MPC Thread : MPC Live - MPC X - MPC One (Part 1)

The Lounge Other Gear
#438

Op1 def sucks hard for traditional sequencing, I’d never use it for the same kind of sequencing I do on elektrons or in Daw, but it has a weird little niche sewn inside its different sequencers/workflow and their behaviours (for example Endless drum sequencer’s pattern pitching when you play different keys or throwing bunch of random patterns in Finger etc… Recording those patterns to tape then resampling back in to a drumkit and experimenting with patterns again with the randomly sliced audio… Kind of OTish in its ‘unforseeen journey’ vibe). Takes you interesting places fast if you aren’t trying to do something specific… And if you aren’t fussed about fully tight sync, just doing manual sync and setting to same bpm as daw or OT etc and playing around with patterns etc by ear and recording them straight across is prob the fastest way I’ve found of coming up with a ton of ideas to then edit in to something in daw etc…

But yeah, I struggle making full tracks inside Op1 too, a lot of people do great stuff in it but I feel like I’m compromising or just causing myself headaches if I don’t take the files in to a daw or record Op1 in to Daw straight off instead of to internal ‘tape’. This mpc looks like it’ll swerve all those kind of feelings. Might not feel as creative/inspiring tho.

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#439

Might be able to set the ‘launch clips’ quantization and get some interesting stuff jamming that abletonish hitting pads at weird timing?
Anyone know if the V2 OS ‘launch clips’ mode is for audio tracks/clips only or midi clips too?

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#440

That’s exactly what I’m wondering - Does it feel like an instrument, or a computer with control surface. I wish I could road test one. Maybe one of the local shops will get some in to demo. Canada seems to get things WAY later though so probably there will some other new product I’m drooling over before these are available here hah

You and @LyingDalai are totally correct - OP1 has amazing potential and personality. I miss mine dearly sometimes. There is something very special in the feel and uniqueness it that can’t be replicated. Teenage Engineering are artists (just like elektron IMHO hahaha)

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#441

It feels like the expectations for the new MPCs keep rising.
They might have called it a portable DAW, but so far it looks like it will be more of a standard mpc, with audio tracks, effects and midi.

I don’t think it will replace your more “traditional” DAW like Logic or Cubase, it seems to be more inline with modern daws like Live and Bitwig.

Which is all good to me and can’t wait to see a release date, this could be the chance to streamline my setup…

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#442

can anyone with experience in the MPC 2.0 environment tell us if there is something such p-locks or similar for automating MIDI CC messages, FX amount, filter, etc. per step?

#443

@denoise I have no MPC, but iirc the sequencer is a little bit different than Elektron’s : it doesn’t record something per step but “events” when they are played.
So you would be able to hit 2 times a “step” the hhat, it would be recorded ≠ Elektron.

I have no clue for the p-lock thing, but I guess/hope such automation is possible on MPCs.

#444

Yep. The so called p-locking only makes sense for monophonic step sequenced tracks like in the OT and other Elektron boxes. The MPCs usually feature polyphonic linear sequencers.

#445

If you download the MPC software (I did) you can run it in demo mode. It works like NI Maschine in this regard - you can draw automation lines on the midi tracks - so i think recording CC with the controller will be possible. I dont know if step edit will allow setting a specific value. But i think its working in the software, there will be some way.

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#446

Yeah there are definite ‘ipad Beatmaker app + controller + interface’ vibes with these MPCs and I felt same about the Toraiz (minus analog filter). But ipad is a PITA to use/intergrate for this kind of thing in my experience and you’re talking 4 pieces of gear/cables (ipad + pads/controller + interface + sampling source) just to do basic sampling and playing with physical ui. My kids love grabbing at audio cables etc so that type of sofa setup mess doesn’t really work here :wink:

I kinda hate the ‘ipad for music’ thing except for sound design/OT fodder. One advantage ipad has over standalone mpc and toraiz in this area is VST. Some great synths etc on ipad that can be routed between apps and used like Vsts. I often find routing/recalling stuff like that to be buggy/ballache tho. And sample/file management /sharing etc sucks in ios…

#447

I can p-lock poly track stuff on AK? And for fx etc it doesn’t matter if sound source is mono or poly, they could at least implement that?

#448

Deal with sample on iPad is a pain… honestly guys always to send it here, sync here, get there there, send elsewhere … it sucks so much i use iPad only for Sound Design and Experiment, FX sometimes and that’s all. So to compare iPad with the MPC-X is a bit strange for me. MPC is a center piece of studio… it’s like a computer + Storage + soundcard + DAW + EFFECTS and more… what about the ipad only aside ? the ipad is nothing near MPC

Edit : it’s just a super way for apple to get a lot of money with app, because you say hummm 7$-20$ that’s nothing but at the end of 3 month how much you spend in app you don’t use. (1/3 of the MPC Live, more…) To me we should have the possibility to try an app for 30 days and then buy or not. I have a friend who have all app, my bet he should buy the MPC-X cash with that money.

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#449

My wish for 2017 for everyone is to be less foolish on Gear Porn and more efficient on what piece of gear is really a nice add to equipment we already had and what they can really afford to us… (and please don’t take that for you if it’s not… it just food for mind reflexion)

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#450

I share the view that the mpc is a glorified beatmaker with hardware controller, but I’m happy about it, working on an ipad can be painful, too many cables, adapters and compatibility issues.
As somebody mentioned above, all the cables turn easily into a jungle.

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#451

I agree, this really annoys me about the ipad. The fact that the file structure isn’t accessible via USB makes it almost impossible to get samples on and off without using iTunes or Dropbox, neither of which I can stand. Not to mention getting sounds between apps.

Hope we get some new demos of these MPCs soon to see what the touchscreen latency is like. Nothing less inspiring than a laggy touchscreen!

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#452

The classic MPC workflow is not just another iPad app IMHO. Only folks who have used an MPC know how it feels to them, and those of us who love THAT workflow, these new MPCs look almost too tempting.

Do not try to see the MPC as a version of OT. Nothing is replacing the OT, it’s angle and featureset is unique. The combination of both however will be formidable, especially MPCX + OT, since you will (most likely) be able to use the OT MIDI CC modulations for CV control. In a way I almost see the MPC as the fourth piece of a black trinity setup, it can cover for most of the blank cases left (writing linear automation, full polyphonic midi sequencing like with an old atari ST, easy round robin sample playback etc)

A clever move from Akai, not including any CV control on the live… Makes me want to buy both. But… I… will… resist, only the live is indispensable for my current needs.

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#453

I think the workflow can be hybrid : Touchable when it make sense, Dial knobs when touch control is too laggy… and maybe not using touch just a big screen with a very comfortable visual feedback on what we are doing. Neither or less i think it will be amazing.

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#454

That :wink: agree

#455

thanks for the tip. I just downloaded the MPC software and it seems very easy to draw any kind of automation for any parameter (MIDI CC, FX wet/dry, etc). So I guess there is the same functionality in the standalone MPC operating system.

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#456

Yeah I’ve been close to copping an mpc 1000 a few times over past couple of years but the old tech held me back (slow loading/processing/lots of info on small screen etc).

Hyped about the Live. Ticks all the boxes for me that OT doesn’t for when I’m at my main setup and can team em up + they put a battery in it for sofa jams and rehearsal/jams/shows/being on the road etc. Hoping the February release rumour is true and OS isn’t buggy. Considering it’s v2 of the OS hopefully there are no huge problems…

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#457

But MPC Software (2.0) seem to be rewritten from the ground for the new model MPC Live and X integration so… i would say wait ending NAMM we should have a demo soon …

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