shottz. : i like the kaoss pad alot. it got it's limitation like joeljar said, but on the other end the touch pad is super intuitive. the samples can be manipulated extensively in real time, take part out of it, bring them back. re sample them, you have a mixer function to adjust level of each. i use the samples for word phrase, noise and other non beat/rhythm related stuff.
the fx names are very cryptic. but with the editor you can easily assign fx to 1 of the 8 buttons, samples to 1 of the 4 slots, midi cc message and so on. all saved on a sd card that can be recalled in 20 seconds with the kp3.
by the way, i do ambiant and downtempo related stuff.
joeljar : no offence taken sir
klassik.one : i also like the mixer alot, i do alot of research prior to buy and this mixer in that price range seemed to have he best sounding EQ. which it does, well to my ears.
now for the wiring. yes it's a soundcraft epm8. i do all of my noise/instrument sample by myself. i don't even have a turn table! when creating a beat/phrase i got the main out of the mpc connected to 2 channels. then i play whatever i need thru the mixer add effects when needed with the send/receive. when i found what i'm looking for, i turn the mixer volume of the main outs to none. plug my headphone in the phone jack of the mpc and use a black lion audiopreamp out from the board to the ADC (also from bla) and in the spdif of the mpc (because i think that the ad converter on the mpc is not of the best, nut that's just me). i monitor right from the spdif (thanks to jjos). when i'm done creating, i fine tune and use all 6 output of the mpc to the board. again i make use of the send-receive of the board for effects, be it reverb, delay, pitch shifter, form the kp3, vt-1, a4000, nord modular, shermann... you get it.... what ever i have on hand. that's my final mixing that i throw in an old reel-to-reel with the line out rca plugs. that's my "master". i like the grit and saturation of tape recording, i could use a vst to do it, but i simply prefer the hardware route. then finaly, i record the reel-to-reel with the adc to the mpc. and i'm done. i don't know if it would be easier with a mpc4000?
in short, the mixer is like a patch bay with volume and EQ
enotide : yep!! the drums are amazing in the filterbank. the synth engine also can add a nice touch