An argument for the MPC Live II

This video is 5 years old, but definitely helped me out a good bit, when I had an MPC.

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I sold my MPC LIVE 2, bought a Push 3 standalone, never looked back :slight_smile:

EDIT FOR MORE CONTEXT:

I was annoyed by the constant DLC addons, shady promotions and the „og nostalgia community”. There was no critical discourse, because it was „dawless” and sounded better than other gear.
I think the MPC Live 2 and the MPC Keys 37 are insane pierces of gear, they can do a lot! If you totally want to ditch the PC and use only them, you will be happy, I think the best aspect of them are the AIR plugins, they all are very good, they all sound very good, there are maybe not so much options to go turbo deep but the presets are top notch and the sound design options are more than enough.

The user interface is a little bit clunky (talking about 2.x, sold before 3.0 and 3.5), but it is okay. Sequencing is very good as long as you don’t want to go to advanced sequencing options, but it gets the job done.

But if you want to have the MPC as a part of a hybrid workflow with a computer DAW somewhere down the line, the MPC will be a bad experience. All the clunkiess is exacerbated, the ableton integration is not so good, the MPC desktop software was very convoluted, I never managed to get a good groove going (but to be fair, it was on the beginning of my music creation journey, so your mileage can vary).

Sometimes I think fondly of the LIVE 2, but when I think that I would have to spend more on the plugin addons than on the gear itself, it’s crazy :slight_smile:

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I find the MPC super easy to use, understand, and navigate. I am as fast on it as any other gear I have - DaW, Elektrons, etc.

I am very fast with it when I want to be which is never. I have experienced zero problems or stumbling blocks, it’s been easy to learn and even easier to use.

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I heard that, I’m enjoying myself

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I still don’t see any arguments in this thread. Maybe change the thread title? It’s very confusing! I click here for arguments and all I get is pleasantries!

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MPCL2 makes your synth and record collection way more fun and immersive while making you realize that other samplers aren’t really as great as you previously may have thought they were. Fight me.

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Not true! 404 is the greatest sampler due to how difficult it is to get shit done vs the MPC workflow.

I prefer limited and hard to use over powerful and ease of operation!

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Give me a one digit numeric display over a 7" multitouch color screen any day…

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Boomer take. Everyone knows 404 is at its best on output fx lookout duty for its Master Production Chief. I even took the pads off my mk2!:rage:

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Sp404 is faster but it’s kinda convulted in it’s own way. Things like after getting your chops you have to assign them to pads. Then you have to navigate which banks or pads are free. Plus it does feel slower in respects to threshold chopping etc.MPC is easy, you can make it as easy or difficult as you want it to be. Admittedly the MPC is not as fast in sampling stuff in compared to SP

I had a friend with a massive modular system who swore by live 2. He swapped around a lot but kept it around because if fit his workflow and is portable. This was years ago and I never got along with the UI, but I was also not looking for the exact same workflow. The not really old MPC’s menu system seems infuriating to me but then I see comments about the worflow fitting like a glove just above here and I end up with worn out conclusions like some gear just fit some people better than me or they spent their 1000 hours differently.

Ha! Yeah! Well I took the touchscreen out of my OG live when I had it! So much better to use!

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Oh worrrrrd?! Well I painted my 404 collection Akai red like the dot on the flag and scratched off the Roland. Cuz like…who even likes mfs named Roland bro?!

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Probably looks like shit! Ha!

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This thread serves no good purpose! I’m g.a.s.sing for one now.
It does not multitrack to DAW over usb, right? Please no.

We should probably kill the fake argument bit now. Cuz 2025. Even the most well intended humor apparently has the ability to maim or kill. Folk have big feelings and arteries attached to gear.lol

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All jokes aside I loved my OG Live! It did as much or little as I needed. If they made a smaller sized battery powered MPC, I wouldn’t be able to resist.

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I can dig it. Didn’t expect to love the (MpC) platform this much after all of the years I spent away. Still, doesn’t take away from my love for Roland boxes which is pretty well documented across multiple threads including the SP mega thread. Also, I can’t even stomach the idea of having any candy red gear let alone ever defile my gorgeous 404s with red paint. :face_vomiting:.

As much as I’d love to have MpC37 there is zero chance I’d ever buy a red anything for any price. Ok ok maybe a Nord but I’d still skin/paint it immeGiately lol.

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The MPC live 2 dont need arguments. Its just the best groovebox out there regarding price/features ratio.

But, people always thinks the MPC is only for HiPhop/boom blip blap music. Its not. I make all kinds of EDM with it. Even pop music.

Key is to make it your own. Feel that you can play this instrument, if that click is there, you and the MPC becomes best buddies.

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I erased all the firmware so I can use it from a blank boot screen.
Such an improvement in sound and workflow.

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