An argument for the MPC Live II

The Lounge Other Gear
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…is what I’m looking for.

I bought this MPC about a month ago (my first!) and I’ve been slowly learning it since. I have basic things down (loading synths/plugins, drum racks, chopping samples, making patterns, etc), but if I’m being completely honest… using the MPC feels like using a much more clunky Ableton inside of a box.

However—I’m wonder if I’m mistaken. I’m obviously new to the device and workflow. But I’ve been surprised by how much more slow and arduous the MPC is compared to any of the Elektron boxes. The learning curve for, say, the Digitakt wasn’t exactly easy, but once I got the hang of it in a week or two, I felt like I was zooming around on it quickly, learning new things every time, and making beats / sounds that I probably would never have made on Ableton.

For the MPC users/lovers out there, I wonder what it is I’m missing? I’m going to give it a solid three months before I decide to keep it or sell it, but I’ve so far been pretty underwhelmed by the device.

The sample chopping is its best feature, but I feel like I could easily replicate this on Ableton with Serato and an external 16-pad MIDI device.

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I love mine because it feels like an instrument, and so I focus on that aspect. I program Elektrons, play MPCs.

Hardware will always lose to Ableton Live for stuff that lends itself to mouse and keys.

Best to use the things for what they are best at, IMO.

Edit:

then 100% do that if it works best for YOU! That’s what it is all about.

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I started with MPC back in the 90s.

That’s why im still down .

A slow Ableton in a box, you kinda nailed it!

It can be much more thou.

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It honestly sounds like you’ve already got the general idea, but you just haven’t had that moment that makes it irreplaceable.

It really depends, because I don’t use the daw except for some very basic functions, so the MPC serves that purpose for me.

If you like ableton and you want to use ableton, there will probably be no convincing you about the MPC, because it is not ableton, however for me, it’s quite the swiss army knife type device and I can get a lot done without being tempted by a web browser or any little reminders of the outside world.

Also, the timeline is much more flexible than an elektron device. The resolution of how much you can go off the grid is much better and the tools built into the box are all there if you learn how to use them.

DJST is a strong proponent of the MPC as a groovebox and with a midi keyboard hooked up, I do find it flexible, but it is a very clunky manner of operating and sound design outside of plugins isn’t really possible. Step sequencing is arduous. The pads are not good for melodies. And it is an expensive investment, however at this time, there is no device which can replace it for me.

And the sampling and chopping features stand out amongst any device.

It may not be conducive to your workflow so make the decision that’s best for you and not just taking someone’s word for it.

You may be like me though, where once you get used to it, you realize that the reason you’re comparing it to ableton is because other grooveboxes are not capable of doing what the MPC can within the confines of it’s own shell.

It is a highly underrated feature to be able to do more under one single UI, even a fucking clunky ass annoying one like MPC. The device itself has every tool you need available, and all at your immediate disposal.

But yes, it gives you the options of tweezers or a push broom for implementation so you kinda have to live with it or move past it, but I don’t think it’s replaceable short of a DAW.

Just my own hot take. Totally relate to what you’re saying though.

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  • It’s physical. You should be bashing out beats by hitting the pads with force and gusto. No, really. If you treat it like Ableton in a box, you’ll have a bad time because it’s not a great Ableton.
  • Everything revolves around samples. Recording them, chopping them, sequencing them (see previous point). The rest is nice to have and certainly useful but likely not why you should get an MPC.

For me, it clicked straight away so I never went through what you’re going through, but if you’re not gelling with it, don’t worry about it. You’re right it ultimately doesn’t do anything Ableton with Serato and a 16 pad controller can’t do. It just stays out of the way a little bit more.

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Bouncing your entire sequence to a sample is a great feature too, and also the cv sequencing, the audio tracks, etc.

It’s way more device than what you seem to be using it for.

