Should I choose OT or MPC Live?

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hahaha so weā€™re are in this pot like Chopped steak ! THANKS @Anfim :slight_smile:

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Posted this in the MPC live thread but seeing as Iā€™m weighing it against the octatrack figure I might be able to get some insight from someone familiar with both. Thanks!

Ideally I want to perform completed tracks made elsewhere (would use a few audio stems) live with flexibility to extend sections, etc., all while sequencing a few synths. The song forms, sequences have some nuance, definitely not just 64 steps repeating. Iā€™d want to roughly prearrange the song forms but having the options to repeat sections, loop a few bars or jump around is crucial. From what I understand the way in which you can arrange patterns on an MPC is a bit more flexible than what Iā€™m currently using (octatrack). In addition to extending or looping sections on the fly Iā€™m wanting some flexibility with transitions between songs, Iā€™d assume theyā€™d tie in together.
It seems as if itā€™s very much capable of this. Can anyone share some insight on how it might work for the uses Iā€™ve described? How are ā€œsongsā€ treated within an MPC and regarding transitions? How it might, in other ways, give a more flexible live approach. Any obvious limitations? I want to be as flexible as I can performing this music, thatā€™s what make a set ā€œliveā€ imo. Iā€™ve just had trouble finding a live method somewhere between working with building simple loops and DJing a finished track.

Thus far Iā€™ve been managing on an octatrack, on which I still havenā€™t found an ideal approach. Itā€™s a great piece for all that it does but I feel as if itā€™s really not designed for what Iā€™m trying to do. Iā€™m basically wanting an octatrack with a way more in depth arranger, longer step length within patterns (for external sequences) and a better time stretch algorithm. Iā€™ve been strongly considering ableton/push 2 but loathe the idea of taking a laptop on stage.

Maschine has 16 audio outputs.
Oops, sorry just realised how old the post I am replying to is.:confused:

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Like, actually physical audio outputs? Because thatā€™s what I meant.

No biggie on the age, I still believe the same thing

Obviously no physical outputs but it does allow you to live record separate Maschine tracks (Groups) into a DAW (i.e. exporting audio is not the only option you have).

I would find it hard to justify spending the asking price for OT at this time. It is almost seven years old and processing power, display technology etc have taken big leaps since 2010. Even though it is still a nice device, it is a bit outdated.

I really wish Elektron would release a Octatrack type device (without compromises) using 2017 technology. Unfortunately their strategy seems to be ā€œfocusedā€ machines now which means limited feature set compared to the older offerings.

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it is a bit outdatedā€¦ consumerist spotted

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I think the OT will be splitted into different small devices. So we started with an Analog Heat, and then the Drumsampler, soon a 4 track stereo samplerā€¦ and an fx processor/ looper, and so onā€¦

At the end, all products will be easier to understand, easier to controll when you use different machines, and a lot more expensive.

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The OTā€™s amazing and timeless, Iā€™m quite sure people will be looking for used ones 10 years from nowā€¦ It does amazing things with audio that sound great, still will do the same in the futureā€¦

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After owning Octatrack, A4, Kaoss pads, Sherman fb, Analog heat, and MPC live. I will say that I find the mpc live makes a better central hub for hardware gear setups. I like that the midi implementation is much more intuitive to control my Virus and blofeld seperately while being able to take the live recording and rewriting aspect. I love the octa track but I felt like it was more its own beast and does drive other Elektron gear very well. I liked using the octatrack as a single cycle waveform synth as well. MPC just helped fill the void in my physical setup and allows me to travel and be creative without having to take my computer with me. octatrack is a good mixer but to me was more of a set up and play feel while mpc compliments whatever mood your in.

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Hello out there. Iā€™m completely new to this (maiden voyage) and really want to take the big Elektron step! I recently went to Gearfest in Fort Wayne Indiana and got to take a look into the MPC Live. The Akai rep was really into it, and I really grilled him with questions, being that I put it into his head that I really liked what I seen on the OT. From what I could gather, the MPC live is probably the best representation of a DAW in a box that I have seen. The Akai rep demonstrated the pitch and time compression/expansion and I was very impressed. Why I thought was lacking a little was the whole FX aspect of the unit. I mean it had effects, but things like LFO, Filters, envelopes, not so much. However, he was telling me that they were still working on updates for the firmware, and was talking about third party development as far as plugs-ins from within the unit. So thereā€™s a lot going on. Unfortunately, Elektron was not there to represent:(. The one thing that is making me hesitate on the OT is the Digitakt. Iā€™m well aware that the OT does a hundred times more than the Digitakt, it just makes me wonder if they have plans to come out with something thatā€™s going to replace the OT real soon. I love all three pieces and would buy all of them of I was rich! But it seems the OT is now 6 years old, the Akai is too new. So Iā€™m on the fence! Comments?

