AKAI Force 3.5: The Force Gets Its Biggest Update Yet
AKAI Force Gets Full Plugin Support, MPC Stems, and More!
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[20 May 2025] The AKAI Force just got a massive update! AKAI Force 3.5 brings many features from the MPC 3 OS to the standalone workstation, including support for plugin instruments, MPC stems, and more.
AKAI Force 3.5 Update
Today is an important day for all owners of the AKAI Force! Six years after its introduction, AKAI Professional has released a major firmware update for the standalone workstation. According to AKAI, the 3.5 update brings the Force into the MPC OS 3 era with advanced workflows, deep DAW-style control, and full support for AKAI Pro’s plugin suite, along with many features requested by the community. AKAI Force 3.5 is now available as a free public beta.
First and foremost, the update brings full plugin support to the AKAI Force, including all the latest releases from AIR Music Technology, AKAI Professional, and Native Instruments (MPC Editions). This means that you can now use all these sounds directly within the standalone workstation, without the need for external software.
The AKAI Force 3.5 update also brings MPC Stems to the standalone workstation. With the new firmware, you can isolate vocals, drums, and music elements from tracks, which opens up a wide range of possibilities for remixing and mashups.
In addition, the AKAI Force 3.5 update includes many workflow improvements, including tempo automation, follow actions, and new arrangement tools. AKAI says that this gives you greater control over your arrangements and live sets. There’s also a bunch of new modes for better visual control and a more efficient workflow, including a new Main Mode, XL Channel Strip, and Sounds Mode.
Other new features of the AKAI Force 3.5 update include MPC sequence import, advanced keygroup synthesis, warp algorithm choice, expanded export options, and significantly faster sample loading times.
AKAI Force 3.5 Update: Launch Offer
As a limited-time launch offer, the complete Force Plugin Bundle (a $650 value) is now available for just $99.99. As a beta participant, you can also download the AIR Multiband Filterbank plugin for free for a limited time.
The AKAI Force 3.5 update is now available for download from the manufacturer’s website.
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AKAI Force firmware 3.1 adds an abundance of new instruments and features1
[19 October 2021 / Lyubomir Dobrev] AKAI has dished out a big feature update for its Force groovebox, adding 3 new instruments, 7 new insert effects, disk streaming, USB audio, and a whole bunch of good stuff. Let’s see what’s poppin’.
Coming to 3.1 are 3 new instruments – AIR Solina, AIR Mellotron, and WayOutWare Odyssey. These are familiar synthesizer and keyboard instruments with optional Flavor effects processing to introduce distortion, noise, flutter, and other ‘character’ effects.
The 7 insert effects include Stutter, Half Speed, Granulator, Diffuser Delay, Stereo Delay, Diode Clipper, and AIR Limiter. That’s already potent creative fodder, but there’s more – Vocal Tuner does pitch correction on the device itself, AIR Doubler fills out vocal tracks with faux double-tracking, and AIR Harmonizer generates 4-part harmonies from a single vocal. Add built-in volume, pan, delay, EQ and you can probably come up with rather competent vox!
Meanwhile, disk streaming from external storage unlocks additional room for recording and processing. You can deal with longer audio tracks, perform DJ sets, create larger sample instruments / keygroup programs, and benefit from faster loading times. Good stuff!
The USB audio functionality is also a great addition with up to 32 audio tracks that can be recorded and routed between the Force and connected gear. The update is rounded off by portamento for gliding notes and percussion, pitch envelopes for samples, Sample Tail for smoothing out those dreaded pops at the start and end of samples, and as many as 10 new drum pad effects (such as Ringmod, Bitcrush, Tubedrive, and Lowpass).
Force 3.1 also adds new functionality to Buses (Submixes/Returns/Masters). The Recording, Playback and Editing of automation follows the same workflow on buses as with other tracks. Force 3.1 also expands MIDI integration with the ability to load and export MIDI files to and from FORCE. You can also assign FORCE parameters to 3rd party MIDI controllers.
Force 3.1 is available now as a free update for Force users.
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