Quickstart Guide

English

Manual Version 1.1

Introduction

About MPC Beats

MPC Beats is the new software from Akai Professional that brings many of the most essential beat-making tools of
the MPC software to anyone, without the need for dedicated MPC hardware. MPC Beats supports the following:
• Up to 8 MIDI tracks
• Up to 2 stereo audio tracks
• 4 Send channels and 8 Submix channels
• AIR FX Bundle insert effects
• AIR Bassline, Electric and TubeSynth plugins

For the complete MPC experience with up to 128 MIDI and audio tracks, additional plugins and more, you can
upgrade MPC Beats to the full MPC software by clicking the menu icon (≡) in the software, selecting Help and
clicking Upgrade To MPC. You can also visit akaipro.com to learn more.

This guide will get you started with making music in MPC Beats. See the Basic Setup section for more information
on installing and configuring MPC Beats. See the Operation section for a tutorial on getting started with your first
project. For an in-depth look at all the features and functions of MPC Beats, open the MPC Software User Guide by
clicking the menu icon (≡) in the software, selecting Help > MPC Beats Help, and then clicking MPC Beats
Software Manual. The User Guide covers the full MPC software, so some features or functions mentioned may not
be compatible with MPC Beats.

System Requirements & Product Support

For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product
registration, visit akaipro.com.

Basic Setup

Installation

1. Go to akaipro.com and register your product. If you don’t have an Akai Professional account yet, you will be
prompted to create one.
2. In your Akai Professional account, download the MPC Beats software package.
3. Open the file and double-click the installer application.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Note: By default, the MPC Beats software will be installed in [your hard drive]\Program Files\Akai Pro\MPC Beats
(Windows®) or Applications (macOS®). You can also create a shortcut on your Desktop.

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Getting Started

1. On your computer, open the MPC Beats software.

2. When the software is opened for the first time, the Startup
Wizard will launch to guide you through the setup with three
simple steps:
i. First, connect your MIDI device to your computer using a
USB cable.
ii. Next, select the MIDI map for your controller. If you own an
inMusic MIDI controller with a supported MIDI map, such
as some Akai Professional, M-Audio or Alesis devices,
MPC Beats will automatically select it. Maps for many
more of the most popular MIDI controllers are also
available to make integration quick and easy.
Note: When using MPC Beats as a plugin, MIDI mappings
must be selected manually.
iii. Finally, choose whether you want a Simple or Advanced
workspace. These will display different parts of the MPC
Beats software more prominently to maximize workflow.
This setting can be changed at any time by clicking the
menu icon (≡), selecting View > Workspace, and clicking
Simple or Advanced.
When you are finished, click Start Making Beats to exit the
Setup Wizard. The Startup Wizard can be accessed at any time
by clicking the menu icon (≡), selecting Help, and clicking
Open Startup Wizard.
3. On the next screen, you can select a preloaded Project
Template or Demo project to begin with. Select a Template or
Demo and click Load Project, or click Empty Project to open a
blank template. You can also load recent projects from this
window.
4. In the MPC Beats software, open the Preferences:
Windows: Click the menu icon (≡), select Edit, and click
Preferences.
macOS: Click the MPC Beats menu, and click Preferences.
5. In the Preferences window, click the Audio tab and select the
sound card you want to use. Click OK when you are done.
Important: We recommend using an external audio interface
when possible.
Windows users only: If you need to use your computer’s
internal sound card, we recommend downloading the latest
ASIO4ALL driver at asio4all.com.

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Operation

MIDI Control Maps

MPC Beats is preloaded with MIDI control maps for many of the most popular MIDI controllers available. During the
Startup Wizard, you can browse the list of the supported MIDI controllers and select yours. This will allow you to
easily control the MPC Beats interface and record using keys or pads.

For instance, the Akai Professional MPK mini mkII features

8 pads and 8 knobs, a common configuration with many
MIDI controllers. When your MIDI controller is selected, the
keys, knobs and pads will automatically be mapped to
MPC Beats' keyboard, Q-Links, and pads, respectively.
The image, right, shows the Q-Links and pads in MPC
Beats' Main Mode. The eight pads of the MPK mini mkII
will control Pads A01–A08, and the eight knobs will control
Q-Links 1–8. If your MIDI controller has multiple pad or
knob banks, you can utilize those features to access
additional pads and Q-Links in the software.
The MIDI controller's keys can also be used to trigger pads
or notes in the piano roll, depending on the type of track
selected.