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You have to go with the machine that best fits your requirements. OT might be 6 years old, but it is well stable. MPC live offers more functionality, but is probably less stable, and operates more like DAW. Both are good choices. If I was buying today I would still get an OT, but perhaps in 6 - 12 months might be tempted by the MPC Live, but would more likely buy the digitakt than the MPC. I have two DAWS, so feel MPC does not really offer enough what I cannot already do in the DAW. The Digitakt is more an immediate machine than the OT, higher fun factor, faster to get a tune going, less deep. OT demands you take a learning curve. My requirements are not the same as yours so best to weigh up what you need in your workflow.

Thanks a lot ! I really couldnā€™t get an honest opinion from any of them :slight_smile: I really wanted to get the OT! I think the MPC Live will be something to keep an eye on within the next 6 months and see where it goes, but to me itā€™s more of the same. You remember the Akai S-612? It was basic and gritty! I loved the fact that I had a LFO to work with along with a filter, plus I could overdub a loop on the fly! That was all I was looking for. I have enough stuff to make beats with. I want sound design! The OT is the hit! It must say something that the fact is you still wind up paying around $300 plus on eBay for a used S-612! Thanks Cosmic!

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You are mixing apples and oranges here, s612 has a value because it sound bad in a good way just like the s900, s950 and the emax. OT has a value because it is a focused performance box with sequencing and sampling, mpc live is has value because its a daw in a box/portable (traditional) sampler.
I would say OT is the coolest machine, but i must admit i sold it and bought mpc live and digitakt and better workflow that suits my style, but buy the OT if it suits you forget about the mpc liveā€¦if not sell it and get a mpc live or digitakt.

Like I said, Iā€™d would like all 3! But itā€™s not in the budget right now. I love the portability of the MPC Live, and the Akai rep said there is more coming, which makes me appreciate what theyā€™re doing! Thanks for the input!!

Personally i own both an OT and MPC Live and one thing i can tell you is that OT is switched off and to the side for nowā€¦For me Live is pretty stable and while i had 2-3 crashes it didnā€™t killed the workflow.Found the crashing bug,replicated it and sent to AKAI headquarters to fix itā€¦Really after been a beta tester for Tempest after so many years Live feels rock solid!
@Cosmic the point of buying Live is to go standaloneā€¦Iā€™ve also own Ableton Live Suite but now using it only for Recording/Mastering.MPC Live has everything you need to complete a track from start to finish and AKAI really raised the bar with this oneā€¦Elektron must try really hard to catch up thatā€™s why i have a hunch that an OT2 is nearā€¦Digitakt released as an affordable Elektron sampler and my guess is the real party will follow afterwards :wink:

Hi Yorgos
I have weighed up the MPC live a lot since the beginning of the year and for me, the need to go standalone with the DAW capabilities, considering I already have OT, do not justify the cost of buying one. Being stand-alone is not really of any benefit. My laptop can be carried anywhere. Bitwig 2.1 and Studio One offers for me all the DAW functionality I want. my workflow is to build tracks and patterns in elektron a4, OT, Rytm, then send these to the DAW for polishing as needed. MPC Live, whilst I would love to own one, is more a luxury than a necessity considering the gear i already have. Maybe one day I will get one, but not now. As I stated to the previous poster, each person needs to weigh up their own needs and requirements.

I personally doubt an OT2 will be released at all. Elektron know they cannot develop a daw in the BOX at the same level as Akai has, that takes years of historical knowledge and IP. I actually think OT will be around another 2 or more years, and Elektron will focus on other unique - specialised devices that are niche (as OT once was, still is). OT will be discontinued around the 10 year anniversary, which is 2020. This is approximately consistent with all their larger boxes lifecycle. Machinedrum actually survived a lot longer than this.

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OT simply because AKAIā€™s (remember the quality of their recent hardware?) MPC is laggy, you should spend an hour playing at a store, you will understand what I mean.

Exactly!