Agree about the Push 2 buttons / pads being meh. MPC3 feels really nice, but in an opposite kind of way from the Elektron clicky buttons. Both are good.
And yeah the idea was mostly standalone, I’d wanna do mastering on PC maybe but otherwise m/kb feels antithetical to the experience IMO.
MPC integration: One thing that regularly pops up on MPC-forums.com is the insight / fact that even with MPC FW 3.7 you still can’t record anything on your MPC if it is MIDI slaved.
One of my goals would be to be able to record my liveset on the MPC as a 2track. My workflow would be not to connect my Elektronsetup digitally but to connect the whole rig the analogue way. The digitakt 2 and digitone 2 are daisychained to the polyend mess and hologram now, the output of the hologram is the main out of the whole rig.
To me (as I see it now) the MPC would be the live sequencer with a bunch of extras as livelooper, mixing, midi linear recorder and so on, making me not having to use a computer. So it would be the centerpiece of continuity but my main machines would still be the elektronrig I guess…But that could all change ofcoure 
(learning the MPC is not holding me back) .
Learning that not being able to record audio in the MPC while it being midislave would hold me back… As my wish would be the digitakt 2 being master as is now.
On the Push2: I agree the buttons of the Push2 are not my favourite, but offer great interfacing with Live, but this system is ‘limitless’ and ‘mouse’-hungry.
Really would love to see different setups with Elektrons and MPC together.
i asked myself this question many times, but in fact the answer is simple, mpc does not have overbridge. the ui seems horrible, i prefer to stay in elektron workflow, as you will need a daw anyway at some point to record.
for the polyphony and multisample i choose the tonverk route with digitone2.
actually the tonverk is in evaluation to replace digitakt 2 and it’s pretty promising ( need a few bug fixes and qol to get 100% there)
If I were trying to accomplish what you’ve described using an MPC and 2 elektron devices + the Mess and the Hologram, depending on whether the Mess and the Hologram are currently midi synced, I would probably use the first midi out port on the MPC to send clock (or clock and transport) to the Digitakt 2.
If you have the hologram and the mess currently midi synced and receiving clock, I would send clock to the pedals from the second MPC midi out port to get them closer to the clock source.
At that point I’d pretty much keep things how you have them now, with the Digitakt sending clock and transport to the digitone and I assume that you’re sequencing them each from their own internal sequencers and then having the audio output of the digitakt go into the digitone’s mixer inputs and then sending the combined output of that to the pedals using instrument cables.
I’d leave all of that the same but to make it so that when you start recording on the MPC it sends the midi start command and digitakt responds to that.
The only issue that comes to mind is that I don’t think the elektron devices will wait for the MPC recording pre-roll to finish, so you would need to disable the count-in on the MPC. I don’t know 100% for sure that MPC starts sending midi clock as soon as you press the record + play/start combination if there’s a count in, but I suspect that it does.
After seeing everything that the MPC comes with in regard to plugins and processing, you may decide that you want to record the audio into the MPC dry (or dry with MPC plugins) and then record the output of the MPC main outs through your pedals into a handheld recorder which passes the recorder’s output to the PA mixer.
Alternatively you could just change the location of the external recorder to an output of the house mixer instead of having it in-line, but that then relies on trusting someone else to operate the recorder and I’m less likely to want to do that.
That would open up some room for further mixing and processing of your set’s dry recording at a later time which could include a pass through your pedals, meanwhile you would still get a stereo track recording of the live set through your pedals into the zoom recorder (or whatever).
Not 100% necessary to do that but kind of a waste not to at least consider the option.
Long story short, I would keep MPC the clock source.
Found the source. This should be pinned.
But MTC and Ableton Link can be used to sync to and record audio right?
Ableton link definitely works. I cannot speak to MTC.
Coming from a background of mastering the MPC4000 and Spectralis, both of which are heavyweight players, I can confidently say that ruling TV vs MPC as one being better/worse than the other is somewhat misguided. This is because each machine is personal and serves distinct intentions. The type of music you’re aiming to produce is crucial in determining which unit suits you best. These devices differ so drastically in their strengths and weaknesses that they are almost polar opposites.
If you’re a producer working on simple 4/4 house/techno or hip-hop, the MPCs are quite straightforward and practical. It’s a simple process: sample, chop, lay down the chops, add some instruments, mix, and print the final product.
The same goes for typical musicians who just want to play into a looper, load some plugins, and arrange within a friendly GUI environment. The workflow is smooth and musical. Unless you’re a tech-savvy hip-hop or music producer seeking an experimental edge, the Tonverk might feel less desirable compared to the “live input with GUI DAW experience” that the MPC offers.
The MPC can serve as the heart of a large studio setup, while the Tonverk, although highly capable, isn’t on the same level when it comes to large-scale production. The MPC’s arsenal of instrument plugins is a world apart from simply browsing samples on a TV. And while both workflows are quick and tactical—TV being more hands-on and although the MPC often needs/ uses touchscreen for navigation, it compensates by being a vast ecosystem. Put it this way: while you’re browsing samples on the TV, you’re just a few tweaks away from your desired sound from trying out actualy synth presets on a plugin on the MPC.
