Akai mpc live 3 early thought

Thought to share some of my perspective on the MPC live 3, which is purchase in Canada ($$$$).


In short, I like it, but it's definitely not worth the premium to the live 1, in my case. In Toronto, live 1 resells at $700 and live 3, after taxes is $2600.

I think the live 1 does 90 percent of what the live 3 does, but sometimes a bit slower (loading time, less buttons), and less well (stem separation).
So if you are considering moving up, I say it's not that important..

The newer features are nice, but not game changers. I'm not sure how the MPCe pads will turn out, but so far it's novelty for me.

Hope this helps

I have the Live II. Honestly, after the update to os3, and purchasing the pro pack it's been like a whole new machine, and I am very content with it

I am still happy with all my gear at the moment. Unless my current devices break in some unrepairable way, I am not updating anything. I am the same way with my computers. Once i configure my computers they stay in their operational state for 5 years to a decade. I don't buy a new computer every 2 years because its unsustainable and it wouldn't be conductive to keeping a creative environment at the ready. I don't like my tools being changed, the reason I am good at anything I do is because of the tools I use and being able to rely on a consistent environment for creation.

It seems counter productive to rotate out gear before it has been broken by a skilled user jamming the living shit out of it.

I used to do what people do and chase new gear and dream about what i could do with it -until i got it all... then i realised fast that it doesn't matter what you own as long as you are familiar with your gear and put work in. I could go out and buy racks of synths and processors but why? I wont use it, my studio tapology is set already.

Picture this: imagine buying a brand new gibson guitar just to learn what it does and how its constructed and how it sounds just to turn around in a year and buy another one because it came with a function your current one doesnt have and you wont ever use... juuuust to satisfy some gear acqusition obsession or to fit in with others. That has nothing to do with making music and it's not how a successful studio that puts out music is ran. That's what new people, or for lack of a better word... posers -do.

Computer users do the same thing buying hardware that sucks energy by the kilowatt for stuff they arent capable of doing. you get the odd guy who's on the bleeding edge who can actually rock it. in two short years their computers become obsolete garbage that's not cost efficient to operate. could have been content on 65 watts for a decade if they weren't chasing the edge. Or they switch their operating system or environment so much that they never learn how their systems actually work. Linux users do this... "maybe this linux distro or that one or that one!" that's goofy.

To stand out you gotta be smart enough not to run off the cliff with the herd and be creative enough that others notice you. That is all. High powered user, low powered user doesn't matter what your specs are just be creative with the tools you own.

I am not being a "gate keeper" or anything I am trying to teach people a new psychology. One that works for succeeding at things. In order to succeed we cant chuck money at our goals we have to earn it through grindy work and become the skilled individual we want to become. Let the rich idiots blow their money on trying to be someone with skill. Skill they can't buy. I don't look up to flashy, I look up to capability. What good is a hotrod if you can't keep it running?

end of long winded rant lol.

Akai gets alot of hate sometimes but it's amazing that they didn't force users to buy the new equipment and still supported the older units.

I still have yet to see anybody use the new pads in a way other than just making 1 pad into 4. So I agree it feels very much like novelty

Seems like the upgraded internal specs and step sequencer buttons are the biggest upgrades

I mentioned before but when I got my hands on the L3 it was the first time playing an mpc that didn’t feel like an mpc. Turned me off

It's not a thing for live.
1. cutting notes and sounds when next sequence starts.
2. midi clock is running only when pressed play button.
3. cripple realisation of midi program change when working with elektron machines(I suspect, that this annoying bug due to lack of instant midi clock running).
4. huge drift of midi sync, when MPC is a slave.
Thus, I can't afford to spend 2k usd for such a glitchy thing.

An annoying thing with the MPC live 3 is you get fabric and opx, but if you already bought those, it's a duplicate. They don't even give you additional licenses so you can give them to others...

For those considering upgrading one day, it may not be worth it buying the plugins that will be given for free in the future...unless you got a project that really needs those sounds now

Yes I have triplets also.. im not sure why your live 3 is slow maybe something on your end... the society we live in now there's always something to complain about.. If akai demand we pay for updates we get mad or if they never improved there hardware we complain.. but akai gives updates for free.. constantly put the software and expansion on sale.. refresh there hardware every years and people are still are unhappy.. I dont think the ones who are complaining really make music at all

It seems like every time you buy a new mpc you get a copy of all the bundle plug ins.. it is crazy but… I have triples too..

I bought the MPC Live 3 for myself for Christmas it was my first MPC and I expected to be making professional level beats straight away… until I attempted to finger drum and every beat sucked. I was horrified and felt like a doofus after I spent so much money. Then I learned how to use the step sequencer and layer complex drum patterns and use time correct to add bass lines and synth patches with a midi controller and I am now making actually really awesome songs. I still suck at making beats by tapping the pads lol but I am improving. Also I’m using the sampler and my iphone to add in dialogue from sci fi and horror movies.

R0ckAndR0ll wrote:I bought the MPC Live 3 for myself for Christmas it was my first MPC and I expected to be making professional level beats straight away… until I attempted to finger drum and every beat sucked. I was horrified and felt like a doofus after I spent so much money. Then I learned how to use the step sequencer and layer complex drum patterns and use time correct to add bass lines and synth patches with a midi controller and I am now making actually really awesome songs. I still suck at making beats by tapping the pads lol but I am improving. Also I’m using the sampler and my iphone to add in dialogue from sci fi and horror movies.

Finger drumming doesn't mean the beat will be good. Just keep improving by making more music.

Yeah, it's a developed technique like any musical instrument. Combined with the step sequencer though can make it easier to focus on simpler parts. I'd much rather hear a beat than a metronome. Having hats running and just bashing out kick and snare patterns for example. Or vice versa. And it can help you come up with ideas, that you can tidy up in sequencer later.

Neodymium wrote:Yeah, it's a developed technique like any musical instrument. Combined with the step sequencer though can make it easier to focus on simpler parts. I'd much rather hear a beat than a metronome. Having hats running and just bashing out kick and snare patterns for example. Or vice versa. And it can help you come up with ideas, that you can tidy up in sequencer later.

Awesome video! Great points you made too.

B-Wise wrote:

R0ckAndR0ll wrote:I bought the MPC Live 3 for myself for Christmas it was my first MPC and I expected to be making professional level beats straight away… until I attempted to finger drum and every beat sucked. I was horrified and felt like a doofus after I spent so much money. Then I learned how to use the step sequencer and layer complex drum patterns and use time correct to add bass lines and synth patches with a midi controller and I am now making actually really awesome songs. I still suck at making beats by tapping the pads lol but I am improving. Also I’m using the sampler and my iphone to add in dialogue from sci fi and horror movies.

Finger drumming doesn't mean the beat will be good. Just keep improving by making more music.

Good point thanks. The style of music I’m trying to create is old school industrial bands like early nine inch nails, skinny puppy and early ministry by sequencing the drums and adding horror movie samples and synth bass lines. The mpc is great for it.