Vst versus a keyboard/workstation

I been thinking about this, also since I really prefer working in stand alone mode on the mpc live...I was thinking about not using the laptop with mpc software but perhaps as a sound module I connect to the mpc through midi/audio or usb. But then I was thinking instead of a laptop with many expensive vst's how about a roland fantom or
yamaha montage instead. No more laptop and no longer reliant on the capabilities of the laptop and better sounds... what do you think the pc/laptop is the best workstation or do rather use standalone with one expensive keyboard-workstation with all the sounds you ever need?
I'm thinking saving up for a second hand fantom or montage...and done with laptop reliance and hopefully mpc live adds mouse support for the sequence editing is tedious at times with the fingers, or is a stylus effective enough??
Talk to me
Parialated/mpcholland
https://parialated.bandcamp.com/album/d ... t-secret-2

as a roland fantom + mpcx user , i also prefer standalone but it depend really of yours needs. when it comes to realistic sounds like all the orchestral stuff in vst, you have to be aware that no workstation can beat thoses sounds. if you wanna design your own sound or use average but not best sounds of real instruments, then the workstation is an option imho

Yeah I was just looking at videos of yamaha montage roland fantom it can't beat the native instruments komplete sounds...native should make a workstation containing all komplete expansions it would sell like hotcakes...but still am I right in believing with the fantom I can use my laptop as a vst host that I can then even alter in the fantom before I send it to the mpc?? If so fantom would be the obvious choice leaving room to rely on vst's...

I never could figure out vsti's and shit, so I got a MicroKorg. Thats probably not what you want considering the synths you mentioned, but what I can say is that a hardware synth and a mpc works like a charm. Midi is so ridicously easy it saves me so much headaches.

So yeah, I can definitly recommend it.

"FANTOM-0 slides seamlessly into modern production setups with a built-in 4x32 USB audio interface, while native integration with Logic Pro, MainStage, and Ableton Live lets you interact with the software using the touchscreen and hardware controls. Going further, you can freely combine soft synths with FANTOM-0’s onboard sounds and interface with your favorite MIDI hardware via the dedicated MIDI output."
So yeah I rather use the laptop as a sound module than as a daw and with the fantom I have the option to host vst's, thats crazy.. you should experiment with it and make a video or something...

Christov wrote:I never could figure out vsti's and shit, so I got a MicroKorg. Thats probably not what you want considering the synths you mentioned, but what I can say is that a hardware synth and a mpc works like a charm. Midi is so ridicously easy it saves me so much headaches.

So yeah, I can definitly recommend it.

Do you sample the audio and turn them into clips or wav files? or do you save the presets on the korg??

Parialated wrote:I been thinking about this, also since I really prefer working in stand alone mode on the mpc live...I was thinking about not using the laptop with mpc software but perhaps as a sound module I connect to the mpc through midi/audio or usb. But then I was thinking instead of a laptop with many expensive vst's how about a roland fantom or
yamaha montage instead. No more laptop and no longer reliant on the capabilities of the laptop and better sounds... what do you think the pc/laptop is the best workstation or do rather use standalone with one expensive keyboard-workstation with all the sounds you ever need?
I'm thinking saving up for a second hand fantom or montage...and done with laptop reliance and hopefully mpc live adds mouse support for the sequence editing is tedious at times with the fingers, or is a stylus effective enough??
Talk to me
Parialated/mpcholland
https://parialated.bandcamp.com/album/d ... t-secret-2

What I think is: if you already have a current-gen MPC, then you already have a standalone workstation. That's how I use my MPC (and Force) anyway - although I do keep a decent MIDI controller keyboard plugged in for the "keyboard" part of the workstation.

True it will be a superior sequencer/sampler/drumcomputer compared to workstations that only utilize 16 tracks whereas mpc supports about 128 tracks...but I want to get rid of mpc software and the laptop, aside from using it as a vst host, if the sounds of fantom/montage aren't sufficing, but keep it simple a workstation with great keybed and bread and butter sounds

Parialated wrote:

Christov wrote:I never could figure out vsti's and shit, so I got a MicroKorg. Thats probably not what you want considering the synths you mentioned, but what I can say is that a hardware synth and a mpc works like a charm. Midi is so ridicously easy it saves me so much headaches.

So yeah, I can definitly recommend it.

Do you sample the audio and turn them into clips or wav files? or do you save the presets on the korg??

