Mixing & effects · MPC One G2 guide

12.1BasicsManual Track Mixer p.137, Volume p.138, Pan & Volume p.138, Sends p.139, Effects p.140, I/O p.141

Track Mixer

The Track Mixer lays your project out like a mixing desk: one strip per track, up to eight on screen at a time, each with the track’s name at the top. Submixes, returns and main outputs live here too, so you can balance a whole project from one place. Five tabs along the bottom show different parts of the strip.

Key combinations

MIXER | PAD MIXER: Opens the Track Mixer.

You can also press MENU | PREFS and tap Track Mixer.

Getting around

Tap a track header to select that track.
Double-tap a track header to open the Track Settings window (About tracks).
Drag left or right across the display to bring more tracks into view.
Swipe quickly to the left to jump to the Submixes, Returns and Outputs.

The five tabs

Tab	What you do there
`Volume`	See the level of every track at a glance and drag a level slider to change it. Double-tap a track on the screen for a large slider and meter.
`Pan & Volume`	Set the pan and level of the selected track, return or main output by dragging its sliders. A double-tap on either slider opens a larger one.
`Sends`	Use the send knobs to set how much of each track goes to `Sends 1–4` (Send/return effects).
`Effects`	See and edit each track’s four insert slots: a + icon marks an empty slot, and a filled slot shows the effect’s name. Tap `Inserts` for the Inserts window. Swipe left for the Return and Output insert slots (Insert effects).
`I/O`	Set monitoring and the audio and MIDI routing of each track (see below).

Buttons on the Pan & Volume, Sends, Effects and I/O tabs

M mutes the track.
S solos the track. With Solo Button set to Cue Tracks, it turns into a Headphones button.
The automation button sets the track’s Automation status (Automation).
The record button arms the track for recording.

Mixer settings (the Settings icon, lower right)

Solo Button: What the solo buttons do: solo the track or cue it.Range Solo Tracks, Cue Tracks
Crossfader: The Profile of the crossfader (Crossfader).Range Linear, Exponential, Logarithmic
MeterMIDI Track Input Metering: When the MIDI input meter is active.Range Always, When Record Armed, When Record Armed or Monitoring, Never
MeterMIDI Track Input Metering: Which MIDI data the meters show.Range User Input, User Input and Playback
Audio Track Input Metering: When the audio track meter is active.Range Always, When Record Armed, When Record Armed or Monitoring, Never

The I/O tab: Monitor button

Setting	Audio tracks	MIDI tracks
`Off`	You don’t hear the audio input.	You don’t hear the MIDI input, only the recorded events playing back. Useful with keyboards that have Local Control active.
`In`	You always hear the audio input, record-enabled or not.	You always hear the MIDI input, whatever the Record Arm state, and recorded events stay silent.
`Auto`	You hear the audio input only while the track is record-enabled.	You hear the MIDI input while the track is record-armed, along with recorded events.
`Merge`	—	You always hear both the MIDI input and the recorded events.

The I/O tab: routing

Audio InAudio tracks: The external audio source for the track: a pair of inputs or just one.Range Input 1,2; Input 1; Input 2
MIDI Input and ChannelMIDI tracks: Where the track takes its MIDI from, and on which channel.
Send ToMIDI tracks: Passes the track’s MIDI output on to another track.
Audio OutAudio tracks: Where the track’s audio goes: a submix, a pair of outputs or a single output.Range Sub 1–8; Out 1,2–Out 3,4; Out 1–4
MIDI Output and ChannelMIDI tracks: Where the track sends its MIDI, and on which channel.

From the community

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.

MPC 3.10 Release NotesAkai Professional — 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.

12.2BasicsManual Pad Mixer p.142, Volume p.143, Pan & Volume p.143, Sends p.144, Effects p.144, I/O p.145

Pad Mixer

Where the Track Mixer gives each track a strip, the Pad Mixer gives one to each pad, with up to eight on screen at a time and the pad’s name at the top. Use it to balance the hits of a kit against each other. It’s only there for Drum and Keygroup tracks.

Key combinations

SHIFT + MIXER | PAD MIXER: Opens the Pad Mixer.

You can also press MENU | PREFS and tap Pad Mixer.

Getting around

Press a PAD or tap its strip header to select it.
Drag left or right across the display to see more pads.

The five tabs

Tab	What you do there
`Volume`	See the level of your pads at a glance and drag a level slider to change the selected pad. Double-tap a strip for a large slider and meter.
`Pan & Volume`	Drag the pan and level sliders of the selected pad.
`Sends`	Use the send knobs to set how much of each pad goes to each return (Send/return effects).
`Effects`	Add effects to the pad in its four insert fields: a + icon marks an empty slot, and a filled slot shows the effect’s name. Tap `Inserts` for the Inserts window (Insert effects).
`I/O`	Set the pad’s MIDI output and audio routing (see below).

