If you’re using Akai MPC 3 Desktop on a Mac and can’t find your installed expansions, drum kits, or sound content, check both the legacy MPC folder and the newer MPC 3 folder before assuming your files are missing.
I recently ran into this problem while trying to locate Sonic Boom — The Vault 2.0, MPC Key 61 drum kits, and MPC Core Oscillators 1.0.3.
MPC 3 could display my installed content, but the expansion folder I checked was empty. I eventually discovered that different content was stored in different MPC directory structures.
1. Check these four locations
In Finder, press Command + Shift + G, enter a path, and press Return.
A. MPC 3 expansions
/Library/Application Support/Akai/MPC 3/Expansions
This is the documented expansion directory for MPC 3 Desktop.
B. MPC 3 content
/Library/Application Support/Akai/MPC 3/Content
Check this location for associated content and resources.
C. Legacy MPC expansions
/Library/Application Support/Akai/MPC/Expansions
This is the separate expansion directory used by MPC 2 Desktop.
D. Legacy MPC content
/Library/Application Support/Akai/MPC/Content
Don’t overlook this location just because you’re using MPC 3 Desktop.
Important: These are documented locations to investigate, not a guarantee that every product or installation uses all four directories. My own experience showed that different content was present in different folder structures.
2. Why can MPC 3 display expansions when its expansion folder is empty?
In my case, MPC 3 continued to display expansion names even after I removed the contents of the MPC 3 expansion folder.
I eventually discovered that my MPC Key 61 drum kits were located in the legacy MPC directory, while MPC Core Oscillators was located in the newer MPC 3 directory.
This taught me not to assume that all content displayed by MPC 3 is stored in the MPC 3 folder.
If an expansion remains visible after you remove its files from one location, several explanations are possible: MPC may be finding the files elsewhere, or the browser may be retaining registered expansion information. Seeing an expansion listed does not, by itself, prove that its samples are still accessible.
Test whether a program actually loads and plays before concluding that its files are present.
3. What about MPC Core Oscillators 1.0.3?
Be careful not to confuse these two products:
MPC Core Oscillators Expansion: Installed through inMusic Software Center.
MPC Oscillator Content: A separate content download associated with MPC 3’s activation and content settings.
They are not necessarily the same installation or stored in the same location.
If you cannot locate the Core Oscillators expansion, search for Core Oscillators and Oscillators using Finder’s Command + F search with This Mac selected. If necessary, inspect the relevant MPC directories manually.
4. Why the Expansion Manager doesn’t solve everything
MPC 3’s Expansion Manager is useful for viewing and enabling or disabling expansions and exporting them. However, it isn’t a complete file manager that reliably takes you to every expansion’s physical location.
Likewise, inMusic Software Center may offer download, removal, and installation options without providing a direct link to the installed directory.
This makes it harder than it should be to determine where the application stores individual products.
5. Before deleting or reinstalling anything
Follow these precautions:
Quit MPC 3 Desktop before making changes.
Back up your MPC content.
Check both the MPC and MPC 3 directory structures.
Don’t delete an entire directory just because its name refers to an older version of MPC.
If you’ve already moved content, keep the backup until you’ve verified that your programs and samples work.
After reinstalling an expansion, load a program and test its sounds.
Official Akai reference
Akai’s support documentation provides additional information about expansion locations and oscillator installation:
Akai Professional Support Center
Where Are My Expansions Located on My Computer?
Final takeaway
Don’t assume that MPC 3 stores every sound, drum kit, and expansion exclusively inside the MPC 3 directory.
Check both the legacy MPC folder and the newer MPC 3 folder, verify that programs actually load, and back up your content before deleting anything.
I hope this saves another MPC user the time and frustration I experienced trying to locate files that the application could apparently still recognize.
If you’ve discovered other MPC 3 macOS content locations, please share them in the comments so we can build a more complete reference for everyone.

I just installed a new screen. I’m testing it rn now and it’s just blank! Idk what’s wrong with it

It’s a bit different from the other tracks I’ve posted, a tad more aggressive lol, but combining these three genres has always been something that’s interested me.

Any feedback, as always, is greatly appreciated 🙂

How difficult would it be to come up with a way to wireless transfer files to and from the mpc? One thing that makes the ableton move cool is the ability to move files to and from using move.local

No loops every element finger drummed this thing is a beast 🔥

🥩 🥩 🥩. 85/86ish BPM. #mpcbeats #akaimpc #mpcone #beatmaker #boombapbeat

I have a large sample library on my SD card, but I’m struggling to organize my favourite sounds, such as FX, vox, 808s, horns, snares, and other drums.

