disk streaming, new instruments/effects, audio interface support & more

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New Akai Pro Force 3.1 firmware is out now with the long-awaited disk streaming support, new instruments/effects, audio interface support & more.

Since July, Akai Pro MPC users can benefit from the advantages of the new firmware 2.10, which includes new instruments, new effects, audio interface support, etc. A massive update for the MPC standalone device that will make the whole thing even more exciting.

Today it’s also the turn of Akai Pro Force users with a brand new free firmware update 3.1 that includes many features from the MPC 2.10 firmware and more.

Akai Pro Force 3.1

Akai Pro Force Firmware 3.1

Disk streaming, the feature that Force users have been waiting for since the beginning, is finally here. It allows you to record and playback longer audio tracks, perform an entire DJ set, or create larger key-groups programs. Plus, you get faster project load times. The disk streaming functionality is compatible with external hard disks, USB flash drives, SD cards… making your workflow quicker and efficient.

This new functionality also eliminates lengthy project load times keeping the music and your creativity flowing. And according to Akai Pro it enables better system resource allocation and performance for expanded creativity. Definitely a big new feature that takes the Force to the next step.

Akai Pro Force 3.1

New Plugins

The Force 3.1 firmware ships with three new great-sounding virtual instruments aka plugins. Not four like in the MPC series because AIR Hype has been in the Force for a long time. It adds:

AIR Mellotron: an emulation of a legendary tape-based sampling keyboard

… Solina: a virtual instrument based on the classic string Synthesizer keyboard

WayOutWare Odyssey, a recreation of the all-time favorite analog duophonic synth with added extensive controls.

The Odyssey is a top-notch add-on because this is based on the WayOutWare code which is also available as a VST plugin. This is one of the best ARP emulations out there.

Akai Pro Force 3.1 new effect

AIR Vocal Suite & New Insert Effects

Yepp, the Akai Pro Force 3.1 also ships with new insert effects. Starting with a new stutter and granulator that opens up new sound design grounds. Also, you can find a half-speed effect and a handy limiter. Also here, I’m happy to see the granular. It is still not a complete granular sampler engine, hey Akai Pro, but it’s a small step towards it.

As in the MPC update, the developers also expand the engine of the Force for vocal processing. The new AIR Vocal Suite is a new collection of built-in plugins made for mangling and fine-tuning your vocals on the fly including pitch and harmonic effects.

Class-Compliant USB Audio Interface Support

The Force users also benefit from the new class-compliant audio interface device support. Thus, you can connect an audio interface to it and expand the output section for up to 32 inputs and outputs. Individual outputs, here we go. But attention, it looks like Akai Pro only implemented the class-compliant not completely. I got feedback from the community that interfaces from MOTU, for example, don’t work.

More Goodies

Further, you can assign 10 insert effects to FORCE pads, load MIDI files into Force, finally, and more.

Like the MPC 2.1, the new Force 3.1 is a massive update with many new features. The community will be very happy to finally see disk streaming in action, but also the many new instruments and effects. Great job Akai Pro.

Akai Pro Force 3.1 update is a free update for existing customers. The Force hardware is available now for 989.