Every tab except Volume also has M (mute) and S (solo) buttons for the pad.

Pad Mixer settings (the Settings icon, lower right)

Filter by events: Tick to show only the pads that have events.
Filter by samples: Tick to show only the pads with samples assigned.
Write automation when recording: Tick to make automation always write when you record.

The I/O tab

MIDI Out Enabled: Whether hitting the pad also sends a MIDI note to the MIDI Output, which can trigger external gear, lighting or video systems. Never sends none, Always sends one on every hit, and When Empty only sends one from a pad with no internal sample.Range Never, Always, When Empty
MIDI Out Note: The MIDI note the selected pad sends.
MIDI Out Channel: The MIDI channel that note goes out on.
Audio Out: Where the pad’s audio goes: Track feeds it through the track, or choose one of the outputs to send it there directly.

12.3BasicsManual Effects p.85, Overview p.85, Effects & Parameters p.386, TouchFX p.101

Effects overview

Effects reach your sound in two ways. Insert effects are loaded onto one particular pad, keygroup, track, submix or output. Send/return effects sit on shared return channels that many sounds can feed at once. This section shows where each kind can go and how the effect windows work; the reference sections at the end of this chapter list every effect: Delay and reverb effects, Dynamics effects, EQ and filter effects, Harmonic effects, Modulation effects and Vocal effects.

Where effects can go

Location	Effects	Good for
Pads and keygroups	Up to 4 inserts each	One sound that needs its own treatment, such as a vocal sample in a Drum track or the melody part of a keygroup.
Tracks	Up to 4 inserts each	Treating all of a track’s sounds the same way.
Submixes	Up to 4 inserts each	A group of pads, keygroups or tracks that you route through the same effects. The submix then goes on to a main output.
Outputs	Up to 4 inserts each	Mastering effects such as a limiter.
Returns	Up to 4 returns, with up to 4 inserts each	Effects that pads, keygroups, tracks and submixes all feed. The result goes to a main output (Send/return effects).
Sampler and Looper	Up to 4 inserts each	Effects you want recorded along with the audio (The Sampler, Looper).
XYFX Mode	Works like a single insert	Performing an effect from the touchscreen. `XYFX` is itself an insert effect you load onto the track (XYFX Mode).

Effects matter when you render too. A stereo mixdown of the main outputs can include or skip the main insert effects, and a mixdown of separate tracks has its own option for the send/return effects. See Audio Mixdown.

Everything starts at the Inserts button, usually found in a channel strip beside the level slider and pan knob. It opens the window for loading, editing and clearing effects. Tap an effect’s name below the button to jump straight to its controls.

The Inserts window

Control	What it does
Slot field	Opens the effect list so you can choose an effect for that slot.
Arrows	Move the effect up or down the slots. The other loaded effects shift to suit.
Pencil icon	Opens the loaded effect’s parameters.
Trash can icon	Clears the slot.
`On/Off`	Turns that slot on or off.
`All On/All Off`	Disables all four slots at once. Tap again to bring back the ones that were active.
Akai folder icon	Loads a factory FX rack, adding all of its effects to the slots.
Middle folder icon	Loads a user FX rack.
Disk icon	Saves an FX rack.

The effect list

Swipe up or down, turn DATA DIAL or press – or + to move through the list.
Use Type or Manufacturer at the lower left to sort the list that way, or to undo the sort.
Double-tap an effect’s name, tap Select or press DATA DIAL to load it.
To back out, tap outside the list or tap Close.

The effect edit window

Control	What it does
On-screen controls	Drag a control to change it, or use DATA DIAL or `–` and `+`. Double-tap a control and adjust the larger version for finer changes.
Q-LINKS	Adjust the four corresponding parameters.
Tabs at the bottom	Switch to another page of parameters, if the effect has one.
`Preset` menu	Selects an effect preset.
Folder icon	Loads a saved preset.
Disk icon	Saves a preset.
Trash can icon	Removes the effect from the insert slot.
`Insert -/+`	Moves to a different insert effect on the same pad, track and so on.
`On/Off`	Enables or disables the effect (upper-right corner).
`←` icon	Closes the window and returns to the previous page (top of the screen).

Key combinations

Press DATA DIAL: Loads the selected effect.In the effect list
Q-LINKS: Adjusts the four corresponding parameters.In an effect’s edit window

TouchFX works differently from the other effects: you perform it from a single on-screen touch slider or an external MIDI device, and it behaves as an insert on the output you’ve selected. Load it the same way as any other insert:

Load TouchFX

In any channel strip’s Inserts section, tap an empty slot.
In the Effects window, double-tap an empty slot. The plugin effects list opens.
Open the Harmonic category with its + or – button.
Select TouchFX.
Open its window with the pencil icon.

