How they're used:
Run a Midi cable from a controllers Midi out to the Midi in of a Synth, PC, Sampler or whatever Sound Source that accepts midi.
What they're used for:
To control external sound sources. For instance, lets say you have a Sound Modual (ex: jv 1080). It has no keys, so you'd use a Midi keyboard to play the sounds. You could use the MPC to control it, but in my opinion it feels more natural to play synth parts with a keyboard and percussion parts with the MPC's pads.
The advantages are:
Some Midi keyboards have knobs and sliders that can change sound parameters in real time. Most of them at least has a pitch bend wheel. Basically they provide functions that can't be done on the MPC alone, and serves as a keyboard for instruments that don't have one built in (soft synths, rack moduals, etc...).
Would it be beneficial to you to get one even though you can't play the keyboard at all?
That depends on the equipment you already have, or plan on getting. If you're only using the MPC to create tracks then its not really necessary. But, if you're controlling sound moduals or somethin, or plan to in the near future, its a good idea to have one.
Production Set Up: Akai S900, S1000HD & MPC2000 (w/18megs, EB16 FX, CD-ROM, and Zip Drive) - Korg MS2000BR - Roland JV1080 (w/Vintage and Dance exp. cards) - XV5050, XP10 & VS880EX - Groove Tubes GT55 - Sony MDR7506 - Technics SL-D202 - Deep Crates-
