MPC 1K vs. MPD-16 with Battery & Cubase

I gonna buy the Akai Mpd-16 Trigger Pads to use it with Battery (Native Instruments, Software Sampler) and Cubase SX.
I'm into Cubase so far and working a lot with it, so why shoul one buy a whole sequencing system like the MPC 1K if you can have nearly the same (without bugs) with your PC. I always wanted the MPC because of the Pads. What do you think??

The pads on the mpd-16 kind of suck. I own the mpc 1000 and the mpd-16 and it is no comparison. The features on the 1000 are great. But I feel you on the pc sequencer. The 1000 sequencer is the best sequ. for me, but you can always midi it up to cubase and do all you sequencing there. Just build the beat in the 1000. The pads are the best ever. You can use it as your midi base.

I bought my MPC specifically for the sequencer. Not because of the legends of an MPC sequencer "feel", but because it is contained in a box that I could just turn on and start sequencing. Being able to start recording ideas within seconds of power up is unbeatable. No need to sit in front of a computer keyboard with a mouse, clicking an icon, then waiting for an app to launch and initialize, then select a midi channel, then finally start recording...

Also, the MPC is nice to use for live sequencing. You can have 64 tracks in each sequence that can be muted and unmuted just by hitting the pads. It is great to be able to bring in a lead or a bass, or mute everything but a stuttery vocal hit, and build up your song in a live situation or jamming.

Trying to mute eight tracks at the same time with a mouse in Cubase is quite a bit more difficult

I agree with all of the above comments/opinions. But, what you propose would work fine, though I think you can find much better samplers than Battery (which is very much like the MPCs sampler)--you might find yourself outgrowing it quickly

Try .[url]kvr-vst.com[/url], and look for helios or Cyber FREE. Simple samplers, but still better than a bunch of other crap you'd have to pay for!

get a mpc

you can do things on an mpc that you would never even think of doing on a computer sequencer...it makes you work differently....get an mpc

sincere wrote:

"The pads on the mpd-16 kind of suck. I own the mpc 1000 and the mpd-16 and it is no comparison."

aren't the pads on the mpd16 the same as the mpc 2000 xl which are better pads than mpc 1000?

The pads are not the same. You can't get the same expressiveness out of them. The same size is about it. You can adjust them, but nothing like the mpc 1000, or 2000. And you need the filters and tune on the 1000.

And you need the filters and tune on the 1000.

software samplers have features that kick the sh!t out of the mpc1k. Way beyond simple 4pole filters & AD envelopes, and mickey mouse pitch shifting.

Hi,

I was thinking of doing the same thing than you but I got an MPC 1000 : yes it`s more expensive than an MPD (I don't know about it's pads though), but you've got a box that gives you another (on the fly) approach to composing than Cubase, and that's not bad if you care about creativity. Some times it's good to program "with the hears", Cubase can divert the attention on laying nice tracks and looking all the time qt the nice pluggins... I program a lot on Cubase, but playing with an MPC is so much fun! Eventually you can record the loops on Cubase for further editing. And if one day you want to get battery, you can still control it with the MPD. At the end of the Day, the MPC is an istrument, the MPD is a controller (ie nothing under hood).

JStruMENTAL wrote:get a mpc

~Co-sign!

Doggie u kinda comparing apple to oranges. The MPD isnt supposed to compete with a 1K...

sure, but the question was asked...

In my opinion:
MPC1000:
PROS:Simple samples, simple sequencer. Hardware, so it won't crash (as much!) as the PC. Fast to put ideas down. Better for live playing. Simple learning curve.
CONS: More difficult to expand into complex sequences, or realtime sample mayhem. Less features for editing samples & sequences. No synthesis engine.

Cubase/VST/MPD:
PROS:When recent software comes out (basically ALWAYS!), it's immediately expandable into new features, and when you get a new PC, you're immediately faster/more powerful. VST plugins for sampling, synthesis, effects, or anything you can imagine. Better for studio constructions. Easier to build complex sequences. Tweak your samples like mad in real time, or in your sequence.
CONS:Slower creation of simple sequences and sampling. PC based, so you always have a PC to depend on. Far greater learning curve.

I also have the MPD and now I have the MPC1000 as well. The pads on the MPD certainly don't feel like the other MPC boxes. Another thing...the latency on the computer. Although you can minimize latency and sometimes it's no big deal, you don't get the precision that you get from the MPC1000. I've made beats on both MPD & Cubase as well as MPC1000 - - there's just something different about the MPC1000. I'll use the MPC1000 for the beats and some part sequencing, but sequence the majority of the song in Cubase SX. I like the combo of software and hardware.

Here's another thing - I take my MPC1000 w/ me to work...during lunch I make quick beats to bring home to add to my projects. As mentioned before, you power up quick, throw down a beat while eating a sandwich, then put it away when done. Sandwich beats.