Simple vs. Advanced Workspace

During the Startup Wizard, you have the option of starting with a Simple or Advanced workspace. This will change
what features are displayed prominently in the Toolbar of MPC Beats so you can tailor your workflow more effectively.

Toolbar – Simple
Channel Transport:
Menu Step Mixer Record, Overdub, Stop, Play,
Seq. Play Start Global Automation Button

Main Mode Audio

Program Counter BPM
List Monitor
Edit

Toolbar – Advanced
Transport: Global
Sample Looper Timing
Menu BPM Record, Overdub, Retrospective Automation
Step Edit Channel Correct Record, Punch In, Stop, Play, MIDI
Mode List Button
Seq. Mixer Play Start Monitor

Main Pad Mixer Track Mute CPU Audio

Program Sampler Metronome Counter Monitor
Monitor
Edit

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Main Window

Under the Toolbar is the main window of MPC Beats. The image below outlines some of the main features in MPC
Beat's Main Mode, which can be accessed by pressing the house icon in the toolbar.

Use the Grid to insert or edit events. This will

show the pads or piano roll on the left side,
depending on the type of program. You can
also use this area for Waveform and List views.

Use Inspector to Use the Browser to

quickly make load Expansions,
changes to the samples, projects
Sequence, Track and and more. You can
Program. also use this area to
show Project Info,
Project Notes, or
Undo History by
Use the Channel clicking the icons at
Strips to make the bottom of the
changes to the window.
volume, panning,
routing and inserts of
programs, pads, The Quick Help
tracks and master window provides
channel. Use the tooltips when your
icons below to select cursor hovers over
which channel strips parts of the MPC
to view. Beats software. This
These are not shown can be enabled or
in Simple view. disabled by clicking
the question mark (?)
The Q-Links allow you to Use the Pads section to The Project window provides icon below.
control various parameters. trigger notes, insert steps an overview of your project,
Use the Q-Link Mode to in the Step Sequencer, or including the samples,
select the parameters you manipulate samples in programs and sequences
are controlling. Sample Edit Mode. contained within it.

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Tutorial

Now that you are more familiar with MPC Beats' graphical interface, the following pages will walk through creating a
new song from a blank project to show you important aspects of the MPC Beats software. Let's get started!

Creating Tracks & Sequences

With MPC Beats, you can create up to 8 MIDI tracks and 2 stereo Audio tracks. Let's start by creating some tracks
and recording a sequence.

Creating a Drum Track

First, let's make a simple drum kit. Use the Browser (see image, right) to locate
some of your favorite drum samples, or start with some of the preloaded content
from Akai Professional. You can double-click a sample from the Browser to load it
into the project's sample pool, or simply click and drag the sample onto the pad
where you would like to assign the sample. Start by loading at least a kick drum,
snare drum and hi-hat.

Now that your drum kit is set up, let’s record a drum sequence:
1. In the MPC Beats software, click the house icon in the upper-left corner to
make sure you’re in Main Mode.
2. Use the Tempo field to set the speed that you want to record your sequence.
3. Click the Rec ( ) button to activate Record Mode.
4. Click the Play ( ) button to start the actual recording. The pre-count will
count one measure before the sequence starts to record. We recommend
recording only one sound (pad) at a time, especially if you are not familiar with
playing drums on the pads.
5. Play a simple kick/bass drum pattern using the pads or keys of your MIDI
controller. The note events you just recorded will automatically be placed in
the grid (in this case, on 16th notes). The initial measure length is two bars.
After the two bars, the recording will enter Overdub Mode automatically; the
sequence plays again from the beginning and keeps looping, allowing you to
record further notes. Don’t stop the recording!
6. Play the snare drum part, then a hi-hat part.
7. When you’re done recording, click Stop ( ). The Grid Editor in the software
will show what you recorded.

If you start recording again on this sequence, keep in mind that the pads you play
in your new recording will automatically replace existing notes. To prevent this,
you can start again from Step 1 but press Overdub (⊕) instead of Rec ( ).
Overdub lets you record additional note events over the existing sequence.
The Undo button functions differently while in Record Mode. Normally, pressing
Undo will undo just the last event. When there is an event to undo, the Undo
button will be lit solid. While recording, the Undo button will flash. In this case,
pressing Undo will erase all events from that recording (i.e., since Play ( ) or Play
Start ( |) was clicked).

