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

[Kosmology]

That nails it

[CCMP]

[Kosmology]

Without getting into the definitions of sample manipulation, the big difference between the 2 is how it affects the way you make music. The MPC encourages you to play stuff, the Octatrack encourages you to go down paths you couldn’t even imagine. I think the kind of musician you are and how your brain is wired is the big decider on how much you will enjoy either machine.

I think I’m somewhere in the middle and so have loved both. I did sell the OT and replace with the ONE because I wanted a change plus I have another 3 Elektron machines. I used the OT for 7-8 years as the brain of my hardware setup. It’s really good to have some Elektron and some MPC for me and it’s nice to have broken out of the Elektron workflow being central and having something more formulated and organised at the centre. I’m now a USB MIDI fanboi.

[darenager]

Ok try this, sample in a 16 step loop, then while the sequencer is playing reverse every other slice whilst pitching all the other slices up 2 semitones and leaving the others intact. Then jump straight back to your original loop for half a bar, then back to the mangle but this time filter all the high end just on the reversed slices, then back to the original.

I’m sure it can be done on the MPC, but it would take far more work than on the OT, the OT can do it standing on its head, and tons more other stuff all at the same time. That is what I think of as mangling.

Editing is way more comprehensive on the MPC for sure, realtime stuff, no way IMHO.

[CCMP]

@darenager

Ok try this, sample in a 16 step loop, then while the sequencer is playing reverse every other slice whilst pitching all the other slices up 2 semitones. Then jump straight back to your original loop for half a bar, then back to the mangle but this time filter all the high end just on the reversed slices, then back to the original.

Ok, but first you try this;
Load a C3 piano into your OT… then play C-E-G, then F-A-C.

Then let’s see which is most useful in making music.

I know what you’re saying, but I’ve never needed to do what you describe, nor felt the need to in making music… it’s an effect, and one that’s not for me… same reason I never had a Kaoss Pad when they were everywhere.
Personally, I have bad enough option-paralysis as it is!

[darenager]

@CCMP

Ok, but first you try this;
Load a C3 piano into your OT… then play C-E-G, then F-A-C.

No argument from me on that, I’d use the MPC too

[DaGeek]

OT is a device on its own.
If I remember well it was made for DJs as a filtering/mangling device. Then was more appreciated in the electronic music world as a sampler, afaik very few DJs use the OT on their live sets.

[djst]

@darenager

This is editing, not mangling, in the sense that mangling is realtime tweaking of multiple parameters at a time. As I said I can do it on the MPC but it is easier, quicker and more flexible on OT, I’m familiar enough with both to know that.

I’m not sure I understand the definition you’re using, but tweaking multiple parameters in real time on a sample is definitely possible. There are several ways of doing it.

[darenager]

Yeah I guess to understand the difference you need to be very familiar with both - for example typical parameter tweaking is pretty easy on both, but playback direction, pitch and slice on a per slice/step basis is more readily changed in realtime on the OT. Still not quite explaining it well enough, but I think there are some good examples on youtube that show it, for (a rather extreme but fun) example:

Elektron Octatrack Tutorial - Conditional Amen Break Glitching = Ned Rush

[darenager]

NB - The OT allows you to change a slice on a step in realtime too, which AFAIK the MPC does not.

With the scenes and crossfader it is so much quicker and easier on the OT. Again I’m talking as a person who has both, I’m not trying to knock the MPC, but anyone who has both would no doubt reach for the OT for mangling and the MPC for production. Both can somewhat fill the other role, in the same way a screwdriver or hammer can be used with screws or nails, but better to pick the right one for the right application.

[Kosmology]

Have you used an Octatrack? I’m not sure why Daren is getting such a hard time about this, he’s correct, the Octatrack does many things easily the MPC can’t do or would be laborious to do. Anyone who’s used one extensively will know this, it’s not a criticism, both machines have positives and negatives and it isn’t a competition is it?

It doesn’t matter what features the MPC may get in the future, it will never be like the Octatrack. It’s a very unique instrument. I hope the MPC does get some Elektron flavour to break away from it’s static nature such as conditionals and step sequencing improvements, but if not the Electrons provide that. The only thing that prevents them being ideal partners is the lack of instant program change on the Elektrons.

[CCMP]

I agree.

I think if I was making music with multiple devices in a live-performance mindset/setting, with say a TR8 and 303, or an A4/AR, etc, I wouldn’t be looking to run them into an MPC… and I think the Octatrack shines here. I have an A&H Xone DB4 that does a similar job for me when it comes to getting dynamics/looping into a performance mix.

I don’t make music like this predominantly, so my depth of focus isn’t there for something like the OT.

But, I totally appreciate it’s significance to others’ approach to music… and I don’t get offended that they wouldn’t use an MPC for it… as Daren has said, he uses both so is in a position to have an informed opinion on it, I was only picking up on his definitions of roles… abs no need to jump on him for it though.

[CCMP]

@Kosmology

The only thing that prevents them being ideal partners is the lack of instant program change on the Elektrons.

And please don’t get me started on this…

[djenzyme]

The linear flow of MPC encourages you to constantly add to your track to get a sense of depth and flow, whereas the OT encourages you to go deep into the sounds you are already using.

I find it interesting how different boxes can lead you down completely different paths, even with the same sounds.

One day I might actually leverage this and combine them

[Kosmology]

Yeah, I try to be peaceful and at ease with my music gear, but this always feels like a personal insult from Elektron. I’m at a point where I don’t think I’ll buy any new boxes if they inherit this flaw. When I used the OT as the brain it didn’t matter but now I use the MPC, it reduces the musical usefulness of them dramatically. I don’t care about any new features for any of the boxes except this. I love my Elektrons, but they need to catch up to 2022 and think about people who use non Elektron gear as a brain like the MPC.

[djst]

@darenager

Yeah I guess to understand the difference you need to be very familiar with both - for example typical parameter tweaking is pretty easy on both, but playback direction, pitch and slice on a per slice/step basis is more readily changed in realtime on the OT. Still not quite explaining it well enough, but I think there are some good examples on youtube that show it, for (a rather extreme but fun) example:

I only watched the first 10 minutes but that’s some pretty wicked stuff, and no, I’m not aware of the MPC being capable of anything like that.

Not to nitpick here, but I’m not sure how “immediate” I would call this type of programming to get it to randomize the beat, but the idea of randomization is a cool one. I guess this is one of those things unique to the Elektron workflow, namely the ability to set an LFO target to a sample start point (or in this case, slice). To me, it seems like a very niche use case only suitable for certain genres, but with that said, it’s still cool that there are machines that make this possible.

Still, zooming out of this conversation, I jumped in when you write that the MPC wasn’t straightforward or quick to mangle samples with. That part I still disagree with, but you’ve certainly proven that there are some cool forms of sample mangling that the MPC simply cannot do.

[Stickhit]

A single drum track on the MPC can independently sequence up to 128 samples and has pad mutes as well as track mutes.

The OT can independently sequence up to 8 samples and has track mutes.

It is best to use the MPC taking advantage of its features as opposed to trying work with it as you would the OT.

[darenager]

In a way this meme rings true here

[Kosmology]

Of course it won’t, they are both unique instruments, it’s not a competition or an insult that either can do things the other can’t is it?

[Wolf-Rami]

There I was, after a hard day at work, seeing multiple new posts in the MPC-thread and thinking: ”Oh yeah, Akai has finally dropped the new update! I can’t wait!” Then opening the thread and seeing it’s yet another heated argument involving the Octatrack.

Damn guys.