The left of the window holds the touch slider and its settings. The right lets you pick a TouchFX type and adjust it, and the presets that come with it sit along the top. To play the slider from an external device, assign it with MIDI Learn. Harmonic effects lists every control and type.

From the community

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.

Akai update makes the MPC Sample a satellite to the rest of the MPC lineCDM — Peter Kirn on 3.8: why the MPC Sample link mostly helps people who already own another MPC.

12.4IntermediateManual Insert Effects p.88, Pads and Keygroups p.88, Tracks, Submixes, and Outputs p.90

Insert effects

An insert effect works on the one thing you load it onto. Every pad or keygroup can hold up to four. So can Drum, Keygroup, Plugin and Audio tracks, Submix 1–8 and the Outputs, which come as stereo pairs (Outputs 1/2 or Outputs 3/4). The steps below cover each place you can do this.

A pad or keygroup, in Main Mode

Pick the track holding that pad or keygroup in the Track field.
Expand the channel strips if they’re hidden, using the icons above them.
Bring up the right strip with the icons at the bottom right of the Track/Arrangement Section: single-pad / four-squares for a pad’s strip, single-pad / keyboard for a keygroup’s.
Press the PAD you want, which also chooses its keygroup.
Tap the strip’s FX header to reveal the insert slots.
Tap a slot marked + and choose an effect. The expand window icon brings up the full Inserts window, where you can also swap effects and switch them on or off.

A pad or keygroup, in the Pad Mixer

Go to the Effects tab.
Choose the pad or keygroup by pressing its PAD or tapping it on screen. To reach other banks, swipe left.
Tap a slot to load or edit an effect from the effects window, or tap the Inserts box for the full Inserts window.

A pad or keygroup, in Track Edit Mode

With the track open, press the PAD you want, which also chooses its keygroup.
Load or edit effects on the Effects tab, at the lower right (Effects tab).

A track, in Main Mode

Pick the track in the Track field.
Expand the channel strips if they’re hidden, using the icons above them.
Check that the strip showing is the track’s. If not, switch with the single-pad / four-squares icons at the bottom right of the Track/Arrangement Section.
Tap the strip’s FX header to reveal the insert slots.
Tap a slot marked + and choose an effect, or use the expand window icon for the full Inserts window.

A submix or output, in Main Mode

Pick the submix or output in the Track field.
The four insert slots appear by themselves in the Track/Arrangement Section. If you prefer the channel strips, expand them: a Submix shows next to the Main Output, and a Main Output shows on its own.
Tap a slot marked + and choose an effect, or use the expand window icon for the full Inserts window.

A track, submix or output, in the Track Mixer

Go to the Effects tab.
Tap the track to select it. For a Submix or Output, swipe left first to bring them into view.
Tap a slot to load or edit an effect from the effects window, or tap Inserts for the full Inserts window.

A track, submix or output, in XYFX Mode

New to XYFX on this track? Tap Insert XYFX to load it and reveal the XY pad. Otherwise the pad is already there.
Choose a Track, Submix or Output from XYFX Location, at the upper left.
Show the Setup panel if it’s hidden, using Setup at the lower right.
Pick an effect in the Preset field and shape it with the controls underneath.

From the community

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.

12.5IntermediateManual Send/Return Effects p.92, Pads and Keygroups p.94, Tracks and Submixes p.96

Send/return effects

A send/return effect is shared. Rather than loading a separate effect on every sound, you load it once on a return channel and decide how much of each sound goes there. There are two jobs: put effects on a return, then turn up the sends.

How the signal travels

Audio leaves a pad, keygroup, track or submix at its send level and arrives at a return.
The return runs it through its insert effects, as many as four at a time.
From there it goes on to the main outputs: a pair for stereo, or one for mono.

Load an effect on a return, in Main Mode

Tap the Track header and step through the tracks with DATA DIAL or – and + until you get to Return 1–4. The Track -/+ buttons at the bottom of the screen do the same.
In the Inserts boxes, tap the + icon of an empty slot to add an effect, or tap a filled slot to see its controls.

The mixer strips in Main Mode can add send/return effects as well (Mixer strips).

Load an effect on a return, in the Track Mixer

Swipe left until you see the Returns, which come after the Submixes and before the Main Outputs.
Go to the Effects tab.
Tap a slot to load or edit an effect from the effects window, or tap Inserts for the full Inserts window.

Set a return’s level

In the Track Mixer, swipe left to the Returns.
Go to the Volume or Pan & Volume tab.
Tap the strip of the return you want.
Move its level slider. For finer control, double-tap the slider and use the larger one.