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Thanks for the responses everyone. It seems I’m probably 1) too inexperienced with the MPC to get everything out of it that I could 2) wrongly (though I think reasonably) comparing it to a DAW and other devices with which I’m much more familiar. I suppose a part of me is frustrated at having to learn the ins-and-outs of yet another device, but of course that’s what I signed up for by buying one. I guess I wish it was’t so unintuitive? Just doing simple stuff like pitching down a sample, or even learning how to sample something off my phone and then chopping it and sending it to a new track I found took frustratingly long to learn / had to look up tutorials, etc. As opposed to the Syntakt / Digitakt etc, which just felt so easy to use and intuitive right away. But the MPC offers much more than the DT, as people have pointed out, so I just need to spend more time with it.

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One thing that I found was that apparently, there is so much literature and content for the MPC format available at present, while you can get a lot out of reading the manual and tutorials, you’re almost better off asking google very specific questions and then reading the summarized information and following up on topics or videos that seem relevant in sections which are relevant to what you’re trying to do.

I was getting super bogged down trying to learn it all at once and with MPC it’s just not possible.

There is also a lot to learn from elektron devices but the way you access everything is pretty much the same and the manner of working is all pretty much the same. MPC is a lot more like learning a DAW, a recorder, and a hardware controller all at once.

That’s part of what makes it powerful but frustrating.

I have had some really good experiences with the MPC though, like when it did exactly what I wanted it to do and I couldn’t do it on digitakt or digitone, but sound design is very frustrating and you have to rely on, essentially, plugins which mimic synthesizer interfaces but on the small touch screen. With elektron, sound design can happen in a lot of different ways and the way you create the sound and modulate it with track settings is very intuitive.

For me, it’s not a situation where I can’t give up one or the other. I definitely cannot get rid of my elektron gear, but at the same time, if I want a full arrangement on elekron gear across 12 patterns or something, it can be a bit tedious. I would say equally tedious to using the MPC for some seemingly basic functions, whereas a longform arrangement on the MPC is really easy, either as multiple sequences or one long ass sequence with really no limitations.

I can’t tell you how to use it best for your workflow, and that’s the major thing, is figuring out which aspects of your workflow are essential and using that as your guideposts for learning.

I just don’t believe you can coherently learn the entire MPC infrastructure in one sitting and remain sane, it’s more about finding a workflow and learning as your needs arise.

Hope that’s not too rambling to be useful, but I really do find the MPC essential and I kinda wish there was another standalone device that could replace my live II, but if there is, I have yet to find it.

Another major thing for me was getting accustomed to using the Q links more and cycling through the pages with the Q link button, it really speeds up your workflow.

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This is all very helpful, thank you as always! I think I’m going to take the “learn X thing” approach. I was considering buying the MPC Bible but its like 1,000 pages and I think probably too overwhelming for me at the moment.

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the one for v. 2, at least, was very well thought out. Took a function by function approach - we are going to learn “x” in this chapter.

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The mpc is an instrument, it’s not Ableton.
I came from the MPC 1000 and fortunately the philosophy of the device is still here, you can use it for more, but you can still sample, and do drum loop/sample loop and it’s a beast on those simple workflow.
Used this way you will find lots of way to make great track !

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Why is this its own thread?

Mods, can you please merge this with the MPC thread?

Cheers!

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why isn’t ‘where the hell have you been’ it’s own thread??? :grin:

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Every thought is distinct and deserves its own thread <3

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:grimacing:
:hearts:
:blush:

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Looks like you’ve already presented the argument you’re looking for in your post in its final form, answers included. I think you indicate that it’s not for you so no need to make it sound like it’s good just because other people love it. They will not be harmed by your opinion, on the contrary. Despite having amazing ideas implemented in the physical HW it is still spoken of as a snooze fest when it comes to actually using it because of terrible workflow and menu choices. I’d ask you to try it out yourself but you already bought it… our opinions are probably misleading your foregone and correct conclusions. Just be aware that there is no device so mystified as the MPC, the hype is endless.

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So, that’s how it’s gonna be, eh?

I’ll just PM you LCVL…

:wink:

Cheers!

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Post flagged by community guitar players… :rofl:

PS It was meant as a joke, underlying the extreme subjectiveness of the topic. Hope didn’t offend anyone.

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I figured, but I answered you in a PM anyway, just in case…

:laughing:

Cheers!

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