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Adding Tracks and Programs

Next, let's add a bass line to the sequence. This can be created in a number of ways: for
example, you can use a Keygroup program to build a bass instrument from a sampled
source sound, or use a plugin instrument such as the included AIR Bassline. In either
case, you will need to create a new track and program to add to your project.
To select a new track, click the Track field in the Inspector, and click Track 2 (unused) in
the list of tracks that appears. Next, rename the track so we know what it is (e.g., Bass
Line). Now let's add a plugin program to the track to record a bass line.

To create a new plugin program:

1. In the Inspector on the left edge of the window, click the plug icon below the Track
field, which indicates a plugin program. A name for the new plugin program will
appear in the Program field below.
2. Double-click the new program name, type a name, and press Enter.
3. Click the Plugin menu. In the list that appears, click Bassline under MPC Plugins,
and then click Select to add it to the track.
4. Click the Preset menu to select a preset from the plugin.

Once you've found a sound you like, let's record that bass line. Prepare your recording as described earlier. If you
are using a MIDI controller with keys, try playing along with your drum track to record your bass line. You can always
edit your recording, which will be described in the next section.

So far, we’ve created a simple drum sequence and a bass line to go with it.

Recording an Audio Track

Finally, since we’ve already created some MIDI tracks, let’s record some actual audio for our next track:
1. Click the house icon in the toolbar to enter Main Mode.
2. Click the Audio tab at the top of the Inspector. Audio 001 will appear in the Track field.
3. Connect a microphone, guitar, synthesizer or other audio source to your external audio interface.
4. In the audio track channel strip:
i. Click the input menu (Input __) above, and select Mono > Input 1 or Stereo > Input 1,2 (depending on
your audio source) as the input source.
ii. If the output menu (Out __) is not set to Out 1,2, click it and select Output > Out 1,2 as the output.
iii. Click the Monitor (speaker) button to cycle through its three states until it reads Auto (you will hear
incoming audio while the track is record-enabled only).
5. Set the input level on your external audio interface while playing your audio source. You should see the level in
the meter. Make sure it does not exceed the maximum level (the meter should not be “peaking” constantly).
6. In the audio track channel strip, click the Record Arm ( ) button next to the pan knob to record-enable the
track.
7. In the toolbar at the top of the window, click Rec ( ) or Overdub (⊕) to record-arm it.
8. To start recording, click the Play ( ) or Play Start ( |) button in the toolbar—then play your audio source! You
should hear your existing sequence playing in the background.
To stop recording, click the Stop ( ) button in the toolbar.

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Editing & Mixing

When you have completed recording, you may want to edit the note events or audio you have added to the
sequence.

Editing

MIDI events can be edited using the Grid Editor in Main Mode. The Grid Editor has three different appearances: one
for drum and clip programs; one for keygroup, plugin, MIDI, and CV programs; and one for audio tracks.
To enter the Grid Editor, click Grid under the mode icons in the upper-left corner of the window.

When the MIDI tab in the Inspector is selected, the Grid

Editor lets you view and edit the note events of each MIDI
track of a sequence and their velocities.
For drum programs, the left column shows you all
available pads in a vertical view with their corresponding
data.
For keygroup, plugin, MIDI, and CV programs, the left
column shows a vertical “piano roll” keyboard.
Use the pencil, marquee and eraser tools to insert, select
and delete notes, respectively.

When the Audio tab in the Inspector is selected, the Grid

Editor lets you view and edit the audio waveform of each
audio track of a sequence.
Use the marquee, arrow, pencil, eraser, scissors and
mute tools to edit the audio waveform.
You can also use the additional tools below these icons to
edit the waveform level, tuning, and BPM, as well as apply
fades and warp the audio waveform.

MPC Beats' Program Edit Mode contains all parameters for editing your programs. You can also use this to make
sure your samples are properly tuned and have good levels, edit keygroups, apply effects or adjust plugin presets.
To open Program Edit Mode, click the four-pads icon in the toolbar. The upper half of the window can display
the Grid Editor, Wave Editor, or List Editor. The lower half of the window can display the Q-Links panel, Pads
panel, Program Editor panel, and Project panel. Click the corresponding selector to show or hide each one.

For our project, let's start by selecting the Drum

program and opening Program Edit Mode as
described above. Adjust the level of each pad to
suit your taste. We recommend spreading the
panning of the bright sounds (e.g., cymbals, snare
drum) a little. Additionally, you can tune the bass
drum sound—in the Sample Layers section,
adjust the Semi and Fine knobs next to the
sample name.
Next, select your plugin track and use Program
Edit Mode to adjust some of the Bassline plugin
parameters.
Program Edit Mode is not used for Audio tracks.

