer Plugin Instrument for MPC Standalone
Akai Professional
Akai’s demo of Hype from the MPC 2 era. The topic is unaffected by the move to MPC 3: it’s the same plugin, loaded on a plugin track.
Getting Started with MPC One | Using Plugin Instruments
Akai Professional
Two minutes from 2020 on TubeSynth, Electric and Bassline, filmed on an MPC One; the instruments are unaffected, though on MPC 3 they load on plugin tracks.
Can the Akai Pro MPC One G2 Replace Your DAW? | Demo and Overview with Andy Mac
Guitar Center
Akai’s Andy Mac demos the G2 for Guitar Center, including fast beat-making with Sample Chop and using plugins with no computer attached.
MPC One G2 versus MPC One Plus // The button layout 😬
Tefty Music Tech
If you’re moving from a One+: Tefty’s side-by-side focuses on what changed with the buttons.
MPC Key 37 G2 Transfer Audio to DAW in Real Time
Yaahn Hunter Jr.
Streaming audio to a DAW in real time over Type-C, filmed on a Key 37 G2, which shares the One G2’s USB-C host and device behaviour.
MPC track types guide - Choosing the right one
Bit Bender Studio
A chaptered run through each track type and when to choose it; it predates the G2, but the track types carry over.
MPC 3 - Hip Hop Drum Programming Explained
Ave Mcree
MPC 3 drum programming filmed on a Live II: loading and chopping samples, mute groups in Track Edit, time-stretching, simultaneous play and mixing.
MPC Live 3: Scales, Chords, and Chord Progression Modes + Arpeggiator!
Chris Laps
Scale, chord and progression pad modes plus the arpeggiator, filmed on a Live III; Pad Perform and the arpeggiator are on the G2 too.
MPC Sequencer: Grid View, Bars, Beats, Tick, Timing Correct Explained
Bit Bender Studio
From 2021, but bars, beats, ticks and Timing Correct are unaffected by MPC 3: a clear account of how they relate in Grid View.
MPC 3 Step Sequencer Secrets That Will Blow Your Mind!
Ave Mcree
MPC 3’s on-screen Step Sequencer in depth, including chops, automating steps, probability and ratchets; it predates the G2, but this is the version you’ll use on one.
How to Use List Edit to Modify Events Parameters
Bit Bender Studio
From 2022, but this core event editing is unaffected by MPC 3: adjusting, creating and deleting events in List Edit.
How To Use MPC Arranger Mode Step By Step MPC 3 9 Update
Doswell Beats
Beginner-paced: turning loops into intro, verse, hook, bridge and outro in Arrange Mode on 3.9, filmed on a Live III.
MPC 3.10 Marquee tool Beat Making
MALO BEATS
A beat built on an MPC XL with the 3.10 Marquee tool in Arrange Mode, to see the new selection workflow in use rather than listed.
MPC 3.7.0 tutorial 5 Song Mode Masterclass: Arrange, Edit & Export Like a Mpc Pro
Damian Lemar Hudson
An hour on 3.7: adding a final idea, blending sequences together in Song Mode and finishing with a clean export.
MPC Live - 3.X Track Mute Automation Needs Automation in Write Mode...
NearTao
A 3.x gotcha, filmed on an MPC Live: why track mute automation won’t record unless automation is in Write mode.
Akai Force & MPC 3.9: New Drum Track Oscillators - Creative Sound Design and Sequencing
BeatWingsInVain
Up to eight oscillators on one drum pad, cycling or random layer play and a random arpeggio: creative ideas for Force and MPC on 3.9.
MPC3 Keygroup XL Deep Dive Tutorial (Corrected)
Tefty Music Tech
The one to watch for keygroup Track Edit: 44 minutes building a synth from one sample through filters, envelopes, LFOs, stacks and the Mod Matrix. Predates 3.9’s oscillators.
