Akai Professional’s AIR Sub Factory: Deep-Dive into MPC Bass Power

Akai Professional introduces AIR Sub Factory as a dedicated bass plugin for the MPC ecosystem, targeting both standalone and desktop workflows. The video wastes no time positioning Sub Factory as the go-to solution for earth-shattering bass and 808s, promising a wide palette from classic sub sounds to more experimental synth basses and drones.

Browsing and loading Sub Factory within the MPC interface is straightforward, with preset categories clearly organized for quick auditioning. The walkthrough highlights how users can immediately access a range of 808 classics and creative patches, reinforcing the plugin’s focus on delivering powerful, production-ready bass with minimal menu-diving.

At the heart of Sub Factory’s sound engine are two wavetable oscillators (A and B) and a third sample layer, all accessible from the main interface. This tri-layer setup allows for intricate bass textures, with each oscillator offering independent pitch and volume controls. Users can select oscillator types, adjust pitch, and add glide directly from the main screen, streamlining the patch creation process.

The video demonstrates how the sample layer isn’t just an afterthought—it can be loaded with everything from kicks and loops to noise and clicks, blending seamlessly with the wavetables. The cue link controls make it easy to tweak layer volumes and pitches on the fly, and the interface provides dedicated envelopes for amplitude, pitch, and filter shaping. This architecture supports both classic sub layering and more experimental, hybrid bass sounds.

A notable workflow feature is the ability to save custom patches after tweaking oscillator settings and modulation. The presenter shows how quickly users can move from preset browsing to deep editing, making Sub Factory equally suitable for preset surfers and hands-on sound designers.

Sub Factory’s modulation page is designed for fast, intuitive routing. Users can assign LFOs and filter modulation, set up pitch bend, and engage unison for stereo width—all from a single tab. The glide and legato controls are given special attention, as they’re crucial for expressive 808 and bassline programming.

The plugin offers seven LFO shapes, syncable to tempo or free-running, with curve and fade options for nuanced modulation. The target LFO page allows users to direct modulation to oscillator parameters, filter cutoff, or morph amounts, supporting both subtle movement and extreme sound mangling. The workflow here is clearly optimized for quick experimentation, with cue link integration and one-shot/retrigger options for performance flexibility.

Sub Factory’s filter section provides two morphable filters with twelve preset types, allowing users to blend filter characteristics in real time. The morph control, accessible via cue links, lets producers dial in evolving filter responses for dynamic bass textures. Each oscillator and the sample layer can be filtered independently, with envelope control for further shaping.

On the effects side, the plugin includes ring modulation, chorus, drive, a master EQ (with low, mid, and high bands), a soft clipper, and a bass mono function. These tools are designed to add punch, grit, and clarity to bass patches, whether you’re after subtle enhancement or full-on distortion. The video underscores how these effects can be stacked and tweaked without leaving the plugin’s interface, supporting a streamlined workflow for both studio and live use.