Now set the sends. The Send knobs work the same way everywhere: each sets the level going to one return, and double-tapping one on screen gives you a larger knob for finer changes.

Pad or keygroup sends, in Main Mode

Pick the track holding that pad or keygroup in the Track field.
Expand the channel strips if they’re hidden, using the icons above them.
Bring up the right strip with the icons at the bottom right of the Track/Arrangement Section: single-pad / four-squares for a pad’s strip, single-pad / keyboard for a keygroup’s.
Press the PAD you want, which also chooses its keygroup.
Tap the strip’s SEND header and adjust the Send knobs.

Pad or keygroup sends, in Track Edit Mode

With the track open, press the PAD you want, which also chooses its keygroup.
Go to the Effects tab at the lower right. For keygroups, it’s only there in the Legacy Track Edit view (Legacy keygroups).
Adjust the Send knobs.

Pad or keygroup sends, in the Pad Mixer

Go to the Sends tab.
Choose the pad or keygroup by pressing its PAD or tapping it on screen.
Adjust the Send knobs.

Track or submix sends, in Main Mode

In the Track field, pick a Drum, Keygroup, Plugin or Audio track, or one of Submix 1–8.
Expand the channel strips if they’re hidden, using the icons above them.
Check that the strip showing is the track’s. If not, switch with the single-pad / four-squares icons at the bottom right of the Track/Arrangement Section.
Tap the strip’s SEND header and adjust the Send knobs.

Track or submix sends, in the Track Mixer

Go to the Sends tab.
Tap a send knob on the track you want, then adjust the Send knobs.

From the community

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.

12.6BasicsManual XYFX Mode p.148, Recording Automation with the XY Pad p.35

XYFX Mode

XYFX Mode turns the touchscreen into a grid where each axis stands for one effect parameter, so wherever your finger lands sets two values at once. Moving around the grid is a quick way to create effect automation on your tracks. What you control behaves like an insert effect, and the insert that has to be on the track first is called XYFX.

Key combinations

SHIFT + NEXT SEQ | XYFX: Opens XYFX Mode.

You can also press MENU | PREFS and tap XYFX.

Start using it

Open XYFX Mode. The first time in a project it may ask you to load XYFX to the track: tap Insert XYFX.
Use the XYFX Location field to choose what the effect applies to.
Tap Setup if the Setup panel is hidden, then choose an effect in the Preset field.
Put a finger on the grid and move it around. A marker tracks your position.

XYFX Location gives you the choice of Track, for the current track, or a stereo pair of main outputs: Output 1/2 or Output 3/4. The loading steps in Insert effects also list submixes as a location.

Reading the pad

Values on the horizontal X axis rise towards the right, and values on the vertical Y axis rise towards the top. A label on each axis names its parameter.
On an effect with a beat division parameter, a whole column lights up to show the current division.
Colour tells you the kind of effect: blue for beat-synchronised, green for manually controlled.
To leave the marker in place when you let go, tap Latch at the lower left while your finger is on the pad. It stays put until you touch somewhere else on the pad or tap Latch again.

The Setup panel (the Setup button shows or hides it)

Preset: The effect to use: double-tap the field and tap an effect, swiping up or down for the complete list. Only the effects made available for XYFX Mode are listed, rather than the full MPC set.
Attack: How long the effect takes to fully respond once you touch the pad: the attack phase of an envelope that your touch triggers.
Release: How long the effect takes to fully deactivate after you lift your finger: the release phase of the same envelope.
Wet/Dry: The blend of original (dry) and effected (wet) signal. Attack and Release crossfade from the dry signal to this wet level and back.
X Axis: Shows the parameter the horizontal axis controls, which depends on the effect.
Y Axis: Shows the parameter the vertical axis controls, which depends on the effect.

Your moves on the pad can be recorded as automation of both axes: A tour towards a finished song walks through it, and Automation explains the automation states.

From the community

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.

12.7IntermediateManual Audio Mixdown p.97, File Formats p.98

Audio Mixdown

The Audio Mixdown screen turns the current sequence or song into an audio file, either as one stereo file or as a file for each track. You choose how much to render, which signals to include and what format to save in.

Open it

Press SHIFT + LOAD | SAVE to open the Save window (The Save window). Or press MENU | PREFS and tap Save along the bottom.
Select Audio Mixdown.

From Song Mode, use Export, along the bottom edge of the screen, instead.

Audio Length

Start Bar: Where the audio file starts.
End Bar: Where the audio file ends.
Audio Tail: Extra seconds added to the end of the file, so that long reverbs, delays and long-decaying one-shots aren’t cut off at the end bar.

Render Source

Stereo Output: Tick to take the mixdown from a pair of outputs or a submix, chosen in the field next to it. Which ones appear depends on the hardware.Range Out 1,2–31,32, Submix 1–8
Separate Tracks: Tick to render every track the sequence or song uses to its own file.

