Really need some advice DAW vs MPC

Ive been producing music for a while but mostly done the midi keyboard and Daw style production. I always thought everything that you can do on an MPC is easily done using a midi keyboard but now i realize there are some advantages with the MPC . My main concern is to spend money on features that I wont be using.

1.) If i only want to use an MPC for Drums specifically and running that recording into my daw which MPC is the best to use? My melodies and Basslines are all played through my midi keyboard since im a heavy VST guy. I want to get an MPC that would be worth it for mainly drum recording because I feel you get a better sound playing your drums through pads then actual keys on a keyboard. (Velocity and performance issues)

2.) The new MPC touch and Renaissance are great pieces of equipment but if I only want to play drums on my mpc and then track that back into my DAW would it be worth it investing in one of those?

If there are any benefits that I am not aware of could somebody please educate a homie!

appreciate all the advice

I don't want to bring you off the MPC stuff, but in your case I would seriously consider getting an NI Maschine. The old ones can be bought used for less money.
You could still use your VST(i) and use the results in a DAW easier. Maybe try it before you decide?

I heard good things about the Maschine. I will definitely look into that one.

In my case getting the Maschine is easier to use basically? Are MPC's a bit more for producing complete songs within the hardware itself I'm assuming?

thanks for the reply

Another thing I wanted to point. If i can use either the MPC or Maschine, my goal was to completely record a drumloop inside the mpc itself and then just loading that into my DAW.

The only relation i plan to have with my DAW and the MPC would be to transfer samples or recordings ive done on the MPC hardware and just mixing that inside my daw. I dont want to deal with latency issues by controlling sounds loaded in the DAW from my MPC if that makes sense? I really want to just record anything loaded in the mpc and just transfer that to an empty track in my DAW.

Would either MPC or Maschine work in that case?

well are you looking for a piece of hardware that is self contained that can be recorded into the computer or a computer program with a controller?

honestly, it sounds to me like any pad controller and something like native instruments battery would do the job... but for standalone then most of the old MPCs would be fine too.

see my lack of knowledge on MPCs itself is why im kind of confused. but if i can keep it short. Im heavy on VSTS for melodies and what not. I use my MIDI keyboard (akai A-88)

I just want to try a new way of recording drum loops with preloaded samples. I cant get a good feel recording drums through my midi keyboard.

The idea i had was if I can get an MPC of any sort where I can record a random drum loop with some percussion and load that recording into my daw without dealing with latency. Then just handle the rest of the production inside the DAW. Would there be any benefit like that?
Can you pan percussion pretty easily inside the mpc or maschine?

The new Akai Touch is pretty attractive but it has a ton of features I dont think ill end up using but you never know.

the ren, studio, and touch are USB controllers that use akai software on the computer to function.. that will work... you can use the akai software as a vst in your daw.

any other mpc does not hook up to the computer... you load samples and sounds in them and make the drums in the mpc itself.. then record the result through the outputs into your computer and put the .wav file into your project in the computer.

ahh,,that makes sense. Well i had one more question regarding your post.

With the other MPC's that do NOT hook up to the CPU, do they have a better sound (deeper/fuller) compared to the USB controller based MPCs?
Is that considered an Analog signal recording before it gets converted into Digital via PC?

it's subjective really... all MPCs are digital (they record an analog signal and convert it to digital where the sample is being stored in ram to be played or manipulated.. then it gets converted to analog to go to either a set of speakers to be heard, or into a computer interface where it gets converted back to digital again.

in that sense it is the same as your daw, it's digital in the box, but it gets converted to analog so it can be sent to headphones or speakers. an MPC is basically a computer with memory, a motherboard, and a drive to store your saved things. The difference is, on an old hardware based MPC, it is a dedicated piece of equipment that does only the one task and not a machine taking care of millions of other operations.

now taking that bit of info into account, you have some sound differences between the old machines and the new ones.. but we are talking clean signal without using EQ or things to alter the way a sample sounds... the analog to digital converters on various MPC models are different, so they sound different. On the first mpc that ever came out in 1988 (the mpc 60) they didn't have the same tech we have now so they sound like the fidelity is a bit less bright compared to a modern audio interface. Sometimes that is desired.. it can be sought after... is it better? not unless it's better for you and the sound you're going for... But don't get me wrong, the mpc60 may be less bright and sharp but it has a bit of a thump in the low end that just comes naturally without running a sound through EQs and stuff...

honestly, you have to look at some music made on these old machines and see what you like. The new ren and studio will not have those characteristics really.. the sounds in those will sound the way you design it to sound.

This is a very subjective thing we're talking about... but generally speaking the MPCs that are considered the best sounding are the 60 and the 3000 (that is what i hear most people say) .. I have a 60, it's nice... but it is what it is... the features on the 60 are nothing compared to a new music making product because the machine is 25 years old... so you may have a cool sounding machine that can only deal with between 13 and 26 seconds of sample time depending on if you have the ram expansion... you would need to learn how to economize on how long your sounds are in a machine like that compared to the limitless sample time of a computer DAW.

I suggest for the time being, maybe it might be cheaper and easier for you to get battery 3 or 4 and use your keyboard... or get a trigger finger or MPD 32 or some kind of thing like that... it has a lot more capability and you wont have to deal with old outdated hardware for no reason.. when we deal with these old machines it's because we enjoy the hobby, we enjoy the workflow of those machines... it in 2015 an option now we can go to... not like 15 years ago when that was your only choice.

Thanks for your explanation that makes alot of sense and it is truly subjective like you're saying. it makes sense to take in account of the recording process behind the MPC and if you're really into that style or not.

Well ive been looking at the Akai MPD226 and MPD218. With these two, am I lacking anything as far as Pad sensitivity/performance compared to the TOUCH/REN?
I think its smarter I start out with the MPD like you suggested because Ive honestly never played around with these and where I live there is no pro audio store nearby to go and test it out.

Like i said I only want a better feel as far as recording drums mainly everything else will be inside the daw.


thanks again for your time

i am guessing the pads will be the same as the ren.. the touch i don't know, they look thicker.. however that is a feel thing and now a sensitivity thing. I suggest getting the 226 over the 218 just for the extra knobs and that so you can assign them to parameters.. if the price is similar. I don't know the prices... the thing about those is, you can use it with any software you get in the future.

nice. I think the pads are just fine for the MPD 226. Its saving me a lot more and a great way to start my way into the mpc world for sure. I think my research is done for now.

thank you my friend.

one love