@Geneoart amazing idea!!! and awesome generosity and support towards your son.
I own both, the Digitakt and MPC Live.
The MPC Live is obviously more powerful - slicing, more effects, sequencing more than 4 bars (without pattern chaining), song mode etc etc. It’s a great device, but can also be overwhelming. You did mention your son made beats on an iphone. Which app was he using? Depending on what he’s used to there the MPC could be a good choice (ie engaging and mastering the complexity without getting lost in all the possibilities).
The Digitakt is just a beautiful piece of kit and so smooth to use. Obviously less powerful than the MPC but for that the workflow and ease of use are much more streamlined. Personally, I made more beats on my Digitakt than on any other device…just because everything is so immediate and it really feels like an instrument. And the industrial design of the digitakt just gives off a nice feel & quality.
I feel the MPC vs Digitakt thing is a little like the MPC vs SP404 thing before. Features and power vs focus and immediacy.
When I do get into the MPC workflow mood, I love my MPC. All other times though, I’m frustrated by its omissions (too few q-links and no way to map a midi controller to that functionality, shoddy UI design at times, piano roll usage not really fluid, occasionally poor response of the touch screen…).
In contrast, I love my Digitakt always lol, and its limitations have forced me to come up with workarounds that have made me better and more confident in my knowledge and creativity in music. Plus, because of the immediacy of the Digitakt (no menu diving etc), I sound design MUCH more on the DT (even though the MPC Live can do anything the DT can and then some, it feels that by the time I’m on the right page and the q-links are set to the right page, inspiration has gone). it’s just a much more visceral experience for me on the DT.
The MPC ultimately feels more like I’m using a computer rather than hardware. Now if your son uses something like Beatmaker 2 to make beats on an iphone and likes that process, that needn’t be a bad thing. And in that case I believe the workflow will feel quite natural to him as well.
The more I think about it the more I feel:
MPC = primarily a production center that can be used as instrument also
DT = primarily an instrument that can be used as a production center also
what do you think your son will appreciate more?
I think whatever you do, it’ll be an awesome gift either way.
Just one last note: if you decide on an MPC, most definitely DO NOT get him an MPC1000 or anything like that. The loading times and poor quality of buttons & button switches can be be charming only in a throwback kind of way to someone born in the 80s or early 90s… for anyone who’s primarily used to speed and responsiveness with decent industrial design, the MPC 1000 will not feel enjoyable.