Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion mod?

Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By Neodymium Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:50 pm
RandomVibration wrote:Why ask the question if you think you have the answer or reject the answers of others? Go forth and do it.

.


While I kind of agree, I do like the 'thinking out loud aspect with forums'. If I was to talk to my friends about audio stuff, they'd be completely blank. Sometimes being challenged on things, makes defend an idea, but behind the exterior cogs start turning.

With technical issues for me often the outcomes are 1) a solution is provided 2) I have to live with that 3) running through the problem with others, makes me come up with solution out of no where, wasn't suggested or hinted at, just 'ah yeah' moments. (I've had 1 and 3 bot in the last week)

Forums are cool for this sh1t.
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By BKLYN Thu Jul 18, 2024 7:07 pm
Quickstrike2.0 wrote:
Yes there is a difference in sound between MPC x o.g and MPCx se. Black lion had to use different components for the mods So they charge a little bit more for the Mpcx se model. Because they have different components from the original MPCX.

all the MODERN units do not sound the same. I have all of them. They absolutely sound different.
I have The mod on my unit MPC X.

I AM QUICKSTIRKE209

Now let me try describing in words what it sounds like. Based off what you're going for. The mod wouldn't help. This mod helps with clarity and more separation. It doesn't bring more omph. But it does make your unit alot louder Volume wise.

Also, they change (add on) a external clock which is not not included with the original stock units. makes it a lot smoother but yet snapper sounding. (More dynamic Transients) :smoker:

https://soundcloud.com/black-lion-audio/trap-stock?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fblack-lion-audio%252Ftrap-stock


Thank you for entering this conversation!

When I say oomph, I mean a louder, cleaner, snappier sound, and I don't know how others couldn't hear the difference in your video, which was very clear.

Although I agree with you, I'm putting sending my MPC X to Black Lion on pause because I'm currently obsessed with the idea of buying a 24-track track reel-to-reel and either building a 500 series rig or just going all out and buying an SSL XL Desk for my home studio.

RandomVibration wrote:Why ask the question if you think you have the answer or reject the answers of others? Go forth and do it.

I doubt you’ll get a double-blind tested answer if that’s what you’re looking for. You’re going to get perspectives. Some you disagree with.

Do it and then tell us.


Some people here are just rude and lack manners, so instead of engaging in such negativity, I'm just bypassing them and responding to those who are being positive.

I came here peacefully asking a question, and I got attacked.

If I'm rejecting anything, it's some of the toxic attitudes that some people brought to the discussion.

I shared my process and my plan to avoid further issues, but some people want to be aggressive, so I've given up on expecting any civility here. I'm also not going to allow their negative actions to change my peaceful demeanor because I'm neither causing harm nor intending to harm.

I'm just an MPC Forum community member like you and everyone else here.

Discussions like this help me make critical decisions.

My goal is to serve the artists on my label as best I can and ensure they have the best-sounding records possible.

Although I'm pretty good at what I do, I don't know everything, and I'm not afraid to ask what I don't know, so I like to gather information and different opinions. This is how I gain perspective and make better moves for my artists.

I don't get the need for some people to be rude, but I won't accept or engage in such behavior...
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By BKLYN Thu Jul 18, 2024 7:09 pm
Neodymium wrote:
RandomVibration wrote:Why ask the question if you think you have the answer or reject the answers of others? Go forth and do it.

.


While I kind of agree, I do like the 'thinking out loud aspect with forums'. If I was to talk to my friends about audio stuff, they'd be completely blank. Sometimes being challenged on things, makes defend an idea, but behind the exterior cogs start turning.

With technical issues for me often the outcomes are 1) a solution is provided 2) I have to live with that 3) running through the problem with others, makes me come up with solution out of no where, wasn't suggested or hinted at, just 'ah yeah' moments. (I've had 1 and 3 bot in the last week)

Forums are cool for this sh1t.


^ This guy gets it^

Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By RandomVibration Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:33 pm
BKLYN wrote:
Quickstrike2.0 wrote:Some people here are just rude and lack manners, so instead of engaging in such negativity, I'm just bypassing them and responding to those who are being positive.

I came here peacefully asking a question, and I got attacked.

If I'm rejecting anything, it's some of the toxic attitudes that some people brought to the discussion.

I shared my process and my plan to avoid further issues, but some people want to be aggressive, so I've given up on expecting any civility here. I'm also not going to allow their negative actions to change my peaceful demeanor because I'm neither causing harm nor intending to harm.

I'm just an MPC Forum community member like you and everyone else here.

Discussions like this help me make critical decisions.

My goal is to serve the artists on my label as best I can and ensure they have the best-sounding records possible.

Although I'm pretty good at what I do, I don't know everything, and I'm not afraid to ask what I don't know, so I like to gather information and different opinions. This is how I gain perspective and make better moves for my artists.

I don't get the need for some people to be rude, but I won't accept or engage in such behavior...


I guess people are different. I prescribe to the “ask 100 people a question and you’ll get 100 unique answers to the question” idea. Some helpful and some less so but you asked the question.