Render Options

Main InsertsStereo Output: Tick to include the main insert effects in the mixdown.
Save as Project PreviewStereo Output: Creates a preview file for the project, to play for reference in the Browser. Ticking this ticks Stereo Output too.
Export SubmixesSeparate Tracks: Tick to get each submix channel as its own file.
Export ReturnsSeparate Tracks: Tick to get each return channel as its own file.

Choose the file format by tapping WAV, AIFF, MP3, FLAC or OGG, then set its options:

File formats

Format	Field	Options
`WAV`, `AIFF`	`Bit Depth`	8, 16 or 24 bits, or 32 bits floating point (`32 F`)
`FLAC`	`Bit Depth`	16 or 24 bits
`MP3`, `OGG`	`Bitrate`	128, 160, 192 or 320 kbps
All	`Sample Rate`	44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz or 96 kHz. Akai suggests 44.1 kHz in most cases.

When you’re happy, tap Export to reach the Save screen and choose a name and location. To go back instead, use Cancel or the ← icon at the upper left.

From the community

If you stretched the arrangement to hundreds of bars while working, check End Bar before rendering, or you’ll save a long file with dead space at the end. via Elektronauts: The all things MPC thread

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.

12.8IntermediateManual Delay/Reverb p.386

Delay and reverb effects

Echoes and spaces. Load any of these into an insert slot (Insert effects), or onto a return so several sounds can share one (Send/return effects). Each page below lists every parameter with its range and default; select a parameter to read about it. On sync versions, a . beside the time division marks a triplet-based rate.

DELAY/REVERB · AIR DelayLoad AIR Delay into an insert slot.

Time

Length of the delay, in time or, with Sync on, in note values. Default 388 ms with Sync off, 1/8D with it on.

Range Sync Off: 1 ms – 2.00 s; Sync On: 1/32 – 8/4

DELAY/REVERB · AIR Diff DelayLoad AIR Diff Delay into an insert slot.

Time

Length of the delay. Default 161 ms with Sync off, 1/16D with it on.

Range Sync Off: 1 – 1000 ms; Sync On: 1/64 – 4/4 (including Triplet and Dotted variations)

DELAY/REVERB · AIR Multitap DelayLoad AIR Multitap Delay into an insert slot.

Delay

Overall delay length. Default 4/4 with Sync on, 2.25 s with it off.

Range Sync On: 1/16 – 8/4; Sync Off: 0 ms – 4.00 s

DELAY/REVERB · AIR Non-Lin ReverbLoad AIR Non-Lin Reverb into an insert slot.

Pre-Delay

Gap before the reverb begins. Default 0 ms.

Range 0–250 ms

DELAY/REVERB · AIR ReverbLoad AIR Reverb into an insert slot.

Pre-DelayReverb tab

Gap before the reverb begins. Default 0 ms.

Range 0–250 ms

DELAY/REVERB · AIR Spring ReverbLoad AIR Spring Reverb into an insert slot.

Pre-Delay

Gap before the reverb begins. Default 3 ms.

Range 0–250 ms

DELAY/REVERB · Delay Analog SyncLoad Delay Analog Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay AnalogLoad Delay Analog into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay HPLoad Delay HP into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay LPLoad Delay LP into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay Mono SyncLoad Delay Mono Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay MonoLoad Delay Mono into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay Multi-TapLoad Delay Multi-Tap into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay Ping PongLoad Delay Ping Pong into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay StereoLoad Delay Stereo into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay Sync (Stereo)Load Delay Sync (Stereo) into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and delay. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Delay Tape SyncLoad Delay Tape Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and echo. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Reverb In GateLoad Reverb In Gate into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and reverb. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Reverb Large 2Load Reverb Large 2 into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and reverb. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Reverb LargeLoad Reverb Large into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and reverb. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Reverb MediumLoad Reverb Medium into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and reverb. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Reverb Out GateLoad Reverb Out Gate into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and reverb. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Reverb SmallLoad Reverb Small into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry signal and reverb. Default 50.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DELAY/REVERB · Sample DelayLoad Sample Delay into an insert slot.

Left / Right

How far each channel is delayed, in the units set by Samples / MS. Default 0 Samples or 0.0 ms.

Range 0–11025 Samples or 0.0–250.0 ms

From the community

12.9IntermediateManual Dynamics p.394

Dynamics effects

Tools for controlling level over time. A limiter or maximizer is a natural fit for an insert on the Outputs (Insert effects). Ducking takes two effects that work as a pair: Mother Ducker Input on the track doing the triggering and Mother Ducker on the track that ducks.

