MPC Live/MPC X for experimental music?

Who uses their MPC Live/MPC X for more experimental music? I'm pretty new to the MPC world, but I've mainly discovered people making boom bap, trap, or really uninspired techno (I guess the last two aren't really surprising considering the advertisement campaign for the live and x.) Don't get me wrong though, I like those genres if they're done in inventive ways, but I'm wondering if anyone is using their kit to make sounds that are a little less classifiable?

Bedboy wrote:Who uses their MPC Live/MPC X for more experimental music? I'm pretty new to the MPC world, but I've mainly discovered people making boom bap, trap, or really uninspired techno (I guess the last two aren't really surprising considering the advertisement campaign for the live and x.) Don't get me wrong though, I like those genres if they're done in inventive ways, but I'm wondering if anyone is using their kit to make sounds that are a little less classifiable?

If you're new to the Mpc world. My advice is to start with the Mpc touch. It's the cheapest option to get your feet wet with the Mpc workflow and it's the closest spec of the mpc live. Don't waste your time and money on the top of the line gear and don't know what you are buying into. Baby steps first.

All genre of music can be created on any gear, if you use your imagination. My second advice is, if boom bap, trap or uninspired techno is mainly what you see created with the live/x. Then follow your discovery and stand clear of any Mpc. Stay with what works for experimental music.

Third advice, is to go to your local music shop with your favorite samples, sound files or gear you plan to use with the mpc and spend a day getting a hands on a Mpc, as close to the model you're after. Then decide if the Mpc is good for experimental music and your workflow.

Bedboy wrote:Who uses their MPC Live/MPC X for more experimental music? I'm pretty new to the MPC world, but I've mainly discovered people making boom bap, trap, or really uninspired techno (I guess the last two aren't really surprising considering the advertisement campaign for the live and x.) Don't get me wrong though, I like those genres if they're done in inventive ways, but I'm wondering if anyone is using their kit to make sounds that are a little less classifiable?

an MPC will play whatever sounds you put into it at whatever pitch or tempo you desire....you've also now got an abundance of effects you can apply to those sounds....as well as virtual instruments and synths...

you can be as experimental as you want with an MPC...

Since I got the Live, all I been doing is experimental stuff. I can assure you the MPC Live mangles and alters samples just like the Digitakt, but without the P-locks. I have the Digitakt too, though both different, both can do what the other does.

It all depends on your creativity of what you want to do. With effects and filters you can do a lot to transform a bassline into death bells from hell. Or simple rearranging of bars within a sample, then resample the result. Believe me, there's a lot to experiment with.

Hey ill did you update your live yet? Wanted to see how you liked the pitch shift and time stretch. Ot I know but you a ghost these days bro.

Cockdiesel wrote:Hey ill did you update your live yet? Wanted to see how you liked the pitch shift and time stretch. Ot I know but you a ghost these days bro.

Not yet, it'll be cool if I can update the Live with my android because I have it on there already, just gotta wait for the power to come back to update it with full power because shit can glitch out if you updating on batteries. Could be any day though, the electric company already on my block, hopefully I try it by next week, Pitch Shift one of the vital features I really needed.

Late to the party, but I’ll agree you can do whatever you want with the Live. Take an existing sample, filter the snot outta it, play with the envelope, and you can really whack things out. You wanna do early Cabaret Voltaire? You can. You wanna do something else? You can - you just gotta do it.

I appreciate all of your input. I use an octatrak, which has been great for mangling and designing sounds, but I don't like using it for complex arrangements- the workflow is too convoluted and unintuitive, and these new mpcs seem pretty straightforward in that way. I was thinking that I could sample my octatrack into the mpc live, chop and arrange everything, and then color and gel it all together with onboard effects. I see that the mpc live has an lfo. Has anyone had much experience with it? What kinds of parameters can it control?

Also, is anyone using an octatrack and mpc live together? What is your workflow like? Do they pair well together?

Killer experimental setup. Been using a digitakt and live and it's pretty cool for crazy sample mangling.

I haven't used the lfos for a whole lot with the mpc but once the live gets multitimbral support you'd be in for a real treat with the lfo designer.

I have thoughts about the octa/live combo but I'm new to elektron and learning more before I feel I would upgrade to the octa track. He'll even resampling the live with an effects pedal is dope.

Bedboy wrote:I appreciate all of your input. I use an octatrak, which has been great for mangling and designing sounds, but I don't like using it for complex arrangements- the workflow is too convoluted and unintuitive, and these new mpcs seem pretty straightforward in that way. I was thinking that I could sample my octatrack into the mpc live, chop and arrange everything, and then color and gel it all together with onboard effects. I see that the mpc live has an lfo. Has anyone had much experience with it? What kinds of parameters can it control?

Also, is anyone using an octatrack and mpc live together? What is your workflow like? Do they pair well together?

I'm still 100% focused on learning the Live inside out before adding more complexity. But I'm going to try a workflow out soon:
build an arrangement in the Live and send the mix out via 2 stereo/4 mono channels, from the Live into the Octatrack.
You could then mangle it in the Octatrack with scenes etc, and then send the "remix" back into the Lives inputs and record it to a stereo Audio track.

Have yet to try this, but I thought about it when I woke up today and it should be pretty nice, right?!

Yep that’s the spirit! ^