Yep… you could load the audio files into slots in a Drum Program and play them from there, or you can use the (8) Audio Tracks.
You just need to set the Seq to the right length.
1 Like
So I could have 8 audio tracks playing at once but the max length is 5 minutes at once?
5 minutes is only the max recording time for audio tracks. You can have 10 minute audio tracks if you want when playing black.
is anyone still able to use their MPC with the Roland MX-1 as an audio interface mixer? trying to set mine up using the most current firmware 2.13 and not recognizing the MX-1 as audio device in preferences
The MX-1 is not a class compliant interface. It has its own proprietary usb driver.
that was the case for a long time but about a year ago MPC users discovered it actually worked as an audio source over USB. i’m just trying to figure out if 2.13.0 somehow changed what had been working recently
2 Likes
Oh that’s neat! I have an MX-1 and planning on getting a Key 37 later this year. Does/did it recognize the aira link usb channels as well?
Am on 2.12.2 on original live and it sees it but have not set it up thus far. I assume you plugged it from usb b of mx1 to usb a 1 on your mpc? I don’t know if it has to be 1 etc… Maybe try another cable. Also don’t forget that I think you would have to put your mx1 in 44.1k mode.
thanks, that apparently was the hitch. seems to be working now (though counterintuitive that you wouldn’t run the USB B OUT of the MPC into one of the four USB A slots of the MX-1)
It actually makes perfect sense why that wouldn’t work. USB operates under a host and peripheral scheme that was far less obfuscated before USB-C; you’re trying to use the Roland mixer as a peripheral audio interface for the MPC. You’re basically only going to use the USB B-type socket on the MPC to connect the MPC to your computer. USB A-type ports are host ports and USB B-type ports are peripheral ports.
1 Like
I have a question regarding the song mode: is there a possibility to automate something like filter cut off over several different sequences? I am thinking the way it is handled in a draw, where it’s more time based and not pattern based
When you have the song structured, convert it to a single sequence and record the filter automation there.
2 Likes
Ok. So i’m used to the digitakt and digitone. And I’m looking at the mpc because of the “daw-like” songmode.
- Is the mpc one still great in 2024?
2 what are the things which the mpc workflow is not good at? Which drawbacks do I need to consider?
Yes, if you take time to dig into it
might be not as direct at first when you get to know the unit
In my opinion the pros are:
the display and the workflow
the connection to the mpc software integrating other vst-plugins
sample-editing
cons:
the display and the workflow, some things are odd
some onboard-plugins with old interface-designs for ex. knobs instead of splines and curves for EQs
in sum, sometimes the workflow could be improved
2 Likes
alright. i’ll jsut go for one. the current used prices for a mpc one (without +) are really nice.
I bought one about 1 month ago and I don’t regret it at all.
It’s an extremely powerful box. I didn’t realize the OS provide indeed everything you need to do the whole thing from mixing to mastering.
Also, the built-in synths are actually quite good if you spend some time with them. I think the community is mostly focussed on sampling an hip hop, so I can see that there’s rather limited utility for them.
I personally am more into french touch kind of music and I’m enjoying it a lot.
I went with an MPC Live 2.
5 Likes
I think I agree about sampling and hiphop part. This is also very true about the MPC Software. If you look for tutorials or tips and tricks etc. it’s always about those. Very hard to find something oriented towards just music making. The builtin instruments and plugins are way more powerful and useful beyond that. But there is this general conception that people who use the standalone or the software only produce hiphop which is obviously not true. I even tried to make my own "making house using MPC Software " type of videos but quickly gave up. I am not a "content creator " nor have the time or patience to go that route.
Non hip hop MPC users! There’s dozens of us. Dozens!!!
Just kidding. However in terms of perception we house heads are a lot less visible (nearly invisible) than the hip hop guys in terms of brand association from an outsiders perspective, for sure, but I’m going to bet we are a sizeable chunk, we just spent a lot more time making music with the MPC than talking about making music with the MPC. (There irony of writing this right in this very thread on this forum 
)
2 Likes
It’s true, dozens of us! I’ve always loved how certain machines can become so engrained within a genre. 808=hip-hop, 909=techno, 303=acid, 606=electro/warp/hip hop. Those are all Roland kits, but the MPC feels hip hop oriented. I’ve never tried to use it that way, but then I’ll often find myself saying, “um, you just made a hip hop track.”
I’m sure everyone knows Ricky Tinez is the goat of MPC house tutorials—and Elektron just about everything. I’ve always found it funny how Akai even has the Digitakt next to their machines in the tutorial videos:
I always see the MPC/SP404 setup… Need more Digitakt/MPC duos!
1 Like
I’ve always felt like the marketing around the MPC has been a little off-putting and stereotypical. Such heavy focus on the supposed hiphop community, sampling whole chunks of someone else’s music and chopping it up, announcing stem separation which only makes sense if you do that type of sample chopping, sampling from vinyl.
I mean, I get it, it’s a sampler first and foremost. And their core community is probably still heavy on the hiphop side. But at the same time, they release things like the Jura synth, and the drum kits clearly have a lot of EDM focus besides all the hip/trip/trap hop genres. So why aren’t they a bit more inclusive in their marketing? I feel they almost want to hide the fact that the MPC is a full-blown production environment suitable for nearly any genre of music.
5 Likes