MPC 3 Standalone Tutorial: How to Make Keygroups for your One Shot Samples & Sounds
Bolo Da Producer
Making a playable keygroup from your own one-shots on MPC 3 standalone.
Akai Turned the MPC Into a Real Synthesizer — Here’s How
Jonathan Knightsnare
A patch from nothing inside a keygroup on 3.9: oscillator, amp envelope, filter and LFO, then wavetable position through the Mod Matrix.
Wavetables on the Akai MPC: OS 3.9 Turns Keygroups Into a Wavetable Synth
Keith Crosley
An hour on wavetables on 3.9: installing your own on standalone, the format.json quirk, and sound design across 13 kinds of table.
MPC 3.9 FULL TUTORIAL
Tubedigga
Tubedigga’s 38-minute tutorial on 3.9: oscillators on every layer, per-sequence and per-clip time signatures, and the new Arranger edits.
How to Record and Chop Samples from your Phone on the MPC Live 3
Chris Laps
Records a phone into the MPC, chops the recording and assigns the chops to pads, filmed on a Live III.
MPC 3.0 EP-37 - Slice Start/End Points & Convert To Track - Tutorial by NervousCook$
NervousCook$
Four minutes on tidying slice start and end points, then converting the slices to a drum track.
THE AKAI MPC LIVE 3: WARPING ANY SAMPLE FOR ANY TEMPO MASTERCLASS!
SampleKings
Capturing, trimming and warping a sample to lock it to any tempo, filmed on a Live III. On a G2, the Super Warp algorithm needs the Pro Pack.
Exploring the MPC looper
T.J. Guardino
A tour of the Looper with a demonstration, a warning, what MPC 3 improved and where it falls short.
Finally How To Auto Sample any Synth with your MPC
Poli Popo
From 2022, but capturing a synth with the Auto Sampler is unaffected by MPC 3’s track changes.
MPC3 Sends and Returns Explained (Automation and Sidechaining Too!!!)
DnC Music
MPC 3 beta on a Live II: setting up sends and returns, automating inserts, then a long section on sidechaining.
MPC 3 Vocal Recording/Mixing Workflow | XL Channel Strip
RAUL
Using the XL channel strip on vocals in MPC 3, with the presenter’s own mixing approach.
Mixing On Akai MPC: Send, Returns, Submixes Explained
Bit Bender Studio
From 2023, but the signal flow is unaffected by MPC 3: diagrams showing how sends, returns and submixes connect.
AKAI MPC LIVE III VIDEO 52 - The XYFX Deep Dive
Daddy Long Les
What XYFX are, then Beat Repeat, wet/dry, Latch and automating your moves, filmed on a Live III.
Akai MPC Tutorial. Air Channel Strip Explained. How to use it when mixing in the MPC Standalone.
The Crates Motel
From 2023, but the effect is unaffected by MPC 3: what AIR Channel Strip’s EQ, gate and compression do, then mixing beats with it on a standalone MPC.
Akai MPC Tutorial. All Reverbs explained in the MPC. How to create depth, width & space in your mix.
The Crates Motel
From 2023, but the effects are unaffected by MPC 3: each standalone reverb explained, and how to use them for depth, width and space in a mix.
MPC 3.0 EP-30 - Q Links Overview - Tutorial by NervousCook$
NervousCook$
A three-minute orientation to the Q-Links on MPC 3 before you start building macros.
MPC3: How to Master Performance Macros
Sineway
Building performance macros on the Q-Links in MPC 3, in the spirit of Elektron’s Control All.
How to Use MPC Q-Link Knobs for SP-404 & Gross Beat 'Half-Speed' Style FX! 🤯
Sarah2ill
Setting up Q-Links for SP-404 and Gross Beat-style half-speed effects, from Sarah2ill’s MPC 3 material.
MPC LIVE 3 - Connecting MIDI & Record Hardware Synths (MIDI)
Ave Mcree
Setting up, sequencing, sampling and recording a hardware synth over MIDI, filmed on a Live III.
