Can't decide which MPC to choose? Read these resources or post your questions here.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:07 pm
Lotuz wrote:Aaaaah, in step edit! Basically what it does is the same as nudging, because your not applying the swing to all notes of the sound. It's like swing per note. I can't seem to select multiple notes at the same time and change their timing by turning the swing knob. Can you? Nice one though. :)



Nah not all notes just the pad I`m holding down. The regular manual doesn`t mention this. I guess it is part of the hardware design.
User avatar
By mjames4208 Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:18 pm
Y'all making more anxious
User avatar
By Lotuz Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:42 pm
I know about the unofficial manual, but I don't use step edit that much. Only to quickly program a hi-hat pattern and sometimes the snares. But this is a nice feature if you like to humanize your drum patterns.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:07 pm
I see. On the 4k it is press timing correct, hit the pad or pads, and dial in a swing value to a note, all notes and all tracks if we wish.

The 4k 1/8~1/1/64 + swing definitively has a nice feel and sound. The triplets also adds the shift to the notes later or earlier.

But I have to start and stop the sequencer to hear how the settings are being applied.


Maschine starts out as low as a 1/8, 3/16 and other settings+ swing on the one sound aka pad. I need more time with the unit to compare triplets. But like you say group swing and master swing is the main parameters. I can`t quite understand maschines swing meaning it is greek to me, so I try to set by ear and like the manual said experiment but it sounds a bit wierd past the 1/8 or 3/16 settings. And I have to set to invert which I figured it late like on the MPC. Nudging is great at Off resolution and it is realtime.

The 4k is 96 off and 960 ppq but I have to use step or seq edit to move notes and press play. No biggie I have gotten fast at it and learned notes by the 4k`s midi ppq like 520 ppq, 740 from the timeline or shifting by ticks. But I like maschines realtime by KNOBS just turn it as the music plays.


Honestly what I really like about maschine it the KNOBs and the Library. Before like most I would dig drums from everywhere take a apple loop, battery, Ultrabeats, keyboard sounds bounced into a loop, downloaded sounds from the internet and chop it up in the MPC all laid out into a kit. But I then track it all back into my DAW and maschine allows be to get away from the track part partly.
User avatar
By Lotuz Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:32 pm
Blue Haze wrote:Maschine starts out as low as a 1/8, 3/16 and other settings+ swing on the one sound aka pad. I need more time with the unit to compare triplets. But like you say group swing and master swing is the main parameters. I can`t quite understand maschines swing meaning it is greek to me, so I try to set by ear and like the manual said experiment but it sounds a bit wierd past the 1/8 or 3/16 settings. And I have to set to invert which I figured it late like on the MPC. Nudging is great at Off resolution and it is realtime.


The swing settings on Maschine are a bit confusing, because when you choose cycle 1/8 and add swing, then it does the same thing as 1/16 + swing in Cubase (and most other sequencers, so probably also the MPC). So when I create a standard hi-hat pattern (a hi-hat on each eighth note) and I want to shift the second, fourth, sixth, and so on notes, then I select cycle 1/4 and add swing. I f I want to do the same thing in Cubase, then I select 1/8 and add swing.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Sun Apr 18, 2010 3:51 pm
Lotuz wrote:
Blue Haze wrote:Maschine starts out as low as a 1/8, 3/16 and other settings+ swing on the one sound aka pad. I need more time with the unit to compare triplets. But like you say group swing and master swing is the main parameters. I can`t quite understand maschines swing meaning it is greek to me, so I try to set by ear and like the manual said experiment but it sounds a bit wierd past the 1/8 or 3/16 settings. And I have to set to invert which I figured it late like on the MPC. Nudging is great at Off resolution and it is realtime.


The swing settings on Maschine are a bit confusing, because when you choose cycle 1/8 and add swing, then it does the same thing as 1/16 + swing in Cubase (and most other sequencers, so probably also the MPC). So when I create a standard hi-hat pattern (a hi-hat on each eighth note) and I want to shift the second, fourth, sixth, and so on notes, then I select cycle 1/4 and add swing. I f I want to do the same thing in Cubase, then I select 1/8 and add swing.


Thanks for the heads up on the settings. This part definitively NI needs to simplifed. 8)
User avatar
By MGStudios Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:40 pm
Hello all. How is the Maschine in contrast to an MPC1000? I am looking to upgrade, but not really sure how much of an upgrade it would be. I don't want to track at all, seems like a complicated process, so I am leaning towards a Maschine.
User avatar
By dabmeister Sun Apr 18, 2010 11:46 pm
MGStudios wrote:I am looking to upgrade, but not really sure how much of an upgrade it would be. I don't want to track at all, seems like a complicated process, so I am leaning towards a Maschine.


:shock: WTF, tracking is a complicated process? That ish puts wrinkles in your brain. Exercising it and putting it to good use can't be compaired to not using it at all.

Just a little food for thought... :lol:
User avatar
By Blue Haze Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:19 am
To me tracking means preamplifiers especially to get the best levels and high quality recordings. I use a Digidesign 002 rack which gives me 4 preamps to work with along with the other 4 analog inputs, sdip and RCA inputs. I record through 1-4 digi002 preamps track by track to print the best signal as I don't have a digital outs install which would be another 300 to 500 bucks option. I don't think 1k has a digital outs option. Anyways quality preamps give you the best recordings I wanted and planned to get an ensemble by Appogee as all 8 inputs have a preamp and the core audio driver is more stable than Pro tools at a cost of a thousand bucks and more.

