MPC2000XL LOOKS BETTER THAN THE LIVE?

Menco wrote:I hoped the Live could be my ‘side MPC’, but that didn’t work out.

The only Side MPC for a true playa is another MPC.

Keep the original long enough, eventually it will be different. Because people will mod it, lose knob, change pads, paint it, damage it, etc. etc. Then they'll wish they had the original, with all OEM parts.

Unreallystic wrote:I feel bad... I actually do NOT like the look. To be fair, I'm not a fan of the look of the Live - black with red trim is "meh" to me as a design aesthetic, but I also prefer my stuff looking different from everyone elese's.

It's almost like they don't want any to take it apart.

BEZO wrote:I was >this< close to getting red qlink knobs, red rotary knob & red pads. Then Tutor swapped the textured qlink knobs for smooth ones. And I saw a vid changing the pads on the Live. It's gotten more complicated than earlier MPCs.

Get color you like so you can be happy. MPC Live looks ok to me. I love all black, but that 2000XL to me is the business

Unreallystic wrote:I feel bad... I actually do NOT like the look. To be fair, I'm not a fan of the look of the Live - black with red trim is "meh" to me as a design aesthetic, but I also prefer my stuff looking different from everyone elese's, I love unique and bespoken looks, the closer to "manufactured" a product looks, the less interesting it looks to me. I'm "eh" about wood as well, it CAN look good, but often fills thrown in just to say that it has wood.

Give me a primary color as a base, and then we can talk. Give me a 100% red MPC Live - red pads, red metal, etc. Then I'll get excited. Won't happen, its too extreme, but *shrug* got to rep where I am from - we like strong colors.
- Unreall

Danoc wrote:Get color you like so you can be happy. MPC Live looks ok to me. I love all black, but that 2000XL to me is the business

I thought about iu, thought about it hard. I was actually going to do a full custom design based around a squid design, but there isn't enough surface area on the Live to have some real custom fun, best you can do is redo the coloring, but even with that, trying to get the buttons/dials to match...eh. Redoing the text as well...eh.

CharlesRandolph wrote:Keep the original long enough, eventually it will be different. Because people will mod it, lose knob, change pads, paint it, damage it, etc. etc. Then they'll wish they had the original, with all OEM parts.

Nah. we are (3) years into the life of the Live, based on something that does get customized a fair bit, is based off an identical previous design, and all I've seen are the stickers to change the base color, pads, and some knob swap outs (MPC-Stuff). Can't tell if its popularity, the look, lack of interest, or difficulty, but people aren't really modding their Lives or Xs. The nature of the Live/X has prevented heavy modding internally as well, so I don't see that happening much here.

Since I usually finance my purchases, my rule is leave it stock until paid off, if the urge is still there, then you can mod it afterwards. I've been debating upgrading to an X, waiting for NAMM (though it sounds less and less like I should expect anything), but if I upgrade, then I'm selling my Live, so I don't want to do anything to it so long as reselling is on the table.
- Unreall

Oh, Ok Unreal

That pic I posted got me up in arms LOL that MPC just looks so dam sexy!

Menco wrote:

CharlesRandolph wrote:Good approach. Also the 2500 is still functionally improving because of JJOS. If he could implement, the ability to render stems, I'll buy a 2500 right now.

Yup. Dedicated machines for dedicated tasks. No more the ‘All in one printer scenario’. Sold the Live today and bought the Studio so I can still do some MPC specific tweeks quickly when in plugin mode.

Ouch! I hate to say it but get the Live back hah. I started with the Studio, used it religiously every day all day while I was out of work for like 7 months until I bought the Live. Size-wise, the Studio is pretty big too. Its maybe half the thickness of the Live but areawise it probably takes up more space. And you need to drag a computer with you to use it. That software, as much as I loved it, aint the greatest or most stable thing to trust in. The frequency at which it randomly corrupts project files was pretty crazy. I haven't spent more than about 2 minutes in the 2.7 version but 2.6 and below HATED Sound Toys plugins among others too. Just be warned. The Live is way more trustworthy, and the pads on a brand new Studio Black are pretty shit too. Mine's completely different than my Live or any other Akai controller I own or have used.

