The Akai Force Awakens

After leaked patent filings, Akai Professional has officially debuted the Force, a next-generation, standalone music production center. At the heart of Force is an intuitive clip-centric workflow that forms the creative core of your performance. Combine multiple Modes with Plugin Tracks, MPC-Style Drum tracks, Audio tracks, Keygroup tracks, MIDI tracks and CV tracks to define clip types, then sculpt clips via step sequencing, drum pad performances and note data. Think of it as a hybrid MPC and Ableton Push that doesn’t need a computer to operate. Akai is initially targeting three workflows with the Force:

• Remix: Seamlessly Import stems, loops and one-shots into Force’s 8×8 clip matrix and set playback modes including loop and trigger settings to remix and reimagine your tracks on the fly.
• Mashup: Import multiple stems, then tune and time-stretch your content for immense mash-up potential – all content syncs to your master BPM so you never miss a beat.
• DJ: Seamlessly assign tracks to Force’s crossfader, load full tracks, stems or loops to Force’s 8×8 matrix – fuse with scene/clip payback for an unrestricted DJ experience.

Akai Pro Force Top view FutureMusic

Force is designed for the user who wants a standalone product with the latest in modern workflow techniques, free from being connected to the computer. Force is the first standalone music production device that truly captures the modern clip-based workflow. Force features an 8×8 RGB clip launch matrix, a 7-inch full-color touch-capacitive multitouch display, 8 touch-sensitive knobs with graphical OLED displays, two audio inputs, four audio outputs, MIDI and CV I/O.

 

 

Additional features include time stretching/pitch-shifting in real time, a comprehensive set of on-board effects by AIR Music Technology, plus the TubeSynth, Bassline and Electric synth engines. It also boasts an additional synth called Hype, a preset and macro-based synth combining several different synth engines into a single easy-to-use package. Force also has the ability to record eight stereo tracks.

Akai Pro Force rear view FutureMusic

Akai Force Features:

» Standalone – no computer required
» 8×8 clip launch matrix with RGB LEDs
» 7″ full color capacitive multitouch display
» Mic / instrument / line inputs, 4 outputs
» MIDI In / Out / Thru
» 4 configurable CV/Gate outputs
» Remix, mash-Up, DJ and produce with 6 Track types for complete audio / MIDI / CV sequencing and performance capability
» Performance Modes including 16-Pad Drums, Notes, Smart Scales, Chords & Progressions
» MPC Sample Editing
» Automatic BPM detection, real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting
» 8 touch-sensitive knobs with graphical OLED displays
» 4 powerful, fully-editable synth engines
» 16GB of on-board storage (over 10 gigs of sound content included)
» Full-Size SD card Slot & 2 USB 3.0 slots for thumb drives or MIDI controllers
» User-expandable 2.5″ SATA drive connector (SSD or HDD)

In March 2019, Akai will add in-depth Ableton Live integration. This functionality will include total visibility and command of Ableton’s clip matrix, tactile control of core mixer parameters including crossfader assignments, and control of device parameters instantiated in Ableton Live’s workspace via the touch user interface and Force’s rotary encoders / OLED displays.

 

 

Additionally, March 2019 will also see Splice integration within Force. Splice Sounds fuels the creativity of producers around the world with millions of high-quality, royalty-free samples, sounds, presets and loops, covering nearly ever musical style. With Splice integration in Force, users will have immediate wi-fi access to their own Splice library directly from the touch user interface – perfect for ultra-fast auditioning of sounds for implementation within their Force project. For further information and updates on this update, visit akaipro.com/force.

Akai’s Force will hit shelves in the United States on February 5, 2019 for $1499. International rollout is slated for later in February 2019.
 
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Author: FutureMusic

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