Installing Custom MPC Chord Progressions in MPCs and Akai Force

Downloading and Preparing Your Files

For this article we’ll begin by downloading LoFi Weekly’s Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack, a free resource tailored specifically for pad perform mode on the Akai MPC and Force. Inspired by the classic mid-2000s Kanye West sound, this pack offers unique chord sequences to enrich your productions. LoFi Weekly has numerous MPC Chord Progression Expansion Packs for the community!

Download the Expansion Pack

Access the Pack: Visit the LoFi Weekly website to download the Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack for free.

Initiate the Download: Click on the download button. The pack will download as a ZIP file, which is the most common format for such resources, ensuring quick download and easy handling.

Prepare the Files for Installation

Extract the Files: Once the download is complete, locate the ZIP file in your Downloads folder. Right-click and select “Extract All” to decompress the contents into a folder.

Verify the Contents: Open the extracted folder to ensure it contains all necessary .progression files and any accompanying documentation. These files are specifically crafted for use in pad perform mode on your device.

Organize for Ease of Access: For a smoother installation process later, consider moving the extracted folder to a convenient location on your computer, like your desktop or a dedicated music production folder.

By following these steps, you’ll have the Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack ready on your computer, set for loading into your MPC or Force to elevate your music creation process.

Transferring Files to Your Stand-Alone MPC or Akai Force

Ensure your Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack is ready on your computer, and now let’s move it to your MPC or Akai Force using either a direct USB connection or an SD card/USB drive.

Connect Your Device

Select Your Connection Method

USB Connection: Connect your device to your computer via USB. This will generally put the device in ‘Controller Mode’, making it accessible as an external drive.

SD Card or USB Drive: Alternatively, transfer the files onto an SD card or USB drive that has been formatted to be compatible with your MPC or Akai Force.

Access and Transfer Files

Find the Device Storage

On a Mac, the device or external drive will appear on your desktop or in the Finder under ‘Locations’. The path typically looks like:

				
					/Volumes/[Device Name]/ 
				
			

On a Windows PC, you’ll find the device listed in ‘This PC’ as a removable drive. The path usually appears as:

				
					This PC > [Device Name] (Drive Letter:)
				
			

Locate or Create the ‘Progressions’ Folder

Within the device’s directory, look for an existing folder named ‘Progressions’. If it doesn’t exist, right-click (or Ctrl-click on Mac) in the device’s directory and choose ‘New Folder’ to create one named ‘Progressions’.

Copy the Files

Drag and drop the folder containing the Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack, or the individual .progression files, into the ‘Progressions’ folder on your device. Make sure the files transfer completely without interruption.

Final Steps

Safely Disconnect

On a Mac, right-click the device icon on the desktop and select ‘Eject’. On Windows, click the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ icon in the system tray, then eject your device.

Verify Installation on Your Device

Turn on your MPC or Akai Force and navigate to pad perform mode. Check that the new chord progressions are loaded and accessible.

Installing in MPC Software on Your Computer

After downloading and preparing the Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack, the next step is to install these files into the MPC Software or MPC Beats, which are used in controller mode. This allows you to use the chord progressions within your digital audio workstation (DAW) environment.

Prepare for Installation

Open Your DAW

Launch the MPC Software or MPC Beats on your computer where you’ll manage and utilize these chord progressions.

Locate the Correct Folder

On a Mac

Navigate to the directory where MPC stores its content. You can access this path through the Finder:

				
					/Users/[Your Username]/Library/Application Support/Akai/MPC/
				
			

On a Windows PC

The MPC content folders are typically located in

				
					C:\ProgramData\Akai\MPC\
				
			
If you cannot see the ‘Library’ folder, it may be hidden by default. To view it, open Finder, go to your home folder, click ‘View’ at the top menu, select ‘Show View Options’, and then check ‘Show Library Folder’.

Transfer the Files

Copy the Progression Files

Copy the extracted folder or individual .progression files from the Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack into the ‘Progressions’ folder within the MPC directory. If a ‘Progressions’ folder doesn’t exist, create one.

Restart MPC Software

After copying the files, close and reopen the MPC Software or MPC Beats to refresh the system and recognize the new chord progressions.

Verify Installation

Once the MPC Software or MPC Beats is reopened, navigate to the area where progressions are utilized (e.g., pad perform mode) and verify that the new chord progressions from the Ultralight Chord Progression Expansion Pack are visible and ready for use.

By following these detailed instructions, you ensure that the chord progressions are properly installed in the MPC Software on your computer, ready to be used in your music production workflow. This seamless integration enhances your creative capabilities within the DAW environment.