Is the battery in the MPC worth it?

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Eyalc wrote:
Was using a 5000 heavy, then when the software was released, I sold the 5000 and bought an MPC Studio - but couldn’t go from the 5000 screen size back to that small screen again, so sold the Studio and used Logic solely. Then bought a Touch, and realized it wasn’t just the smaller screen of the Studio I didn’t like - it was the software that I didn’t like either, so I sold the Touch.

Bought a Live because of standalone, exporting stems and could put an internal SSD in it. The battery wasn’t a factor. It’s been convenient a couple times, but most of the time when I’m in front of the Live, I’m there for a few hours - never tried to use it that long on battery.

Are you rendering stems or tracking? Have you setup the LIVE to control Logic?

Only rendering.

No I don’t use the Live to control Logic. That’s like an adult (Logic) taking direction from a 5 year old (Live). LOL. Nah, but I just never had the need nor desire to set up the Live. I just use the Live to generate ideas, lay the foundation for tracks. But then I render the stems when it makes sense, and move everything into Logic.

The MPC for me is a variable in the equation. I could do what I do with it or without it. A DAW though - necessary. I continue to use the MPC because of past experience. It’s comfortable.

CharlesRandolph wrote:3.5 hours sitting idle. How long when you're actually using it?

kaydigi wrote:I have a launch version of the Live. I wish I had the Live with the second gen battery. I only get 3.5 to 3.75 hours on battery even just sitting idle.

I remember someone pointing out that they changed the battery wording on the Live boxes and people reporting 5 to 6 hour uses.

If I have to do a long session I have a power bank with me just in case. I use to use my mpc 1000 in portable mode with it all the time.

If the X ever gets a price drop, I’ll get rid of the Live and just stick with the X.

Range from 3 hours to 3:20 depending on what i'm doing. Longest session I ever had was around 4 and half hours. That's still short to me since others were getting 5 plus.

yea...if it wasn't for the battery I would not have bought it. since I got it I gave my maschine studio to my son and have barely used my iPad for music. the only time I ever use the live plugged in is when I'm bringing a piece over to a daw or when it needs charging

lih wrote:yea...if it wasn't for the battery I would not have bought it. since I got it I gave my maschine studio to my son and have barely used my iPad for music. the only time I ever use the live plugged in is when I'm bringing a piece over to a daw or when it needs charging

What would've you have bought?

Eyalc wrote:Only rendering.

No I don’t use the Live to control Logic. That’s like an adult (Logic) taking direction from a 5 year old (Live). LOL. Nah, but I just never had the need nor desire to set up the Live. I just use the Live to generate ideas, lay the foundation for tracks. But then I render the stems when it makes sense, and move everything into Logic.

The MPC for me is a variable in the equation. I could do what I do with it or without it. A DAW though - necessary. I continue to use the MPC because of past experience. It’s comfortable.

In this world, the children tell the parents what to do. Here's a questions, do you think the drain of the battery on the MPC Live will affect the used price. How would someone test the current conditions of the battery. Is there and on board diagnostic?

Battery condition is likely hard to tell without access to the os. I know it is Linux under the hood, so it is possible to get a cycle count... but could not tell you how to do it myself.

I wonder if akai pro had the user data on their battery usage and cycle. Maybe when it’s connected to the software the software reports home.

NearTao wrote:Battery condition is likely hard to tell without access to the os. I know it is Linux under the hood, so it is possible to get a cycle count... but could not tell you how to do it myself.

CharlesRandolph wrote:I wonder if akai pro had the user data on their battery usage and cycle. Maybe when it’s connected to the software the software reports home.

NearTao wrote:Battery condition is likely hard to tell without access to the os. I know it is Linux under the hood, so it is possible to get a cycle count... but could not tell you how to do it myself.

Yeah it also reports home the temperature of your fingers

Frisbi wrote:Yeah it also reports home the temperature of your fingers

If I was only joking.

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CharlesRandolph wrote:

Frisbi wrote:Yeah it also reports home the temperature of your fingers

If I was only joking.

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Frisbi wrote:Beware when you make a new beat.
Inmusic knows which beat you are making.

You'll be surprised what these companies know. If a battery is not in the MPC LIVE MKII, I guess we'll know why.

CharlesRandolph wrote:If a battery is not in the MPC LIVE MKII, I guess we'll know why.

So we're 4 pages into your thread, and it looks like everyone has some fantastic (and completely logical) reasons for feeling the MPC Live's battery is worth it. Did you learn anything from this thread? Honest question.

Different perspectives are always welcome. I hope it's good information, so that all can get something from it.

CharlesRandolph wrote:Different perspectives are always welcome. I hope it's good information, so that all can get something from it.

It's mostly things already known, but yes - perhaps it will help someone. Knowledge is power.

CharlesRandolph wrote:I like the dt990 even if they're open back. They sound good for general mixing. Not the best for enjoyable listening. Yeah, I understand that? I suppose the stereo field is smaller as well.What made you move away from the MAC?

Are you keeping notes of your mixer and effect settings or does your mixer have instant recall and does your outgear allow you to save user settings.

Moving from the Mac was like my failsafe plan. When I heard how much the new Mac Pro was gonna be, I knew it was time to change the way things worked. I cant afford to keep up with the Tim Cook version of Apple. Im looking into Mac mini's now, but with that Ill still be cutting it down to just my 'tape deck' really. I want to be able to work on music whenever I want regardless of whether my computer is up to date and whatnot. You know "the good old days". The MPC happened to come along at just the right time and made the decision final when I realized I could do everything I need to with it for the most part.

Right now Im just kinda keeping mixer settings in my head. My fx patches are easy, they're all MIDI except my Roland delay, so I just make dummy tracks and use program changes in each song. The Notes app on the Mac/iOS is handy for keeping track of everything else. I dont really worry about that yet because at the moment my workflow is really one song at a time until its done. Then I just multitrack it in Logic to mix down the master there. I actually need to upgrade the mixer already, filled up that 16 channels and all the extra returns/stereo channels, so Im looking for the 24 channel version now hah. Once I get that its on. The 24 has direct outs on the first 16 channels, which is where all my instruments live (effect returns are going to go on 17-24), so Ill be able to use every single input on my interface. And when I want, I can send all 16 outputs I have back to the mixer to play with Logic songs that way! Bonus points because Ill have enough channels to keep my modular always patched in, and I can get another effects box to use with my last Aux send hah.