DYNAMICS · AIR Channel StripLoad AIR Channel Strip into an insert slot.

EQ Enable

Turns the EQ section on or bypasses it. Default Enabled.

Range Enabled, Bypass

DYNAMICS · AIR CompressorLoad AIR Compressor into an insert slot.

Threshold

The level above which gain reduction starts. Default -48.0 dB.

Range -60.0 – 0 dB

DYNAMICS · AIR LimiterLoad AIR Limiter into an insert slot.

Gain

Gain applied to the signal. Default 0.0 dB.

Range -12.0 – 36.0 dB

DYNAMICS · AIR MaximizerLoad AIR Maximizer into an insert slot.

Threshold

The level at which limiting begins. Default -20.0 dB.

Range -40.0 – 0.0 dB

DYNAMICS · AIR Noise GateLoad AIR Noise Gate into an insert slot.

Threshold

The level below which the signal is turned down. Default -48.0 dB.

Range -120.0 – 0.0 dB

DYNAMICS · AIR PumperLoad AIR Pumper into an insert slot.

Depth

How deep the pumping goes. Default 80%.

Range 0–100%

DYNAMICS · AIR TransientLoad AIR Transient into an insert slot.

Attack

Enhances or softens the attack phase. Default 0%.

Range -100 – 0 – +100%

DYNAMICS · Bus CompressorLoad Bus Compressor into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and compressed signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DYNAMICS · Compressor OptoLoad Compressor Opto into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and compressed signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DYNAMICS · Compressor VCALoad Compressor VCA into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and compressed signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DYNAMICS · Compressor VintageLoad Compressor Vintage into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and compressed signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

DYNAMICS · Mother Ducker InputLoad Mother Ducker Input as an insert on the track that does the triggering, such as a kick drum track.

To

Which bus the trigger signal goes to. Default Bus 1.

Range Bus 1–8

DYNAMICS · Mother DuckerLoad Mother Ducker as an insert on the track you want to duck.

Ratio

With Threshold, sets how much ducking you get. Default 6.00:1.

Range 1.00:1 – 60.00:1

DYNAMICS · Transient ShaperLoad Transient Shaper into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and shaped signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

From the community

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.

12.10IntermediateManual EQ/Filter p.398

EQ and filter effects

Effects that shape tone. The Sweep filters move their cutoff with an LFO at a free rate, the Sync filters do the same at a rate in bars and note values, and the plain HP Filter and LP Filter stay put.

EQ/FILTER · AIR EnhancerLoad AIR Enhancer into an insert slot.

High Gain

How much the high end is enhanced. Default 0.0 dB.

Range 0.0 – 12.0 dB

EQ/FILTER · AIR Filter GateLoad AIR Filter Gate into an insert slot.

Pattern

The rhythmic pattern. Default Straight.

Range Straight, Pulse, Pumper, Marching, Fader, Offbeats, Off+Pan, L/R Pan, LL/RR Pan, Slow Pan, Rand Pan, Shorter, Longer, Reverse, Random, Keyed 1–2, Half Time, 12-Step, Ducked, Trance 1–6, Tech 1–6

EQ/FILTER · AIR FilterLoad AIR Filter into an insert slot.

Cutoff Freq

Cutoff frequency of the filter. Default 20.0 kHz.

Range 55.0 Hz – 20.0 kHz

EQ/FILTER · AIR Kill EQLoad AIR Kill EQ into an insert slot.

High

Lets the highs through or kills them. Default Thru.

Range Thru, Kill

EQ/FILTER · AIR Para EQLoad AIR Para EQ into an insert slot.

High Freq

Frequency of the high band. Default 6.00 kHz.

Range 1.2 – 20.0 kHz

EQ/FILTER · AIR Vintage FilterLoad AIR Vintage Filter into an insert slot.

Cutoff

Cutoff frequency. Default 878 Hz.

Range 20.0 Hz – 20.0 kHz

EQ/FILTER · HP Filter SweepLoad HP Filter Sweep into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and filtered signal. Default 80.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

EQ/FILTER · HP Filter SyncLoad HP Filter Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and filtered signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

EQ/FILTER · HP FilterLoad HP Filter into an insert slot.

Frequency

Cutoff frequency. Default 1500.

Range 10–19999 Hz

EQ/FILTER · HP Shelving FilterLoad HP Shelving Filter into an insert slot.

Frequency

Cutoff point of the shelf. Default 1500.

Range 10–19999 Hz

EQ/FILTER · LP Filter SweepLoad LP Filter Sweep into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and filtered signal. Default 80.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

EQ/FILTER · LP Filter SyncLoad LP Filter Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and filtered signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

EQ/FILTER · LP FilterLoad LP Filter into an insert slot.

Frequency

Cutoff frequency. Default 1500.

