I just meant it seemed like it was becoming the norm to have a pad grid + physical step sequencer buttons (rytm + toraiz style). Would have been a nice thing to have on this mpc too. But from the little bit of video I watched it seems like touchscreen + 16 pads is fine 
Ah ok then. I thought you meant sequencing in general, my bad.
There were quite a few nice workflow touches that i thought was really neat, like the quick layering of samples, i think you should check out the product tour sonicstate did with the akai rep. And this was all before version 2.0 of their software, so i guess there will be even more workflow enhancements and tricks when this finally launches.
Just realized Akai will do well if they can port the current software into the standalone units. MPCs have been notoriously buggy at launch time, having a matured version of the software might make this launch alot less painful for early adopters.
Somehow I doubt it, but I wonder does this have Microsoft under the hood, as presented back in 2015 for the new standalone MPC?
Any word on what kind/quality of FX on this thing? Only reason Iād consider giving up my 4 month old OTā¦
Yeah im curious on that too. Guessing theyll be the same as the mpc computer software fx to make daw integrating sessions straight forward, anyone used them?
I guess my ānew machine fundā will be empty by this one 
I have not used the software versions, but IMHO the only āgoodā fx on the MPC are inside the 4000. All the rest are āokā at best, although these things are very subjective.
If the software fx are good, thereās no reason why these wouldnāt be at least as good though.
K. One of those wait and see kind of things. Lookin forward to it tho, for sure.
This will have polyphonic tracks for sure, and at least 32 of them. Even the 4000 has 128 tracks!
I think i donāt want to choose ANYMORE between hardware and Computer + Controller. I now interesting by real audio systems something like MV8800 which can show sequencer on a big screenā¦ but from today with all new things implemented. (maybe with VST or not ā¦ itās not a deal breaker if not)
(for studio i mean)
@Callofthevoid : you are a very demanding customer you know that ? hahaha
MPC Live plus Analog Heatā¦game over.
If this is a mobile VST host - that would mean Omnisphere for take away. Depending on the VST integration it would be probably a must have for me.
Does anybody know how VSTĀ“s are CC mapped? And how is this step sequenced? Somewhat similar to the NI Maschine?
Did you read the VST thing somewhere or is it wishful thinking? I did hear something way back about Akai developing an MPC with Windows Embedded but not sure if it ever came to fruition. Always seemed like a recipe for disaster vs a lean specialised OS but running VSTs would certainly be cool.
NI Maschine can run VST inside, i dont know how the MPC software works, but there was some video showing how to sequence VSTĀ“s - but i am not sure if these are hosted within the MPC software.
If this was so it would change the game for sure.
Think you would reach processor limit pretty quickly if so.
Wishful thinking imo.
You would expect it to only act as a controller for third party VSTs and need to be hooked up to a computer to run these.
This is how Maschine, Push etc. function
Personally I very much doubt you could run VSTs inside this thing. You could, however, sequence a Receptor HW VST module with it 
Iād guess VSTs are a slight possibility if they are running on Windows ā¦ but seems unlikely and theyād need a fast i7 inside for something like omnisphere.
Another unlikely possibiliy is Son Of JJ is now working for AKAI and in a year or two he will leave, taking his knowledge of the source code with him and writes a new AKAI Live OS, making the AKAI Live an immortal box with infinite upgrades and tweaks!
What would be more interesting is if AKAI released the full SDK at launch with all components addressable or if they have written the operating system in MAX or PD for users to create whatever they want. That would be inspired thinking ā¦ like a monome Aleph for mere mortals.