Mpc 3000 + Apogee Ensemble : Midi side of things!?

Hi,

Ive been scouting this forum + gearslutz intensively and ive been gathering as much information as i could. Hope my question is specific enough to deserve a thread.

I own an mpc 3000. I do not own a proper soundcard. My choice leans towards the apogee ensemble... for various reasons but i dont want to start another interface showdown here :'(

I'll make this as clear as possible

Seemingly,

I know the ensemble has no midi implementation

I know it works well with logic

I know the 3k doesnt work so well with logic midi-wise

What would be the best option for me to sync my mpc 3000 to logic in order to use it as its own sequencer considering these choices : midi-to-usb-adaptor, emagic unitor, motu fastlane, or others???

Id like the akai to start in perfect sync with logic and to loop properly inside logic.

In clearer terms : Would a firewire audio interface with midi implementation perform better then the ensemble + a dedicated midi interface in this context????

Just for the rec :

I want to Sync up my mpc 3000 to play alongside logic and loop properly, but while using the mpc 3000's internal sequencer for whatever i feed in. I do not want to use the 3k as a controller for logic, and i do not want to use the 3k as a sampler (sound holder) sequenced by logic : i want the mpc to play its own sequence, with sounds ill sample as i go... but i want it to start, stop and loop in sync with logic, which will play a bunch of vsts on its own side. That way i wish to be able to (1) dub synth parts over my mpc-held-grooves (2) track out my mpc thru the 8 outs without any hassle*.

*Ive read intensively on the subject over various forums and it seems there is no way to enslave logic to the 3k... so i guess it'll be the most realistic task i could give my 3k... ive kinda buried my dreams of having the 3k control all sorts of vsts and sampling as i playback and stuff.. this is a much more mature thread

Finally, heres a list of the gear i use :

macbook pro 15 inch i5... with snow leopard osx 10.6.4
mpc 3000
midi keyboard with no usb adaptor, straight midi.
logic pro 9 : sometimes rewiring reason (and sometimes ableton live as i use it for live sets)

....

its a LOT of information but i know people can rarely help when issues described are poorly explained or have already been discussed numerous times

thx much!!!!!!!!!

I've got an Ensemble, a 3000, a 1X1 Edirol UM-1 USB to MIDI interface, and Logic. I run everything as you've just described.

Anyone who says they can't get the MPC in sync with Logic isn't doing it right.

I dont see any reason that using the Apogee Ensemble and an USB to MIDI adaptor would be a bad thing. Honestly I haven't used an external MIDI interface in a long time but they are fairly cheap if you just need 1 set of I/O. I remember hearing good things about the older Emagic Midi I/O unit that allowed 8 channels i think.

I use a Black Lion Modded Digi002r for audio and MIDI and that sync's to my 3000LE perfectly, but cost wise for the mod (really I can't imagine working back on a stock unit anymore) plus buying a used 002r is probably above what you are after anyway. I say go for it with the Emagic midi box and you should be happy!