First impressions and questions!

djst wrote:I want the ability to "write down" those happy accidents and cool ideas rather than having to perform them manually again and again every time I start the song. The MPC One, in theory at least, offers the ability to automate all of those fun live performances so that I basically only have to do it well once, and then I can play it back as often as I like

Slightly related - don't forget that your MPC One also has retroactive MIDI recording on at all times. If you're ever messing around with an idea that you forget to record, hold Shift+Record to print all of your past noodling into the grid.

EnochLight wrote:

djst wrote:I want the ability to "write down" those happy accidents and cool ideas rather than having to perform them manually again and again every time I start the song. The MPC One, in theory at least, offers the ability to automate all of those fun live performances so that I basically only have to do it well once, and then I can play it back as often as I like

Slightly related - don't forget that your MPC One also has retroactive MIDI recording on at all times. If you're ever messing around with an idea that you forget to record, hold Shift+Record to print all of your past noodling into the grid.

That is a great tip, thank you! And keep 'em coming! I especially love workflow related keyboard shortcuts because knowing them by heart tends to make using hardware more efficient and fun.

delete

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The digitone is a synth with a sequencer.. Mpc is a workstation.. They are very different.

EnochLight wrote:Slightly related - don't forget that your MPC One also has retroactive MIDI recording on at all times. If you're ever messing around with an idea that you forget to record, hold Shift+Record to print all of your past noodling into the grid.

Holy shit how did I not know this?? Was this always there?

kja wrote:The digitone is a synth with a sequencer.. Mpc is a workstation.. They are very different.

Indeed, they are very different. Still, if you squint, they represent (to me) two forms of stepping out of the computer daw environment to create music in new inspiring ways, and each have their pros and cons.

djst wrote:

kja wrote:The digitone is a synth with a sequencer.. Mpc is a workstation.. They are very different.

Indeed, they are very different. Still, if you squint, they represent (to me) two forms of stepping out of the computer daw environment to create music in new inspiring ways, and each have their pros and cons.

Yes but i guess my point is that while it is new, the majority of stuff in the mpc has been around since the 90's.. Most of the workflow and how the screens are organized, even how the browser is, has been around a long time.. It had to stay the same while elektron created a much easier to use system in the analog series that the digitone is based on. The mpc has all ways been painfully complicated with options nobody really needs while newer stuff just makes the process much easier..

Mpc is so bloated with features now it just hurts that they chose this path.. Of all my gear it is the hardest to make stuff on that is longer then 8 bars or so..

I have a digitone keys btw, I really love it and find it much better at making lively great sounding beats.. I wish it could do everything the mpc can though, but as far as workstation stuff, mpc is still the best next to roland fantom I feel. Maybe even better but I don't have a fantom to compare.. Machine is great! Much better but just doesn't have enough options like controlling things as well as mpc or roland does

Your statement is confusing. You say the MPC has feature bloat and you prefer other hardware but you wish they could do the things the MPC does. It sounds more like a aesthetic preference then anything. Not trying to sound like a jerk but if you feel overwhelmed by all the things it can do, why not just use the features you are comfortable with until you have a better grasp on how things works. The MPC is not at all a complicated device once you learn it. Everything you can do is right in your face on the screen with decent descriptors. And the undo button is always at hand so you can fiddle with things and undo in a instant.

Quick day 2 update (I was traveling for a few days so couldn't use it again until this evening):

Coolest feature I've discovered so far on the MPC: per-pad and per-program XYFX recorded as automations in a sequence. Honestly, this beats trig locks in the Digitone/Digitakt, or at least more than covers for the lack of it. I was able to generate insanely cool effects as happy accidents and they are all saved into the sequence! This definitely means the MPC already checks the most important thing I bought it for: to use as a way to generate new inspiring ideas outside of the DAW environment.

Most useful feature so far: the Undo button. The fact that the Digitone/Digitakt don't have it is a real shame given how easy it is to mess up...

Most surprising discovery: the very powerful arpeggiator. Is there a faster button shortcut to enable/disable it without fiddling with the touch screen? I love how the arp let's you jam out with it and then, if you create something you like, you just hit Record and it records the notes into the sequence. Very neat!

Most frustrating part so far: can't figure out how to reorder tracks, making the track mute page really counter-intuitive (e.g. bass and sub bass on totally different locations). Is there a way? More generally, staying organized is a chore on the MPC, it would really help to have a list overview where you could easily reorder/remove tracks/programs/sequences. Some sort of overview of the structure of the project. Also, can pad colors be set for tracks (for use in the track mute page)?

The arp is really cool, its even better with pad perform mode. You cant reorder tracks per se but you can Copy tracks to desired location then delete original. Kind of a pain but not so bad once you really get use to doing it. The fact copying/deleting a track is lightening fast makes it bearable. The real key is keeping track of what you moved where so you don't accidentally delete something. But fortunately we have that lovely undo button which takes away all fright.

DItto for project overview and easy deletion of unused things.

You also can't reorder insert effects. I read somewhere, probably on this forum, that it's due to someone having patents on dragging things on a touch screen. "Patently absurd", as the saying goes. So you better plan ahead what you're going to do. No improvising, because you can't change it later.

Another annoying thing is getting wav files named something like "Audio Recording 001.wav" because the track wasn't named BEFORE recording.

In the Sample Assign screen, you can drag and drop samples.

djst wrote:Quick day 2 update (I was traveling for a few days so couldn't use it again until this evening):

Coolest feature I've discovered so far on the MPC: per-pad and per-program XYFX recorded as automations in a sequence. Honestly, this beats trig locks in the Digitone/Digitakt, or at least more than covers for the lack of it. I was able to generate insanely cool effects as happy accidents and they are all saved into the sequence! This definitely means the MPC already checks the most important thing I bought it for: to use as a way to generate new inspiring ideas outside of the DAW environment.

Most useful feature so far: the Undo button. The fact that the Digitone/Digitakt don't have it is a real shame given how easy it is to mess up...

Most surprising discovery: the very powerful arpeggiator. Is there a faster button shortcut to enable/disable it without fiddling with the touch screen? I love how the arp let's you jam out with it and then, if you create something you like, you just hit Record and it records the notes into the sequence. Very neat!

Most frustrating part so far: can't figure out how to reorder tracks, making the track mute page really counter-intuitive (e.g. bass and sub bass on totally different locations). Is there a way? More generally, staying organized is a chore on the MPC, it would really help to have a list overview where you could easily reorder/remove tracks/programs/sequences. Some sort of overview of the structure of the project. Also, can pad colors be set for tracks (for use in the track mute page)?

It just takes a bit preplanning. Don't go making sequences with tracks all over the place but try to use the same system every single time. It will save you headaches if you preplan your tracks and keep that as a default so it will be the same for every song or pattern you create. Oh and don't forget to name your tracks.

It's quite crazy that Mpc has reached this very high level of quality but still we cannot reorder tracks and fx.
We still have to play some sort of Tetris, copy the track or insert fx somewhere else, delete, move, replace.
Maybe Akai wants to keep an old school vibe on Mpc.