The Tonverk, on the other hand, sounds incredible, with its modular nature, effects, and pitch algorithms. To my ears, it has a far more dimensional sound compared to the MPC, which sounds more “surface-level.” That said, the MPC does have a sweetness to its sound, provided you know how to shape it. The filters are somewhat “American/musical-sounding” (emulating DJ filters), while the Tonverk’s filetrs are more precise.
On a personal level, I prefer the Tonverk—it’s like a blend of my MPC4000 sampler and the Spectralis routing and sequencing. I’m naturally drawn to it, love the sound, and am thrilled by how innovative the grid/groove-based craft has been imlanted.
But the MPC counters this with its own strengths: live recording/editing of XY velocity pads, arranger clips, and the ability to continuously move loops around during playback in the arrangement. It offers a bunch of sequence commands, and parameter locking is done through pad copying (alternative PAD variations). Both have their own unique flow.
The MPC’s pad articulations are like programmable Rolls triggers, and its Flexbeat feature is like step components. There’s also a range of plugins that can be automated and assigned to macros for live performance-like effects. You can even mimic the Tonverk’s bus automation by sequencing automation on independent clips.
Its input expressiveness:
Touchstrip, velocity control, and XY pad surface vs one-octave clicky buttons on the Tonverk
The MPC is fantastic for capturing ideas and clips in real time. You can chop samples live (even going back to adjust a lazy chop while sample plays), and it has features like tail loops (VIP) and stem separation—how insane is that!? (hoola @90s samplist!)
Not to mention the round-robin sampling, layering options, and simultaneous pad play with group mutes. 16 levels and chord progessions. And somhow none is doing anything with the touse 4x LFOs, crossfade filters, mod matrix??
We could go on …Pad FX, Instrument FX, performance FX, and plugins like half-speed, Jura, MiniD, and analog tape emulation—just to name a few—and you get an incredible sampling powerhouse.
But the Tonverk stands out in terms of accessable focused groove and sound sculpting features + the sum sound quality. This is why the Tonverk remains so compelling, even when compared to the MPC3.
A downside to the MPC is the laborious process of assigning macros to knobs—multiple menu jumps are required, instead of a more intuitive “learn ability” between what’s on screen and the knobs (come on, Akai, take note!).
As for the Tonverk, it completely outshines the MPC in step sequencing. It’s super easy to lock steps, microshift, rotate, and clock dividision. The trigger options and parameter locking on the step sequencer are excellent, whereas on the MPC, you have to set it up manually if you want to sttraight up mimick Elektron but as previsuly stated … the MPC does triggers or parameter locks via PAD: Articulations (rools) and PAD (copies) for sound variations (‘‘step locked sound’’)…
I feel like whoever manages to combine the best of both worlds—real-time live expressivity and advanced step sequencing with incredible fidelity—will truly win the game. Korg, Yamaha, AlphaTheta, are you all just going to watch Akai’s birthday party while the MPC eats all the cake?
How close is Korg to releasing the Elektribe Pro? With its synthesis, tube tech (Polylogue), and sample fidelity (Drumlouge), they could really raise the bar.
It feels like everyone’s on the case. Grooveboxes are a mix of so many great things, and the hardware industry is booming, especially now that a generation of Ableton students, and thouse who started with Volcas, are now building their own personal spaceships.
If I had access to my account, I’d definitely own both.
I’m picking one of these this year—or maybe even multiple if I can swing it—but right now, I’m patiently waiting for the next TV OS update in all honesty
that was my two Cent and a dollar … 
Be careful. New MPCs can chew up other gear. I added L2 to my DN2/DT2/MV1/MF/AE20 setup. Now, just L3 x Roland AE20/30 at home. XL at the commercial space.
Now, with new beefier processing, memory, storage and 3rd party instrument/plugin partnerships running on one standalone box that can export all my midi/audio stems over 1 usb c cable I really won’t need anything else. Except, maybe my MBP x Logic Pro 12 for when I need to go even slimmer/faster.
I want your panorama, where can I buy it?
Great news. Just saw this years HOA x Tax bill and have the pleasure to inform you that the panorama + opposing walls, everything in it (including a brilliant, middle aged, xxl black dude and slightly younger petite, sexy cubana) is for sale!!!
PM sent!
Also, flagged! No selling outside the Marketplace 
How much for the xxl black dude? Lmao
Ay yooo! Infinity PAUSE on that. 
I just ordered the MPC… Thank you all for your insights!!! Really helpful, I’m sure it will open new possibilities in my setup! Can’t wait for the deliverytruck to appear!
Patiently waiting for your thoughts and requests for workflow tips. There a lot of ways to get a lot done on the Live 3, that a lot of workflow is still being… worked out.
Don’t get overwhelmed and have a bitchin time on day 1
I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy!
Congrats!
Since you’re brand new to MPC, you might want to get the MPC Bible, which is an excellent course/reference manual for learning how to use MPC
https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php/268/mpc-bible/
It covers everything in the standard firmware. To learn more about the clip launcher, which is not standard in the firmware, look for a tutorial on the Akai Professional YT channel