I never tweak the presets too much to be honest, just use it for basslines. But I enter the programname (say, a53) as the trackname in my mpc2500 and when its time to track the beat track it into my DAW. Never could be bother to fogure out how to sample it in my mpc, although its definitly possible.

However, this was all when I mainly used a mpc2500. Now that I got a One I basicly use the internal synths and my Microkorg basicly has become a midikeyboard. So I use the One I guess in a similar way to how EnochLight is using his current generation MPC.

IMO it's best to wrap your head around using MPC with both options: a laptop as sound module and external gear as one. Jut to get fluent with it to be able to utilize it quickly if you need to sample or MIDI-up something.

I have an old Yamaha s90 and i use it mainly as external sound source (not counting sampling records), IMO it's faster and less distracting than using a computer. I hook up computer when i work on beats i started with Maschine that i'm moving into MPC. It depends on your workflow basically, but IMO it's good to know how to use all available options.

I was thinking about using my laptop as a sound module but haven't figured out how to control/sync the midi. Has anyone done this and what sort of connections are they using?

Do you directly plug the laptop into the mpc usb (not the controller one) or a hub
Go through a midi interface
Go through a USB audio interface

I have an old NI traktor DJ interface with USB and midi DIN but my MPC ONE doesn't want to see it either it as a USB device (I imagine its so old its not class compliant) or through midi DIN.

Parialated wrote:I been thinking about this, also since I really prefer working in stand alone mode on the mpc live...I was thinking about not using the laptop with mpc software but perhaps as a sound module I connect to the mpc through midi/audio or usb. But then I was thinking instead of a laptop with many expensive vst's how about a roland fantom or
yamaha montage instead. No more laptop and no longer reliant on the capabilities of the laptop and better sounds... what do you think the pc/laptop is the best workstation or do rather use standalone with one expensive keyboard-workstation with all the sounds you ever need?
I'm thinking saving up for a second hand fantom or montage...and done with laptop reliance and hopefully mpc live adds mouse support for the sequence editing is tedious at times with the fingers, or is a stylus effective enough??
Talk to me
Parialated/mpcholland
https://parialated.bandcamp.com/album/d ... t-secret-2

I've always worked like this, i just never get the same interaction with a Computer regardless of what DAW I have used it just seems too dysfunctional for me to be using a laptop/Computer and composing with a mouse,I did start my musical Journey on the Atari/Cubase but once I found the MPC way never looked back mainly as it was rock solid for timing ,like Cubase/Atari
I've Used Cubase on the PC but always suffered with issues and drivers stuff and then tried Reason,which was great but I've moved away more from the Computer over the years other than for editing samples and stuff, and over the years I've been writing music, the crossover and link between man and computer for music has become better with more tactile controllers coming to the market the X seems to bridge that gap acting as controller for software.

its just not for me to work within the software domain,I prefer the tactile approach when it comes to making music, bolt me an MPC to a load of hardware synths and Modules and I'm totally at home,the MPC is essentially a Workstation it just has a different interface to create music from your traditional Keyboard method, but bolt on your controller of choice and its the same but with more flexibility,I hope that Akai do go down the MPC Key route, that would be the ultimate dream for me

I'm a traditional songwriter in the sense I dont use the MPC like perhaps most normal users of the MPC would, its a sequencer for me to get ideas down quickly and easily and complete songs far quicker than traditional synth Workstations with more of the editing tools I need and i think the MPC line is overlooked by a lot of people because it has this image of only being good for Sample/Beat Hiphop type tracks, which is totally a myth,The MPC line always worked for me because I like to work in a semi live way, allowing me to improvise and flow better than I got with software

I've used dozens of Sequencers on Workstations but none ever came close to the Functions of an MPC,too many of these big end synths like Kronos/Oasys/Older Fantoms fall way short and are nothing more than a scratchpad for any other than idea they lack some of the most basic editing tools and there is far too much page flipping on the screens.

The Fantom G series came massively close to the perfect Sequencing workstation for me as it was so close to the MV8800 sequencer which i used for a long time but Roland just left it by the wayside,I think the newer generation of Fantoms are going the right way working more like Abletons method in a standalone machine

However in the background i have always stuck with my MPC4K.

Hoping to find that same solace in the X since it has better Audio track manipulation, but will still keep it standalone with all my Midi gear in tow