Danoc, why don’t u customize your live? New q links, skin, etc. maybe something to match that korg you’re jonesing over. Just a thought.

There’s no reason you can’t customize it to look just as cold as the xl.

I have made that pic my desk top pic

No sir! That Kive isn't leaving my sight. I like the way the Live looks. It works and lm not going to mess around and get it messed up.

Oh Yo that Korg is a done deal, lm bout to have some fun with that joint and the Live

Cockdiesel wrote:Danoc, why don’t u customize your live? New q links, skin, etc. maybe something to match that korg you’re jonesing over. Just a thought.

There’s no reason you can’t customize it to look just as cold as the xl.

Come on... you could do black on grey to match up with it. It’s just a skin you can take it off same if you wanted to change the pads and qlinks.
You’ll be in for a treat, although the learning curve to program will be steep, there’s plenty there. I’m telling you, the miniak and live is the most fun I had making beats. The korg looks to be more fun. Set it up anywhere and get down. It wasn’t productive but running my tv/dvd player into the inputs of the mini ak and then into the live in my living room is how I spent the last year. Wasn’t productive in terms of finished product, but my keys playing is crazy better. I just didn’t have the extra time and energy to follow things through properly, but I like where I’m heading. Might be coming back to nc, I’ll have a lot more time but less room for 2-6 months. I don’t have much room now, my computer and main setup is crammed into a corner in my 1 bedroom apt. Just can’t get the vibe in there.
Most I’ll have room for if I get this promotion will be a laptop and my mpc and small controller keyboard. But only for a short time until I’m able get something more permanen.

MPCstuff makes the 2000xl skin.

https://www.mpcstuff.com/akai-mpc-live-custom-color-faceplate-skin-kit-cover-case/

Monotremata wrote:Ouch! I hate to say it but get the Live back hah. I started with the Studio, used it religiously every day all day while I was out of work for like 7 months until I bought the Live. Size-wise, the Studio is pretty big too. Its maybe half the thickness of the Live but areawise it probably takes up more space. And you need to drag a computer with you to use it. That software, as much as I loved it, aint the greatest or most stable thing to trust in. The frequency at which it randomly corrupts project files was pretty crazy. I haven't spent more than about 2 minutes in the 2.7 version but 2.6 and below HATED Sound Toys plugins among others too. Just be warned. The Live is way more trustworthy, and the pads on a brand new Studio Black are pretty shit too. Mine's completely different than my Live or any other Akai controller I own or have used.

I won’t be using the Studio and software that much. I only use it to get everything I’ve done on the 2500 into Logic to use Logic and 3rd party plugins and VST. Minor tweaks will be done in the software, like changing the pitch of that kick 1 semitone, or adding an open hihat last minute. I had the Studio before, tried to get things going on the Live for over a year. I know this setup will be the best solution for my workflow. I won’t be cutting the Laptop out of my setup, that’s for sure. So laptop with the Studio takes up less space than a laptop and the Live. I’ve never used and never will use the Live to it’s full potential. I find that everything the Live does can be excecuted easier, better and faster with my 2500 and Logic combo, with the MPC software in plugin mode only to import my projects.

What about the LIVE did not gel with you?

Menco wrote:I won’t be using the Studio and software that much. I only use it to get everything I’ve done on the 2500 into Logic to use Logic and 3rd party plugins and VST. Minor tweaks will be done in the software, like changing the pitch of that kick 1 semitone, or adding an open hihat last minute. I had the Studio before, tried to get things going on the Live for over a year. I know this setup will be the best solution for my workflow.

Just get this, put it in your pocket, and click the button. :lo

Danoc wrote:No sir! That Kive isn't leaving my sight. I like the way the Live looks. It works and lm not going to mess around and get it messed up.

Oh Yo that Korg is a done deal, lm bout to have some fun with that joint and the Live

CharlesRandolph wrote:What about the LIVE did not gel with you?
Just get this, put it in your pocket, and click the button. :lo

As someone with a large number of pocket operators - including that one,
I need that case

The POs never worked out for me liked I hoped, I was going to keep them on me in a satchel type bag so I can work on music whenever, but "I" personally was never able to massage anything worthwhile out of them. Fun yes, worth plugging into an interface to record to my computer and mix down? Nope.
- Unreall