MPC Thread : MPC Live - MPC X - MPC One (Part 2)

The Lounge Other Gear
#650

Hype is probably the closest, but it’s different to Retro Synth.
There could be new synths coming to the MPC this week that’ll increase it’s standalone capabilities… but overall, it’s best seen as a sampler/workstation, it’s synth engines aren’t really what it’s about. They’re ok, and they’re as good as you make them. Meaning, there’s a LOT of processing power where you can resample and work on sound design outside of the plugin synths themselves.

I think Solina, Odyssey and the Mellotron are all really good sounding without much effort.
Personally I find Hype, well, too ‘hyped’ sounding and don’t think I’ve ever used it in any music.

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#651

Me personally, can’t get good results out of the MPC synths. They just don’t hit as hard as my samples, hardware synths, or VSTs. BUT! If I resample a hit or stab from the MPC synths, I can really work with that. Not sure why it’s that way for me, but it is. I’m good with that.

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#652

Hype doesn’t do itself any favours by having hundreds and hundreds of presets that tend to be aggressive-sounding, and not being documented in any meaningful way. It can do very nice pads and textures, and even with the macro-centric UI you can do a lot of interesting things. It really benefits from exploring the init patches at the end of the presets to get a feel for how the various engines (and combinations of engines) work.

It would really benefit from a little extra attention to basic features like modulation - not much is required, but it would go a long way. And a “missing manual” needs to appear from somewhere.

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#653

just scrolling through Hype (all of them!) for the first time last night, I agree. 2/3 of the patches felt duplicative – sometimes literally, the patch names kept blurring together – of each other. but a generally solid “big synth” kind of sound, if you need that shiny digital sheen on a track

#654

The reason why it didn’t click with me and I hardly use it is hat the default knob assignment/grouping seems a bit off compared to the other Mpc synths. It’s not bad per se, just to me not as programmable as the others.

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#655

Yup the onboard synths/fx are ‘ok’… missing something but some useable stuff lurking around in them. Esp for lo-fi etc…Most of these sounds are onboard synths/fx -

COTCD packs/sales/stuff…
#656

To me there’s a lack of finesse with the Mpc’s FX & synths. They just do what it says on the tin, but without any special character or nuance.

#657

It’s an annual tradition at this point.

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#658

Then…we must EMBRACE it :slight_smile:

#659

I don’t think people get or try to dive too see into the unit. But this is a good demo https://youtu.be/-gjuWkAHNhg

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#660

Absolutely.

Maybe also get one going on the MPC Keys thread!

#661

Yeah the whole MPC concept would be advanced beyond belief if they just concentrated on modulation matrix and give it a rest with presets and cheap plugins……but maybe thats not as profitable……

#662

Yeah comparing like for like back and forth with Ableton 11 suite standard plug FX and Akai’s id have to agree.Biut there is a kinda raw ness to Akai’s (lol) which could be a good thing (it is an MPC after all but…….if you just concentrate of MPC plug ins without comparing they sound pretty alright.imo.

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#663

I must admit, synths are very underwhelming and kind of shallow.

They’re kind of like these Reaktor instruments in NI ecosystem. They’re useful, immediate, shiny and polished but they are boring.

#664

You’re right and I think this is key.

#665

Apart from the reverbs, I have no complaints about the effects or the synths. I’ve made one of my best releases so far using the internal synths and effects and nobody came up to me to tell me they could hear that the wobble on that track was made with the hype synth or that that other sound was obviously the Mpc odyssey…

As for deeper synths, we’ll see, but I have high hopes for the Op-4

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#666

Do you not think it slightly odd that it wasn’t announced to be in the new OS coming in a few days? Assuming it comes pre-loaded in the keys.

#667

Almost the same for me. The reverb just doesn’t get quite there, where other devices have better reverbs.
The second lackluster effects for me are the filters. The internal filters of the drum programs sounds dull to my ears and the resonance is way to high, even on lower values. The AIR Filter sounds okay, but not great. Coming from the awesome filter of the OT, it’s hard for me to get into the filters of the MPC.

#668

It’s like going to see a relatively decent cover band.

But joking aside I’m happy to work with what’s there. And happy to use some external fx if need be.

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#669

I don’t get why anyone would buy an MPC and be hyper-critical of the softsynths it comes with. Or the plugins.

They are all highly usable if you put some time in and know what you are doing. The complaints seem to be focussed on not being able to open a synth and select a preset that instantly sounds like a world beater.

I do understand that something like Hype can feel frustrating through not having full access to parameters/sound design elements… but, you know, just use a dedicated synth if that’s your thing.

You want a classic Prophet 5 sound? Get a Prophet 5.
Or get Prophet 5 samples.
Or take a soft synth and sound sculpt it to the ballpark of a Prophet 5 sound.
The MPC can work in any of these ways.

It’s crazy how high the expectations are of hardware/software manufacturers these days… imagine handing all this power to ‘insert favourite electronic artist here’ pre-1995.

Anyway, 2 more days to wait fellas!! #jun23

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