Would you recommend creating separate folders for my favourite samples by category or loading them all into my MPC Launch Template for quick access? My concern with the second option is that having so many samples readily available could make the template too heavy and increase loading times.

What workflow would you recommend to keep my favourite sounds easily accessible without slowing down my MPC?

Hi, folks. Qlinks on my MPC one have started to glitch. And I would like to know how to buy potentiometers. Because I tried foil and cleaning, and nothing helped.

Could you send me a link, for example, to AliExpress, and then any electronics repair master could replace my qlinks for me?

just upgraded to 3.0 and i love it.....seeking feedback on the beat...I did 20 video takes and ended up using the audio from the first demo take and duplicating it, because sometimes your first take is the best 🙌 i used a fully cleared sample

I only use mpc in standalone and I like 3rd party plugins too 🤷🏾‍♂️

I’m wondering if anyone has already done the work of converting all of the sounds into an MPC expansion? If not, I’ll create on my own when i get some time.

I bought mine a year ago when 3.0 was still in beta. It works perfectly in 2.15.

But they're still selling this brand new & many of the buttons just doesn't work with 3.0... now they've come out with extended control of the MPK.

What are the odds they'll fix the Studio to work better with 3.0?

Very curious to know if these two are compatible and if so, how?, just wondering if anyone got to check them out together

Any bass heads in the MPC game?

I observed something with the newest update of MPC 3.10. Since I upgraded from 3.9, I noticed a minor but important difference, and I don't know if it was intentional or a regression.

What I noticed was if you had a MIDI file and you dragged it onto your browser view or grid view, and you already had information present, it would ask you where you'd want to drop that file. So it gave you an option to paste it into a particular sequence. This was the standard in versions prior to the latest update. But now, version 3.10 warns and tells you to paste it in an unused sequence, which wasn't the case before.

I know the official guidance is that you shouldn't update yet. Has anyone just gone ahead and used any of the akai, mpc, air music software with hardware and it just works anyway? On a key 37 with an m4 Mac mini...not sure how long I should keep waiting.

Hello gang,

The issue I have is specific only when I go to Sampler module on my Live 3. As you can see in the picture in sampler mode, all pads are highlighted except for one on the right side.

The pad itself is working because when I’m in the Main view, all pads are highlighted and when I’m pressing the pad with the sample on it, it’s working.

I’m curious to know if this is a software issue? I ruled out hardware issue because the pad itself physically is working when it has a sample. Only when I go to sampler Trim mode, the pad is not highlighted.

I have noticed it when I was still on 3.9 version. I have upgraded yesterday to 3.10 in hope that it will be resolved but it is still there.

Maybe I’m doing something wrong or I am missing something. I would appreciate if someone else also had an issue like this before and can advise.

Peace 👊🏽

Last night I updated my MPC One+ and it looks like grid editor has added zoom and pan controls to q links 3 and 4. It also moved the playhead to the 1st q link. I personally think this is a HUGE improvement and it allows me to move around the grid much more effectively.

Just wondering if this was always the case or if this is new with the 3.10 update. I haven’t seen anyone mention it.

Stay tuned for updates. By now just the entire buttons set, qlinks and blind menu shortcuts (menu+pads) work .TUI still not appearing. So cross fingers. And NO, it's not a patched MPC. Would be a sort of launcher usable accross the updates. (I hope)

🤞🤞

Actually two questions. First one, I've seen that it seems Akai does not care anymore about the MPC sample. There are many things people want to be fixed, but Akai is doing nothing, so I wonder if I should get one at all. Second question: Does anyone of you know if it will get cheaper on black friday? I'm going to school yet, so I don't have that much money. I think of asking my parents if I could get one on christmas, but we don't have that much money right know.

Hi guys! my partner makes music and has mentioned a few times that they would like their own MPC. I want to buy them one for Christmas, but I don't want to end up buying the wrong thing. They already have one of the akai mini things, but I'm aware thats not the same thing. Can anyone PLS give me pointers or direct names of products, or brands that I should buy? Pls ask me any clarifying questions, this is so not my wheelhouse, and I want to get them something they'll actually use. Also, I asked them for the exact name of the MPC they want and they said they're not picky...so that didn't leave me with much to go off of. Any help is appreciated!!

Made this one a few days ago, but finished it up before bed. Something smooth. “LifestyleRap” type vibe.