Akai MPC 1000 vs / and Octatrack

Accent · 2014-02-28T03:48:35.000Z

I’ve come across an MPC 1000 for a stupidly good price, and am probably going to pull the trigger on it tomorrow morning since I need a hardware sampler and it’s still going to be some time until my OT comes off backorder. Plus, I want to channel my inner Dilla :).

Anyone have any videos using both the OT and MPC 1000? I’d like to get some idea of how people are integrating both into their workflow.

Also, any experience with MPC-Stuff? It’s a demo unit and a bit rough looking (needs a new end, slider caps, and I want to replace the pads anyhow) so I’d like to get parts, but I’ve seen some folks mention long wait periods (6+ weeks).

Accent · 2015-05-19T15:37:36.000Z

Reviving this because I’m finally getting an MPC 1000, and I’m curious about how other Octatrack owners have set it up with their OTs. I’m currently thinking OT as master, but am wondering how to get the most out of the MPCs sequencing without overlapping with the Octatrack. Any tips?

Also, I know there was a guy on here who was doing some great OT/MPC 1000 video jams a while back, but I can’t find them. They tended to be on the long side, and some of the time he had another guy jamming with him. Anyone remember these who can link me?

Accent · 2015-05-20T18:30:04.000Z

Anyone? I know there are some other MPC users on here…

okam · 2015-05-21T11:18:04.000Z

My first thought was J Tomes?

http://www.elektronauts.com/t/live-hip-hop-jam-vid/10113/81947

I had a MPC 2500 & OT combo for a while but I never found a means of using the two together that was satisfactory for my workflow. Ultimately I got rid of the MPC.

I’ve ordered a bunch of pads, spares & parts from MPC-Stuff over the years and they’ve always been fine. Never had to wait for anything.

tomes · 2015-05-26T16:43:36.000Z

thanks for posting that @koam !

was just poking my head in the door to see if i could contribute and someone’s a step ahead of me…

the combination is definitely amazing - but i don’t use either for sequencing midi so can’t weigh in on that measure.

in the vid above i only capture audio from the MPC and don’t exploit the sequencing ability of the MPC at all.

there are so many ways to use the two together… it’s an exciting prospect.

i think they cover each others weaknesses really nicely…

i initially bought the octatrack to replace the MPC but i know now that’s not going to happen anytime soon!

MK7 · 2015-05-27T12:24:26.000Z

""jamrod"":

@jonah love that MPC video you posted

anyone here use pads w/ the OT?

Yes. My current setup consists of a MPD32 firing a large palette of sounds from the OT (stopped sequencer, dust cover on it) plus a MPC2500.

elenacortes · 2015-05-28T07:42:48.000Z

Hello,

I’m a midi consumer. That’s why I had a mpc with jjos. Very powerful midi tools. But three major problem :

the volume and weight (mpc 2500)
the poor editing abilities
The little possibility to real time midi action

So I sel it, I thought I would not did that, now I’m waiting for my squarp pyramid, wich must arrive in June.

My advice : better have a mini computer than a MPC. Now this gears are to old. But the best is a good hardware midi sequencer. For the moment two pieces have my preference, the squarp and the social entropy engine.
I have not enough money for a cirklon. …

fmw · 2015-05-28T08:56:11.000Z

jjos 2xl has note grid editing that’s about as good as your average DAW midi clip view. OS 3 (the small screen version of 128XL) has an incomplete graphical note editor but a few nice live performance features.

Also - for simpler loop playback & pads, an MPC500 shouldn’t be written off… handy addition to a monomachine. It’s also really really small & light.

MK7 · 2015-05-28T17:37:12.000Z

""elenacortes"":

major problem :

the volume and weight (mpc 2500)

Isn’t that one a major advantage? This thing feels like good old heavy hardware, not like a toy!

tomes · 2015-05-28T19:41:21.000Z

""MK7"":

[quote=“jamrod”]@jonah love that MPC video you posted

anyone here use pads w/ the OT?

Yes. My current setup consists of a MPD32 firing a large palette of sounds from the OT (stopped sequencer, dust cover on it) plus a MPC2500.[/quote]
not using the sequencer? sounds interesting.
why?

MK7 · 2015-05-28T22:25:08.000Z

""tomes"":

[quote=“MK7”][quote=“jamrod”]@jonah love that MPC video you posted

anyone here use pads w/ the OT?

Yes. My current setup consists of a MPD32 firing a large palette of sounds from the OT (stopped sequencer, dust cover on it) plus a MPC2500.[/quote]
not using the sequencer? sounds interesting.
why?[/quote]
I’m trying to play my gear more like instruments as opposed to placing trigs in a sequencer. Just for my entertainment if you will, had been placing trigs for long enough.

Most of the time, one machine (the MPC now) provides a kick and maybe an offbeat closed hat, and then I drum in whatever I like to be added. Sometimes I also play everything live. The OT has slice chains loaded on all 8 tracks, faders on the MPD32 select slices (–> access to several hundred sounds per kit), some randomness in selecting the sounds is just fine. Then I add internal delay/reverb via other faders and El Capistan fx sends (Cue out) on again other faders. The MPC provides about 40 drum kits.