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Mixing

In addition to the Channel Strips in Main Mode, you can use other modes such as Channel Mixer and Pad Mixer to
mix your pads, programs and tracks.

To open the Channel Mixer, click the sliders icon in the

toolbar.
The Channel Mixer displays channel strips for all MIDI
tracks, Audio tracks, Programs, Submixes, Returns and
Master tracks and works like an audio mixer for the
currently selected sequence. From here, you can set levels,
stereo panning, routing, effects, and other settings for your
tracks, programs, returns, submixes, and masters. The
upper half of this window displays the Track View, an
overview of the tracks and programs of each sequence.
You can use this to edit multiple tracks at once in the
current sequence.
Select a sequence to view its channel strips. There will be no
program strips shown for MIDI programs or CV programs,
though channel strips will be shown for any MIDI tracks that
use those programs.

To open the Pad Mixer, click the pad-and-sliders icon in

the toolbar (if shown), or click the down arrow ( ) next to
the other mode icons in the toolbar, and click Pad Mixer.
The Pad Mixer works like an audio mixer with various
settings for each pad. From here, you can set a program’s
levels, stereo panning, routing, and effects. The upper-half
of the window will display the Grid Editor, Wave Editor, or
List Editor.
Select a track to view the channel strips for its program
and pads. When a MIDI track is selected, the pad channel
strips or keygroup channel strips for that program are
grouped together on the left. The corresponding program
channel strip will appear on the right. (When an audio
track or a track using a plugin program is selected, there
will be no pad channel strips. When a track using a MIDI
program or CV program is selected, there will be no pad
channel strips or program strips.)

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Saving & Exporting

As you work on your project, it is important to Save your work.

To save your project, click the menu icon (≡), click File, and click Save Project. In the Save window, you can
select the location where you would like to save your project.

You can keep creating sequences using the methods above, and then use MPC Beats' Song Mode to arrange those
sequences into a song.
To enter Song Mode, make sure playback is stopped, click the down arrow ( ) next to the other mode icons in the
toolbar, and click Song.
In Song Mode, each of the sequences you’ve created in this project assigned to a pad in the Pads panel. The
Sequence List panel is to the left of the pads, showing the song’s structure. The upper half of the window will show
“blocks” representing each sequence of the song’s structure.
As a song plays, it moves through each step shown in the Sequence List panel. Each step contains a sequence you
assign in its Sequence menu. Each step can be repeated, determined by the value in the Rpts column (a value of 1
means the sequence will play through only once). The Bars column on the right indicates the length of that sequence.
Each step can be set to play its sequence at an independent tempo, determined by the value in the BPM column.
Important: Each sequence has its own tempo, while the project itself may use a different master tempo. The BPM
value for each sequence may be different from the master tempo. As long as playback is set to follow the master
tempo, each sequence’s individual tempo will be ignored. By default, each project is set to use the sequence tempo.
We recommend clicking the Seq/Mst button at the top of the window (so the button displays Mst) and entering a
master tempo to ensure all sequences use the same tempo.

Once you are happy with your results, you can export the entire song to share with the world.
To export a song:
1. Click the menu icon (≡), and go to File > Export and click As
Audio Mixdown.
2. In the Audio Mixdown screen that appears, do the following:
• Make sure the Start bar field is set to 1, and set the End
bar field to the last bar of your song.
• Click and drag the Audio tail field to set it to 2 seconds.
• As you’ll likely share the song online, click the mp3 file
format option under File format.
3. Click Export and choose where you want to save the song.
To name the song, click the File field, type a name, and then click
Save or press Enter to start exporting.

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Next Steps

In addition to the modes and tools mentioned in this Quickstart Guide, MPC Beats software offers many other
features for even more creative freedom. For example:
• Use the Sampler and Looper to record audio into your project.
• Use Sample Edit Mode to manipulate, chop and assign recorded samples in your project.
• Use the Step Sequencer to program complex patterns.
• Use the Edit menus to perform advanced editing functions on your sequences, tracks and programs.
For an in-depth look at all the features and functions of MPC Beats, open the MPC Software User Guide by clicking
the menu icon (≡) in the software, selecting Help > MPC Beats Help, and then clicking MPC Beats Software
Manual. The User Guide covers the full MPC software, so some features or functions mentioned may not be
compatible with MPC Beats.

For additional support, visit akaipro.com/support.

Trademarks & Licenses

Akai Professional and MPC are trademarks of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
macOS is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
All other product names, company names, trademarks, or trade names are those of their respective owners.
This product contains technologies that are used under license. For more information, please visit
akaipro.com/product-legal.

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