If you’re judging a sound, use your own ears and make a decision off of what you hear not what someone else heard, thinks, or feels.
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By kja Fri Jul 19, 2024 2:44 pm
jaymack wrote:sometimes people think things are better only because they have already bought into them and dont want to think they got got

You could also say they exact opposite in that people who don't have something might try to convince themselves that it's is not really worth the investment and they are not really losing out on anything not having it. It goes both ways..
I think it all depends on each person's needs, I do think it would make a difference but I'm not at that level where it would matter much to me.
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By offline Fri Jul 19, 2024 6:55 pm
I was thinking about this "audio quality" for so long time that i lost track already.
Had a ton of various studio equipment, microphones, preamps, processors etc etc etc...
in some point i've asked myself a question - does random listener will hear a difference if i will record this beat and vocals on my tape recorder or thru rme inferface on macbook pro? - No, they won't. Do random listener will refuse to go on dancefloor when the dj play a beat with bassline made on behr poly d instead realdeal minimoog d? Agian, no - random person will not give a flying f about this audio "quality" thing.
The biggest deal is - we are doing it only for ourselves - not for anybody else.
If You want to mod your SE X with better IC's, caps and with better timing internal clock or whatever BLA will do with Your mpc - go for it - but be prepared for the fact that nobody will notice the difference in audio quality.
So i've sold 90% of my studio gear and i'm a happy man right now

Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By markr04 Sat Jul 20, 2024 3:20 am
offline wrote:If You want to mod your SE X with better IC's, caps and with better timing internal clock or whatever BLA will do with Your mpc - go for it - but be prepared for the fact that nobody will notice the difference in audio quality.


THIS. So much this. I design electronics in another field and audiophool salesmen are everywhere. Can't blame them for existing when people are willing to give them their money, though.

Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By emdog Sun Jul 21, 2024 10:56 pm
Black lions mods are good, they are usually concerned with upgrading the components that the mfg more than likely cheaped out on or went with the less expensive parts in order to keep the cost of the item lower. The mfg knows your average person isn’t concerned with getting that extra 10-20% increase in audio quality that more than likely would increase the price of the item by 20-30%. Same can be said for audio interfaces, anyone who thinks that the high end units aren’t any better than the lower end, probably hasn’t used them or hasn’t used them in a way that matters. It’s like cars, cars have their price points for certain markets, not everyone wants to spend $10k on brakes, but some can’t think of living without them.

I don’t have this mod, but the black lions mods typically shine when you are stacking tracks. If you have 30 vocal tracks stacked on top of drums, synths, guitars, etc, you will notice the difference the input mods are making during mix down and mastering.

That said, seems like it wouldn’t make much of a difference if you’re only using it for drums, but if you want the absolute best without having to attached devices and still keeps you portable, then maybe. The 500 series route sounds like a good idea, but if you are planning being portable with it, let me tell you, it’s not as portable as you think. If you plan on having 8 of the same 500 series channels (1 for each output), (EQ, compressor, pre), it will get heavy and large very quick. If you are planning on only having a channel for master outs and one for kick and or maybe snare, then it could be manageable. I would recommend the Rupert neve designs stuff if you go that route.
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By offline Mon Jul 22, 2024 10:46 am
emdog wrote:The mfg knows your average person isn’t concerned with getting that extra 10-20% increase in audio quality (...)


Ok, This is very unclear to me, you said about some 10-20% percentage increase of audio quality, how did You measure that ?
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By Telefunky Mon Jul 22, 2024 11:39 am
It‘s an arbitrary figure... essentially meaning manufacturing costs increase twice for whatever „improvement“ applied. :wink:
Real world (perceived) audio quality is a highly subjective domain.
To get a 10% „better“ sound, you‘d rather have to invest 90% more. :hmmm: :mrgreen:
ps: great tech specs don‘t necessarily translate to a great tone...
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By Jean-Marc Liotier Mon Jul 22, 2024 12:49 pm
Expensive analogue parts replacements seems quaint when many digital options such as USB audio and SPDIF offer a complete noise-free chain cheaply.

My MPC One uses the Roland MX-1 as a fancy audio interface, where my Roland Aira gear goes too - and mix out goes through SPDIF to an old PC that records it... All of this second-hand - noise-free doesn't get any cheaper than that, bar a DAW or purely internal MPC rendering.
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Re: Does the MPC X SE sound just as good as the Black Lion m

By Neodymium Mon Jul 22, 2024 1:31 pm
Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:Expensive analogue parts replacements seems quaint when many digital options such as USB audio and SPDIF offer a complete noise-free chain cheaply.

My MPC One uses the Roland MX-1 as a fancy audio interface, where my Roland Aira gear goes too - and mix out goes through SPDIF to an old PC that records it... All of this second-hand - noise-free doesn't get any cheaper than that, bar a DAW or purely internal MPC rendering.


And an ADAT interface connected to an MPC, connected to a ADAT interface on a computer will give you 8-16 channels
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