MPC - Routing Midi and Audio Over USB-C With Ableton Live Plugins and Effects
NearTao
The settings and routing for running MIDI and audio over USB-C with Ableton hosting plugins, filmed on a Live III.
MPC Advanced CV Tools // How I setup a session with multiple synths
Tefty Music Tech
A session with two synths on Advanced CV, monitored through the MPC; filmed on a Live III, and Tefty says any MPC with the Pro Pack can do the same.
ALL MPCs can do clip launching now (not just the MPC Live III)
Gabe Miller Music
The closest match to your machine: the Pro Pack on an original MPC One, with a Clip Matrix mini-tutorial and converting sequences to clips.
WATCH THIS before you buy the MPC Pro Pack. Update 3.6. Air Visual EQ, Reverb Pro & Utility Review.
The Crates Motel
A review aimed at the buying decision: AIR Visual EQ4, Reverb Pro and Utility, from the 3.6 launch.
Ableton Projects run on Akai MPC Live III!?!
jtn.project
Dropping an Ableton project onto the MPC and having it work, tried on a Live III; on a G2, Ableton import is part of the Pro Pack.
Akai MPC (Standalone) to Ableton Live: Export Stems & MIDI Fast
Mr. Faia
Exploding drum tracks, Audio Mixdown and MIDI export: getting stems and MIDI from a standalone MPC into Ableton, filmed on an MPC Live running 3.4.1.
Official Akai
- MPC One G2Akai Professional — Akai’s own product page for the G2, with links onward to downloads and support.
- 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.
- MPC Standalone OS - User Guide - v3.9Akai Professional · 2026-06 — The manual this guide is based on. It covers every standalone MPC, so expect buttons the G2 doesn’t have.
- MPC Standalone OS - User Guide - v3.10Akai Professional — The current manual, a 38 MB PDF: the place to check anything that changed after 3.9.
- MPC 3.10 Release NotesAkai Professional · 2026-10 — Akai’s own list for 3.10: the Arrange selection modes, the rename to Track Mixer and the CV port changes, plus the bug fixes the manual leaves out.
- MPC 3.9 Release NotesAkai Professional · 2026-06 — The full oscillator parameter list, plus the USB-C data role and power role settings specific to the G2.
- Akai Pro MPC Series | Firmware Update WalkthroughAkai Professional — Every update route, with the safety notes; it also says which route applies to Gen 2 MPCs.
- inMusic Software CenterAkai Professional — The desktop route for firmware, drivers and expansions if you don’t use Online Update.
- MPC3 - FAQAkai Professional — What Akai says about moving to MPC 3, including how tracks and programs merge and what happens to MPC 2 projects.
- MPC Series | Loading MPC2 Projects in MPC3Akai Professional — Read before opening an old project: how the import dialog treats tracks that shared a program.
- Akai Pro MPC Series | Installing the MPC Oscillator Content and MPC Core Oscillator ExpansionAkai Professional — Where to get the wavetables and single-cycle waves from Activations, and how to install the optional preset expansion.
- MPC Series | Convert Your Chopped Samples Into A Drum ProgramAkai Professional — Akai’s short walk through Threshold chopping and converting the slices to a new drum track.
- Akai Pro MPC Series | Free MPC Plugins Are Missing From The Activations List on MPC 3Akai Professional — Why Hype, TubeSynth and the rest don’t appear in Activations on MPC 3, and where to find them instead.
- Akai Pro | MPC 3 Desktop - FAQAkai Professional — Confirms that standalone hardware needs 3.10 firmware to be seen by MPC 3.10 Desktop, and covers drivers.
- MPC Pro PackAkai Professional — Akai’s page for the paid add-on, which the G2 doesn’t include.
- MPC Stems SeparationAkai Professional — Akai’s page for Stems Separation, which is sold separately on the G2.
