When the MPC was announced at the start of this year it was everything I’ve been looking and waiting for, I was hyped. As I pillaged the internet for more information and looked at terrible demo videos, I slowly became disenchanted, then they had problems with their release and went silent as they scrambled to ship late. I became suspicious. Now its out there all I see are posts on forums, in fb groups about problems/bugs and it not working. I tuned into a live stream with Ill Gates the other night because it had MPC Live in the title, his unit failed 5 mins into the stream and he said this is the second one he will have had to send back.
Then I saw the full workflow, its clunky, the touch screen seems like a pain, the interface is horrible. Far more menu diving then my a4 but without satisfying tactile buttons and knobs, constantly bashing away at a flat touchscreen (YUK), I could just get an ipad. It seems rushed, half baked, trying to do everything, cater to everyone and compromising everything in the process.
Digitakt for sure. I would have bought one if they were already out, but instead I picked up an A4 to get used to the Elektron workflow. I’m so happy and impressed and can’t wait for the Digitakt. Having something that is fast, can resample, inspires me and has such seamless connectivity with a daw or other gear is winning.
The way I see it I could create samey beats slowly on the MPC or in 1/4 of the time start venturing into really interesting and unexplored territory with the Digitakt. The mono thing doesn’t phase me at all. Overbridge means it will fit into my workflow better (Ableton Push/Novation Circuit/Analog Four atm).
Don’t get me wrong on paper the MPC Live is closer to a full DAW to Digitakts groovebox, but in use I know which one will get more music finished and create more unique sounds, and the gear I own makes up for whatever the Digitakt lacks. With the circuit/a4/digitakt/push I can have a funner, faster and more inspiring workflow with the features+ of an MPC X, using the same desk space.