I love cats, he’s like bruh I’m trying to chill here.
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https://youtube.com/shorts/t9M8WvteaoQ?si=9pxT5Lk1jkwRRx4q
Live jungle… on the sample…
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Hey folks. Will be testing if the lightening adapter I posted above works with Sample shortly and will edit this comment for those of you who inquired. If it works I’ll post a link. It was a 2 pack for $8.
Dohhhh!
The reports were correct. This adapter nor my cam connection adapter work. Not enough juice. So, gotta go analog or use my 17 pro or IPad Pro which isn’t an issue.
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mpc sample is back in stock on amazon…
some weird pricing out there… why would an roland mc-101 be going for $562 these days
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I ordered from perfect circuit. It still showed as in stock when I placed my order fairly early in the morning, but I didn’t get a shipping notification. I unfortunately won’t be able to make it out to that part of LA anytime soon so it’s likely shipping would be faster - which feels real weird. I’m hoping I got in early enough for the first batch.
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Worst part about perfect circuit for me as well. So close yet so far.
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I tried out an MPC Sample in a shop today and it cemented my feelings that it it is both awesome and probably not for me. For now, at least; I’ll be very interested to see what future firmware updates bring.
My main takeaway was that it feels more solid than it looks. It’s certainly not “built like a tank” but it does feel like you can bang away on it without worrying about it being too delicate. I’m envious of how much fun the early adopters must be having.
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My initial review after 30 minutes with the MPC Sample:
- It’s decent. Does everything you need without any of the stuff you don’t.
- I don’t think it offers a lot over the SP404 MKII, which I get on with well. Yes its intuitive, but for the equivalent functionality I don’t think the SP is any more difficult. It is cheaper though, and more portable.
- I like the pad effects - feels like a nice hybrid between the SP and KO.
- It’s a nice quality device, good build - it does look a bit like a toy though IMO.
- The buttons are clickier than I expected - might be annoying for people using it on the bus.
- Pads are nice, very usable.
- The speaker is fine, I have low expectations of it and it meets the basic requirement - however, it has no bass - which for a beat machine isn’t ideal. So it’s fine for a bit of sketching and getting patterns down but a mix is going to sound dreadful if you rely on it.
- It really does feel like Akai looked at every product on the market and did their best to create a ‘best of’ device. It’s the Akai SP-133 XT
- The wrist rest is actually a lot more useful than I thought - I find myself resting bits of my hand on it.
- Micro SD is a bit lame.
- Very glad that it doesn’t require manual saving, and the undo/redo works. It has a save project option in the project menu - I assume this is needed if you change projects? I haven’t needed to use it yet…
If you don’t have a device like this and want something portable and honest/simple - it’s a great buy. If you don’t need it to be portable then a used MPC One is still the best bang for buck sampler money can buy.
I think Akai did a great job with it 
Edit: An update after an extra hour with it:
- Having the knobs under the screen isn’t working for me. It’s really easy to obscure what you’re doing and I never realised before how sensible it was for the 404 to have them at the top.
- I really miss the copy-remain functionality of the 404, I need to get back into the muting workflow of the MPC; more of a habit thing.
- It’s not as easy to do things with one hand on the Sample as it is on the 404. Little things and not a workflow killer but something I’m feeling.
- I really like that you have the different knob behaviours (catch-up, relative etc), I always wanted this on the 404 although the jury is out if these modes are actually better.
- I’m getting sketches down quickly and they sound good. I do really appreciate the filter-per-pad.
- Still getting used to how effects work and what the right workflow is with the knob FX.
Overall my feeling is that it’s winning on the built in battery and speaker, they are the defining features.
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Fingers crossed. I don’t want to have to upgrade my iPhone 13 mini…
Haha same!!
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Sorry guys. I updated my comment. This adapter nor the white cam connection adapter worked. So it seems its either the lightening to audio adapter that used to ship with iPhones for wired headsets analog connection or newer device.
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I find the “wrist” pad to be more of a finger rest and it’s fantastic. Akai knows what they’re doing. Whether flat on table or holding it with two hands and rocking out all thumbs and index, that pad is clutch.
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Thanks for checking, much appreciated
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The finger rest is classy af
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Tough feel like you ordered shortly after me. mine is coming from Perfect Circuit today!
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So, is an ‘analog’ cable optimal here? Lightning to 2 x 1/4 TS?
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I think the move everything/Schwung made some huge advances on the sampler…
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No, so you will want to erase what you don’t need per sequence.
Had a crash (on latest firmware). It kind of froze up where I was doing some basic sequence muting and switching between. I could still switch and play sequences but couldnt leave the SEQ menu. Would not power off, so I held the button down and it finally went off. On power up, the LEDs were not working for anything, so I powered down again - this time it was a clean power off, not forced. It loaded back up working just fine and I didn’t lose my work. So still some bugs, but it’s a brand new piece of gear, so thats to be expected.
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For sampling yes. Some would even say that’s the more MPC way.lol. One of those little white lightening to 3.5 mm dongles that used to ship with iPhones should work for 3.5 to dual 1/4” too.
Personally, I’m going iPad mini or pro but just because I already have them and there’s a lot of creative ways to use the two way usb c connection on new MPc devices.
Hopefully, someone with the old cam connection kit confirms if lightening devices can still connect via usb if you supply the power. That was always the issue. Im sure this info would help a lot of folks with older devices who have those old adapters with the extra lightening port for power or power hubs, etc.
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