Articles & reviews
- Akai MPC One G2 ReviewAudiofanzine — A balanced review scoring 9/10, marked down for the learning curve, dense screens and tools that vary from page to page.
- Akai MPC One G2 And Key 37 G2: A Needed Yet Cynical UpgradeAudio News Room · 2026-06 — The sceptical view: a needed power boost, but an unchanged panel and key features behind the paid Pro Pack.
- Akai MPC One G2: four times more power for the entry-level standalone MPCSynth Anatomy · 2026-06 — Launch specs in one place: plugin and track counts, bundled content, and USB-C audio and MIDI channel counts.
- Akai MPC Buyer’s Guide 2026: One, Live, Key, XL, and SampleDubspot — Where the One G2 sits against the Live III, XL, Key 37 G2 and MPC Sample, and what the extra money buys.
- Akai MPC OS 3.10: free feature update for MPC Standalone/Force & MPC 3 DesktopSynth Anatomy · 2026-10 — A quick outside summary of 3.10 if the release notes are more than you want.
- MPC 3.10 Update: What’s New in Desktop & StandaloneSoul Chemist · 2026-10 — A plain-English run through 3.10 with sensible advice: back up first and keep firmware and desktop versions matched.
- Akai MPC 3.9: The Update That Turns Your MPC Into a SynthDubspot · 2026-06 — A useful caveat alongside the features: the oscillators help self-contained work but won’t replace dedicated soft synths.
- Akai update makes the MPC Sample a satellite to the rest of the MPC lineCDM · 2026-04 — Peter Kirn on 3.8: why the MPC Sample link mostly helps people who already own another MPC.
- Akai MPC & Force 3.6 update introduces MPC Pro Pack with premium features, time signature & moreSynth Anatomy · 2025-10 — Splits what 3.6 gave everyone (drum Mod Matrix, articulations, time signatures) from what the paid Pro Pack adds.
- Akai Pro MPC 3, complete OS overhaul with new features, available nowSynth Anatomy · 2025-01 — What MPC 3 brought on its full release, and a reminder that the 3.0 name became a 3.4 firmware update.
- MPC3 Firmware Tutorial | Using Slice Motion on Vocal SamplesMPC-Tutor — A full written project turning a vocal phrase into a random stutter with Slice Motion, for MPC OS 3.4 or later.
- Build an MPC ‘Cycle’ Kit From A Chopped Drum BreakMPC-Tutor — Written for firmware 2.10+, but layer playback is unaffected: a kit where each hit varies. MPC 3 just gives you more layers to fill.
- MPC Bible Tutorial: Clone Plugins & Synths with AutosamplerMPC-Tutor — Written for firmware 2.10+, but the thinking is unaffected: which patches to avoid, how to choose a note stride and how to stay light on memory.
- MPC Bible 3, Revision 6 - MPC Oscillators, MPC 3.9, MPC One G2 + MPC Key 37 G2MPC-Tutor — A paid course, listed because this revision adds an oscillator chapter and support for the One G2.
- AKWF-FREE: Adventure Kid Wave FormsAdventure Kid — A free CC0 library of mono single-cycle WAVs, with a folder aimed at the Akai MPC, ready to try in the oscillators’ user folder.
- Free Wavetables for Korg modwave, Serum, Vital, Surge, Bitwig, Phase Plant and other wavetable synths plus single-cycle waveformsKeith Crosley — Free wavetables with an Akai MPC version at the bottom of the product page, from Keith Crosley, whose wavetable video is also listed here.
Forum threads
- The all things MPC Thread (Part 4)Elektronauts · 2025-10 — A long, active thread of owners reporting on each firmware as it lands, including the 3.10 Arranger changes.
- MPC Thread : MPC Live - MPC X - MPC One (Part 3)Elektronauts · 2024-08 — Follows the MPC 3 betas and first releases: useful for seeing how people moved over from MPC 2.