Range 10–19999 Hz

EQ/FILTER · LP Shelving FilterLoad LP Shelving Filter into an insert slot.

Frequency

Cutoff point of the shelf. Default 1500.

Range 10–19999 Hz

EQ/FILTER · PEQ 2-Band, 2-ShelfLoad PEQ 2-Band, 2-Shelf into an insert slot.

Low Frequency

Frequency of the low shelf. Default 220.

Range 22–1000 Hz

EQ/FILTER · PEQ 4-BandLoad PEQ 4-Band into an insert slot.

Low Frequency

Frequency of the lowest band. Default 220.

Range 22–1000 Hz

From the community

12.11IntermediateManual Harmonic p.404, TouchFX p.101

Harmonic effects

Effects that add to or reshape a sound’s harmonic content, from gentle overdrive to digital wreckage. TouchFX has a page for its touch controls followed by one for each type you can select in it; loading it is covered in Effects overview. XYFX is the effect behind XYFX Mode.

HARMONIC · AIR Amp SimLoad AIR Amp Sim into an insert slot.

Cab Model

The cabinet being simulated. Default 4x10”.

Range D.I., Brit, 1x8”, 1x12”, 2x10”, 2x12”, 4x10”, 4x12”, 1x15” Bass, 4x10” Bass, Radio

HARMONIC · AIR Diode ClipLoad AIR Diode Clip into an insert slot.

Input HP

High-pass filter on the input. Default 500 Hz.

Range 200 – 800 Hz

HARMONIC · AIR DistortionLoad AIR Distortion into an insert slot.

Mode

The type of distortion. Default Hard.

Range Hard, Soft, Wrap

HARMONIC · AIR FlavorLoad AIR Flavor into an insert slot.

Timbre

The simulation to use. Default Neutral.

Range Varies

HARMONIC · AIR Freq ShiftLoad AIR Freq Shift into an insert slot.

Mode

The direction of the shift. Default Up.

Range Up, Down, Up & Down, Stereo

HARMONIC · AIR Lo-FiLoad AIR Lo-Fi into an insert slot.

Bit DepthLo-Fi tab

Bit depth the signal is reduced to. Default 16.0 bit.

Range 1.0 – 16.0 bit

HARMONIC · AIR Talk BoxLoad AIR Talk Box into an insert slot.

Vowel

The vowel sound. Default AH.

Range OO, OU, AU, AH, AA, AE, EA, EE, EH, ER, UH, OH, OO

HARMONIC · AIR Tube DriveLoad AIR Tube Drive into an insert slot.

Drive

How hard the tube stage is driven. Default 0%.

Range 0–100%

HARMONIC · DecimatorLoad Decimator into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · Distortion AmpLoad Distortion Amp into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and distorted signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · Distortion CustomLoad Distortion Custom into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and distorted signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · Distortion FuzzLoad Distortion Fuzz into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and distorted signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · Distortion GrimeyLoad Distortion Grimey into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and distorted signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · Distortion OverdriveLoad Distortion Overdrive into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and distorted signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · Frequency ShifterLoad Frequency Shifter into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and shifted signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · GranulatorLoad Granulator into an insert slot.

Grain Density

How many grains play per second. Default 68.0 grains/sec.

Range 1.0–300.0 grains/sec

HARMONIC · ResamplerLoad Resampler into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

HARMONIC · TouchFXLoad TouchFX into an insert slot and tap the pencil icon (Effects overview).

Touch slider

Performs the selected TouchFX. Tap and drag it on the touchscreen, or assign it to a MIDI control with MIDI Learn.

HARMONIC · TouchFX: Manual FilterIn TouchFX, select Manual Filter on the right of the window.

Cutoff

Cutoff frequency. Default 2530.00 Hz.

Range 40.00–10000 Hz

HARMONIC · TouchFX: Beat Sync FilterIn TouchFX, select Beat Sync Filter on the right of the window.

Cutoff

Cutoff frequency. Default 34737.15 Hz, as printed in the manual.

Range 40.00–10000 Hz

HARMONIC · TouchFX: Beat Sync DelayIn TouchFX, select Beat Sync Delay on the right of the window.

Cutoff

Cutoff frequency of the filter. Default 3052.90 Hz.

Range 40.00–10000 Hz

HARMONIC · TouchFX: Beat RepeatIn TouchFX, select Beat Repeat on the right of the window.

Cutoff

Cutoff frequency of the filter. Default 2530.00 Hz.

Range 40.00–10000 Hz

HARMONIC · TouchFX: Tape StopIn TouchFX, select Tape Stop on the right of the window.

Cutoff

Cutoff frequency of the filter. Default 2530.00 Hz.