Hit some green pads on the MPC for dry drums, hit some orange pads on the Mpd32 for basses, vocals, reverberated drums, crashes etc. I can tell you that this setup is a LOT of fun and you sometimes get these moments where you don’t exactly know what you’re fingers are doing but they should most definitely not stop doing whatever it is
(… and if they stop you’re hitting a sudden break like a wall, so you should quickly hit a crash or something…)

elenacortes · 2015-05-28T22:42:29.000Z

@mK7

Hehehe… If old quality is dependent of weight factor, we should use catapult and stone ball to make good kicks !

elenacortes · 2015-05-28T22:53:35.000Z

MPC are just an old computer sample/sequencer with pads, the whole in a tank blindage box.
This is not hate against MPC, i really like to play with it, and some of my prefered songs where made with. But the reality is there. Computer+pads are beter than MPC.

That’s why i sold mine and looked upon new sequencers… I sold my 2500 SE for 650€ and immediatly bought the pyramid for 690.

This kind of sequencers will be 1000x more creative on the fly than MPC wich are already good instant instrument for creation, but limited mode of edition.

fmw · 2015-05-29T00:09:18.000Z

This kind of sequencers will be 1000x more creative on the fly than MPC wich are already good instant instrument for creation, but limited mode of edition. -
uh huh, this is different to my experience of jjOS 2XL. Combined with an Elektron machine - you get two very different sequencers to bounce off each other.
Strengths & weaknesses. For more complex processing I have added an RW Minicommand into the midi chain.

MK7 · 2015-05-29T04:36:13.000Z

@elenacortes: I understand your points, so it depends on whether you’re sequencing all your stuff or just drumming on the pads. Every workflow/taste has it’s gear. Have fun with the pyramid.

A catapult for the kick, haha that would look impressive on stage

@fmv: yes, limitations for creativeness. the limits are wide enough inside those machines to achieve a lot.

tomes · 2015-06-04T09:35:51.000Z

""MK7"":

[quote=“tomes”][quote=“MK7”][quote=“jamrod”]@jonah love that MPC video you posted

anyone here use pads w/ the OT?

Yes. My current setup consists of a MPD32 firing a large palette of sounds from the OT (stopped sequencer, dust cover on it) plus a MPC2500.[/quote]
not using the sequencer? sounds interesting.
why?[/quote]
I’m trying to play my gear more like instruments as opposed to placing trigs in a sequencer. Just for my entertainment if you will, had been placing trigs for long enough.

Most of the time, one machine (the MPC now) provides a kick and maybe an offbeat closed hat, and then I drum in whatever I like to be added. Sometimes I also play everything live. The OT has slice chains loaded on all 8 tracks, faders on the MPD32 select slices (–> access to several hundred sounds per kit), some randomness in selecting the sounds is just fine. Then I add internal delay/reverb via other faders and El Capistan fx sends (Cue out) on again other faders. The MPC provides about 40 drum kits.

Hit some green pads on the MPC for dry drums, hit some orange pads on the Mpd32 for basses, vocals, reverberated drums, crashes etc. I can tell you that this setup is a LOT of fun and you sometimes get these moments where you don’t exactly know what you’re fingers are doing but they should most definitely not stop doing whatever it is
(… and if they stop you’re hitting a sudden break like a wall, so you should quickly hit a crash or something…)[/quote]
sounds interesting man…
got any footage or audio anywhere?

elenacortes · 2015-06-06T08:07:57.000Z

@fmw
the fact to use a MPC 500 for MnM is an idea that sleep in my mind for a long time. Even when I had my 2500, I thought about catching a 500 for live. This idea still grow.

polymono · 2015-08-18T07:22:12.000Z

i’m thinking about to get an mpc 1000 or 500 as an additional drum machine. i recently got an roland tr 8 but somehow it didnt inspire me. when i play arround with my op-1 and a couple of drum kits there allways came a lot of ideas in my head. so, maybe the tr 8 is “too techno” for me. or to limited to these kind of sound.

so, what do you think to use the mpc as a drum machine synced with the octatrack?

can i start mpc drum patterns (and set/program changes) via the octatrack?

should the 500 do it, or better get the 1000?

thanks!

brendanclarke · 2015-08-18T07:42:10.000Z

""polymono"":

should the 500 do it, or better get the 1000?

thanks!

Unless you absolutely need it to run on batteries, you’ll be WAY better off with the 1000. And get JJOS. It’s worth it, trust me.

alfred · 2015-08-18T08:16:43.000Z

""polymono"":

can i start mpc drum patterns (and set/program changes) via the octatrack?

should the 500 do it, or better get the 1000?

You’ll have to go with the 1000. If i remember correctly the 500 doesn’t have the Midi integration to change it’s sequences via Midi. I tried the same and that is the reason why i sold the 500 and went with the 1000.
I found it unfortunate because i loved the small size of the 500. But JJOS2XL is very powerful and I don’t look back.