WHY BUY AN MPC? (MPC vs. just using computer software...)

The-Shadow wrote:Hidalgo, cop an MPD16 and add it to your set. You'll get the feel of the pads, and you can use it to program drums in your software programs. You may be able to appreciate why many people have MPCs then.

Average, I heard recently that you did production for Nappy's W, C & G album. Respect on that work seen. That some solid sh!t. I'll have to holla at you sometime.

Peace.

Yo I appreciate that FO REAL!

247beatz wrote:I think its the feeling that your actually doing something on the mpc. On the computer, all you are doing is clickin a mouse. I think anybody can use a computer to make beats, but an mpc, you really have to actually learn.

thats not true... If you wanna get technical youre only pushing buttons on an mpc to make beats. You can make dope shit on anything and/or wack shit. IMO the mpc is easier to use then most software.

the reason to use an mpc is because of the multiple ways to tweak samples. Features like the 16 levels, zoning, chopping etc that you cant really do on other samplers or programs so easily. Plus you can bang drums live on it. The greatest thing about the mpc for me is the chopping, you can find the illest sounds rearanging chops of samples live with the pads.

the MPC is great...producing on a computer using loops that are already set out for you, is just layering shit...it's almost like cheating...I don't respect that as much as sitting down, and creating something from scratch...


in my opinion...


...plus, if you're making music, make music...which is to say make your own art, and don't trace...

...to each his own, but I'd rather sit down, and craft the beat from scratch...it's more of a personal experience...create my own breaks...my own experience


...doing something b/c your lazy, detracts from the artform...you're disrespecting the music when you do that...

...it's like you don't care enough to do it right...to learn how to make "good music"

...that's a big part of what's wrong with the music now...people taking the easy way, short cuttin, and copy cattin the game to a coma

Because I just picked up my first MPC 1000. Thanks for the input everyone, time for me to read an learn before I get started on this thing. Peace and God Bless!

HIDALGO

HIDALGO wrote:OK, to this point I have used:
-A laptop
-Sonic Foundry, Fruity Loops, Cubase SX, and Sonar 2.0
-Microkorg
-A turntable
-Vestax PMC 05 Pro II
-Sample CDs, and Thousands of Records

...this is a hard question to ask because I just want an MPC really just to have it, but WHY BUY AN MPC?

What does it have to offer that these things dont, besides nestalgia?

Ok, I am ready for the attack.

1. If you want to go out jogging you can use shoes (PC) or sneakers (MPC)

Shoes are for business (PC)
Sneakers are better for the job (MPC)


2. MPC is and musical instrument. It can be played live.
a PC is a PC. Its not an istrument, you can try to make it one, but your gonna end up with a lot of extra equipment orund it (like akais pads )

The PCs gonna be good for recording your MPC stuff thou...

My MPC lets me bang out ideas SOOOO fast....Once I got a few sequences for a track I can then move all the audio to the computer and fine tune....90% of the work I do begins with the MPC.......There is no Substitute.

"Computers nurture the lazy bastard in all of us.." SO WELL SAID!! Nice.

Also, an MPC will swing a beat in ways that a PC application, ANY of those you mentioned, just can't. Many, many people have tried to get to the bottom of why/how an MPC makes a beat FUNKIER, and no one has really explained it other than , "It's got a mind of its own." The timing is just superlative for hiphop. You can't reproduce it on a computer. I have tried for MANY years.

a small story:
the first time i visited my girlfriend for some months (she is living in another country) i only had a laptop with me and made music with it. The second time i brought my MPC2KXL, flipped it out of the bag, and my girlfriend said: "Wow, i didnt know you are an real artist"...
(;)
MPCs are sexy...

i think the biggest thing about the MPC is how so many people can use it in so many ways....you have techno heads and trance dudes loving it....and of course there are the hip hoppers....
i mean look at the posts, everyone has their own way of working with the same peice of kit.
i have reason too and dont use it all that much besides the soft synths and NNXT sometimes cuz thats the only multi sample sampler that i have. but to be honest i am still gettin an e5000 cuz the computer sucks all inspiration out of me. maybe i am crazy or something but the MPC feels like an instrument not a computer...call it psychological what not but the MPC gives me ideas....ALSO the pattern based sequencing cannot be matched right now. its the fastest way to lay down drums then a bass then some hits them some horns then some strings....all you have to do is press stop, turn a dial, and record again....NO software can keep you in the groove like an MPC and THAT is the most important thing when doin music....what keeps you in the ZONE
peace

Here is a contrary opinion...

I think the MPC limits my ability to create. It is a pain the ass loading samples, naming sequences, naming sounds. Its display sucks. The sequencer (while great for hardware) comes no where near the sequencing of software. Step sequencing is retarded...

The only things that I like about it are the preamps and the pads (and the fact that it is sturdy and feels professional), but I find myself using as $800 midi controller more than the be all midi production center that some of you think it is.

I myself am dumping mine for MPD16 and new mixing console.

I will say this, it sounds great...

well, i had the same feeling like you a while ago. But then, i came back to the MPC. Maybe you will also notice that you will miss something just using Windows.

I have to tell you, I have second thoughts about selling it from time to time, but I can buy hella gear for the $ I can get for it. I still use external gear... MS2000BR, Korg Kaoss Pad, Patchbay. Hopefully that will keep me fresh.

I used an mpc pretty much exclusively for years. No keyboards. I tried to do big epic things on it....and, actually, it's quite capable of handling real ambitious projects. However I ended up getting the pc, logic, sound forge, etc. I've recently been using the MPC as just a controller recently as well, to trigger samples in the esx24. However I don't think I would sell it. I feel like I've been to war with that thing, and I also feel like I'll probably end up using both methods (strictly mpc and both mpc/computer) in the long run. The PC does have some advantages that I can't do without though. The biggest thing is it is so quick to move stuff around...stuff that would take 5 minutes on the mp takes a second on the PC. Second, timing...being a drummer and the most ridiculous kind of timing freak, I always wanted to move sounds very minutely...more than step edit allowed. So with logic it's 1300 ticks per beat, compared to 96 for the MPC. Also, with the MPC, all your samples have the MPC sound. Which is not bad - just when you start sampling through decent 24-bit converters, the sounds are just wider.

However the computer has it's problems too. I can't use esx in the "mono" note method, where the note repeats when you hit it...that is annoying. And of course there's always your computer issues to deal with. And yes, the mpc does feel more like "sneakers". The way I look at is this - if you are into making verse/chorus/verse type bangers, and you like the sound, and you are really into it, and you want to get a computer to see what you're missing, don't bother. If you do more experimental stuff, want to mix in live instruments all over the place, and always wish you had some halfway decent reverbs, etc, go with the computer/mpc combo.