My point is by going virtual all of your recording and tracking is inside the box, no need for hifi preamps, track all sounds at once, and no degradion of sound. This is from a modest home studio hardware point of view. Of course to my eyes and ears if I tracked in pro studio I would have no worries with premium preamps, boards, cables and a hellva recording engineer to do it right. Or if I had the budget I buy the extra preamps along with the effects gears to get great recordings too.

But virtual instruments save money, sound and time for my home setup and like I said before of gathering sounds, importing them, and making kits on the mpc. It is easier and faster.

Sorry for the long post just clear the air as why I want to track inside the computer. If in way recording at Sony Studio no problem with an MPC I carry the thing were enigeer hooks all the outs I to a SSl or Neve board and start leveling and tracking. Maschine I would need to bring a laptop and soundcard and run it.

On the other hand in a home studio, I can try to get the best sound I can with a good DAW of choice mine happen to be Logic Studio and virtual instruments.

It's up to the individual wearing many hats composer, recorder, arranger, mixer abd mastering engineer how they wish to do each step of the process. Any mpc 60 - 5k but how you record is up to you. I think virtual in my home studio is good.
User avatar
By Askia Shaheed Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:59 am
Blue Haze, over the years, you went so hard at nearly every MPC created after the MPC 4000. Now, when I saw you create this thread, I just fell back and just observed the type of information you would post.

I am sorry to say I am so disappointed...and not that it matters. This thread says "Maschine vs MPC 4000." But you have provided very little insight. As an expert member of this forum, I assumed you would be forthcoming and tell us the truth and nothing but the truth like you have done in the past.

Personally, I went all in on what I liked and disliked about the MPC 1000, 2500, 4000, and 5000 over the years. I have never hyped a product just because I purchased it (like Fantom G sucks as a sampler). So give us the real deal. Function per function. Maschine vs MPC 4000 (or any MPC). No sales pitch. One has to go and one stays. Which one and why?

Suggested items to address:
1. Terminology
2. Polyphony
3. # of programs per song; multi-timbral capabilities
4. keygroup programs
5. timestretch/pitchshifting (online, offline..with or without changing tempo)
6. Filter, Amp, LFO envelopes (number and types of parameters)
7. Modulation
8. Layering sounds
9. Sampling and resampling
10. # of tracks per song
11. Sample editing; speed of processing; slicing
12. MPC program import
13. Quantize/Swing


Respectfully,

Askia Shaheed (or what ever name you want to call me) :P
User avatar
By Blue Haze Wed Apr 21, 2010 2:27 pm
Askia Shaheed wrote:Blue Haze, over the years, you went so hard at nearly every MPC created after the MPC 4000. Now, when I saw you create this thread, I just fell back and just observed the type of information you would post.

I am sorry to say I am so disappointed...and not that it matters. This thread says "Maschine vs MPC 4000." But you have provided very little insight. As an expert member of this forum, I assumed you would be forthcoming and tell us the truth and nothing but the truth like you have done in the past.

Personally, I went all in on what I liked and disliked about the MPC 1000, 2500, 4000, and 5000 over the years. I have never hyped a product just because I purchased it (like Fantom G sucks as a sampler). So give us the real deal. Function per function. Maschine vs MPC 4000 (or any MPC). No sales pitch. One has to go and one stays. Which one and why?

Suggested items to address:
1. Terminology
2. Polyphony
3. # of programs per song; multi-timbral capabilities
4. keygroup programs
5. timestretch/pitchshifting (online, offline..with or without changing tempo)
6. Filter, Amp, LFO envelopes (number and types of parameters)
7. Modulation
8. Layering sounds
9. Sampling and resampling
10. # of tracks per song
11. Sample editing; speed of processing; slicing
12. MPC program import
13. Quantize/Swing


Respectfully,

Askia Shaheed (or what ever name you want to call me) :P



Respectfully Jahrome you are right about the mpc owning the maschine in just about all the SPECs from Polyphony through Quantization. 100% owned and I already stated before that the maschine isn`t a MPC Killer no way.



However the maschine workflow is far faster/simplier than a MPC and I had or used all models except the 60. It is just a foray into virtual instruments and if you read my previous post above then you would understand my reasoning about tracking and recording. 21st Century baby maschine is fine for me. Did you get your unit yet? And by the way when I asked the price some weeks ago mine cost 49,000 in Japan from Rock On Music.

It is the user but I love the workflow it is easier.

Got to go eat dinner and I`m not about to go into a specfest with you like you and emptysea that was nonsense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfCXGOakm8g

Just got 1.5 yesterday I got work to do.


Intro Video to Maschine workflow
http://www.youtube.com/user/NativeInstruments


Sixfigga great producer showing 4k classic mpc workflow remember no regions is suggested piece by piece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36qKkQhFtbM
User avatar
By Askia Shaheed Thu Apr 22, 2010 5:18 am
I didn't look at Rock On because I thought it would be more expensive because of the exchange rate. I placed another order for Maschine and ensured they shipped it via Priority mail. I received shipping confirmation so it will be here within 1 week. My first order is somewhere on a boat.

I honestly wouldn't mind seeing an MPC-killer in the form of something that intergrates with software. As I stated earlier, NI beat Akai to the punch. But since Akai has already jumped into the controller market, they should do a controller based off of a real MPC (unlike the MPD). Whether they translate the MPC OS into a Windows/Mac platform or creating a controller for NI's Maschine...I think they will have a winner. But the OS must match or exceed an MPC which isn't the case. But there are people around the forums that claim it is. While you said it is no MPC-killer...you are being too nice to NI. This is unlike you based upon your previous evaluations of the latest Akai MPCs. What is up with that? :lol: I think we need a real comparison chart for the Maschine vs MPC.

Honest, constructive feedback is one of my reasons for buying Maschine. And once I get it, I will be all over the NI site doing just that....that is what I do. :P