Range 40.00–10000 Hz

HARMONIC · TouchFX: PhaserIn TouchFX, select Phaser on the right of the window.

Feedback

How much signal is fed back. Default 100.0%.

Range 0.0–100.0%

HARMONIC · TouchFX: Comb FilterIn TouchFX, select Comb Filter on the right of the window.

Feedback

How much signal is fed back. Default 100.0%.

Range 0.0–100.0%

HARMONIC · TouchFX: WashoutIn TouchFX, select Washout on the right of the window.

Cutoff

Cutoff frequency of the filter. Default 1160.00 Hz.

Range 40.00–9000 Hz

HARMONIC · TouchFX: GranulatorIn TouchFX, select Granulator on the right of the window.

Density

How many grains play per second. Default 150.0 grains/sec.

Range 1.0–300.0 grains/sec

HARMONIC · TouchFX: Manual FlangerIn TouchFX, select Manual Flanger on the right of the window.

Frequency

The flanger’s frequency. Default 4000.00 Hz.

Range 100.00–4000.00 Hz

HARMONIC · XYFXPress SHIFT + NEXT SEQ | XYFX and tap Insert XYFX (XYFX Mode).

XYFX Location

The signal the effect applies to.

12.12IntermediateManual Modulation p.413, Tremolo Sync p.418

Modulation effects

Effects that add movement. Several come in pairs, one running at a free rate and one synced to the project tempo, such as Flanger and Flanger Sync. On sync versions, a . beside the time division marks a triplet-based rate.

MODULATION · AIR ChorusLoad AIR Chorus into an insert slot.

Rate

Speed of the modulation. Default 1.01 Hz.

Range 0.01 – 10.0 Hz

MODULATION · AIR EnsembleLoad AIR Ensemble into an insert slot.

Rate

Speed of the modulation. Default 1.00 Hz.

Range 0.01 – 10.0 Hz

MODULATION · AIR FlangerLoad AIR Flanger into an insert slot.

Rate

Speed of the modulation. Default 0.40 Hz.

Range 0.02 – 10.00 Hz

MODULATION · AIR Fuzz-WahLoad AIR Fuzz-Wah into an insert slot.

MixFuzz-Wah tab

Overall balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100%.

Range 0–100% (dry–wet)

MODULATION · AIR Half SpeedLoad AIR Half Speed into an insert slot.

Start, Stop

Starts and stops the effect. The manual lists these values with no parameter name.

Range Start, Stop

MODULATION · AIR Multi-ChorusLoad AIR Multi-Chorus into an insert slot.

Rate

Speed of the modulation. Default 1.00 Hz.

Range 0.01 – 10.0 Hz

MODULATION · AIR PhaserLoad AIR Phaser into an insert slot.

Rate

Speed of the modulation. Default 1.00 Hz.

Range 0.10 – 10.00 Hz

MODULATION · AIR Pitch ShifterLoad AIR Pitch Shifter into an insert slot.

Mode

The kind of material you’re shifting. Default Vocal.

Range Vocal, Bass, Beats, Chords, Textures

MODULATION · AIR Stereo WidthLoad AIR Stereo Width into an insert slot.

Width

Overall stereo width. Default 100%.

Range 0–200%

MODULATION · AIR StutterLoad AIR Stutter into an insert slot.

Intervals

The length of each stutter. Default 1/16.

Range 1/64 – ¼

MODULATION · Auto WahLoad Auto Wah into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Autopan SyncLoad Autopan Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · AutopanLoad Autopan into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Chorus 2-VoiceLoad Chorus 2-Voice into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Chorus 4-VoiceLoad Chorus 4-Voice into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Flanger SyncLoad Flanger Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · FlangerLoad Flanger into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Phaser 1Load Phaser 1 into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Phaser 2Load Phaser 2 into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Phaser SyncLoad Phaser Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · Tremolo SyncLoad Tremolo Sync into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

MODULATION · TremoloLoad Tremolo into an insert slot.

Dry/Wet

Balance of dry and effected signal. Default 100.

Range 0–100 (dry–wet)

12.13IntermediateManual Vocal p.418

Vocal effects

Three effects made for vocal lines: thicken a part, build harmonies from it or correct its pitch. The harmoniser and tuner both have Key and Scale settings.

VOCAL · AIR Vocal DoublerLoad AIR Vocal Doubler into an insert slot.

Voices

Number of doubling voices. Default 4.

Range 1–8

VOCAL · AIR Vocal HarmonizerLoad AIR Vocal Harmonizer into an insert slot.

Key

The key to harmonise in. Default C.

Range A–G#

VOCAL · AIR Vocal TunerLoad AIR Vocal Tuner into an insert slot.

Detection

How the tuner detects pitch. The default setting is Default.

Range Unworried, Default, Selective, Picky, Blind