maybe akai plans to refresh their full range following this one with an included touch-strip, etc.
would make it one less advantage the maschine has.
actually just realized the Live 2 just had a makeover, so yeah theres that.
And has q-links. I canāt understand why they left them out, as the MPC Studio is marketed as a dedicated controller for the MPC Software.
2 Likes
i think the trend nowadays is ācompact friendlyā.
they probably had a decision to make in the design: qlink or touch-strip.
maybe the touch strip IS for the q-links tooā¦?
choose a Q and then the strip controls the parameterā¦
just a thought.
1 Like
Yep that is almost how it works. First a shortcut to select the Q link and after hold a pad and slide the strip to adjust as if it is Q fader link. Loopop explained it in his video.
1 Like
With regard the qlink - maybe itās a throwback to when the MPCs only had 1 slider? 
1 Like
Akai. Continues to screw up UI. The button orientation and placement is questionable to put it mildly. Frankenstein form factor.
A very good price and form factor. Though I could foresee extensive use/wear of shift and the big scroll wheel due to inherent design.
iamsight do not recommend it. TL;DW :
Cons
- crappy, small screen (comparaison with MPC Studio Silver => perceived as a downgrade)
- do not have the same pad shortcuts, layout or buttons (type of buttons and functions) that the current MPC (One,Live,X) so useless muscle memory if you change to another MPC or if you come from another MPC. Comparaison between Maschine Mikro and Maschine plus (screenshot from the video) as counter-example.
- No Q-Links (Comparaison with MPC Studio Silver => perceived as a downgrade) ; Touchstripe could be used as Q-Link but the feeling is very different.
- Touch effects on the touchstripe can not be automated because touch effects plugin go on the master channel. So automation does not work with touch effects.
- Due to the completely different workflow, beginner could not be helped by older MPC users because there is no way to relate between the workflow. Could split the community and alienate from the past huge knowledge base on MPC workflow. Speaking about the MPC from the last 7 years. You will isolate beginners from the MPC community, at least he is afraid of that.
Pro
- Building quality is good/solid. No rubbery coating, mate black plastic.
- Pads are good
- Touchstrip is nice + integration with MPC Beats
The funny thing to discover, it is that it was almost ready and sent to beta influ-testers 7/8 months ago 
. It seems to not be the only one pointing the difference of workflow, Ave Mcree also said that coming from the One/Live/X, you have to get used to the different workflow. Marlow Digs find the layout to be classic and functional. 
More funny, Marlow Digs talks about trying to use it as a external controller with the MPC Live. Some already use the Launchpad Mini/Mk3 as a controller with the Live, so why not 
1 Like
If they could do MPC software for iOS, this thing hooked up to a iPad Pro would be deamy
2 Likes
there is already iMPC Pro which was done in collaboration with akai but I think belongs to a third party - I am not sure. Perhaps there is some level of integration or they could add through software updates.
but yeah this thing with a solid iPad ui + the new iPad mini (even old ones) would be killer combo
1 Like
its 3rd party and its a joke for stability.
its actually not that bad, someone just needs to update it. iād use it more often if it was.
but i have to agree with a lot of the reviews. why would you ever change the button layout, especially on the pads, is beyond me. this is something that should be standardized across the board of their devices, and it was , until thing thing came along. facepalm.jpg
2 Likes
Unpopular and potentially controversial opinion for this Sunday morning, but I think the previous version of the MPC Studio Black was the last of Akaiās good products.
Why?
-four proper q-link knobs
-screen that looks very similar in functionality to the 1000/2500
-portable and slim
-pads are great, as expected
-has proper MIDI in/out on the hardware itself
As much as I wanted to like the whole ecosystem of the One / Live / Live 2, I really couldnāt get into the UI, the touchscreen, the annoying file browsing situation, etc. Having just picked up another Studio Black, I can already feel my love affair with the old MPC way reigniting.
Maybe Iām just old fashioned but I donāt really care that itās just a controller for the software given that Iām using it on my studio desk, plugged in, 95% of the time.
I predict these Studio Black models are going to become rare and somewhat sought after. Anyone else agree?
1 Like
This is neither unpopular or controversial. AKAI/InMusic saw machine mikro and thought āthatās where the market is headedā. Except better buy a cheaper used Maschine I or II than a Maschine mikro as well. MPC studio II is useless as a generic midi controller so people who donāt even like MPC Software are stuck with a useless device, better get a MPD, it will do more than a MPC Studio II.
Shame they didnāt update them to work with current OSās ! I loved my silver studio (was actually slimmer than the black because of the main encoder depth)
Using a new Studio 2 now, which is not as good IMHO
1 Like
Yeah the studio black was a very decent controller for the software, to the point I barely had to look at the computer screen, I doubt the same can be said for the newest version, smaller isnāt always betterā¦ ,š¤·
1 Like
What about using it standalone without a computer as a MIDI pad controller would that work nicely with external gear?
In a strange turn of events I managed to snag a used studio 2 for a great price, itās no studio mk1 but itās definitely a pretty good mpc controller, as long as you know you way around the software itāll take you far, the only thing I donāt like about it is the note repeat on the touch strip, you can latch the note repeat but the increments remain sprung loaded like a pitch wheel behaviour which can be pretty annoying meaning stuff like pitched rolls can be hard to pull off unlike a regular mpcā¦
2 Likes
Itās completely useless as a standalone MIDI controller, itās barely useful OUTSIDE MPC Software as well. IMHO itās not a good deal to begin with. With MPC Software, It provides only a marginal added utility compared to a regular MPD. Itās just a way for AKAI to sell MPC Software licenses.
The regular one only offers MIDI over USB, MPC Studio MK2 has MIDI over minijack. Therefor I was hoping it would be a great Pad controller without the need for a computer.