considering MPC 500 to replace Ableton Live + APC 40

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and need some advice.

I've been using Ableton Live for a little over a year, and am really comfortable with it as both a production tool and a live instrument. I produce all of the drum tracks for my band in Live and use the APC 40 and a laptop for our live shows. It does just about everything i could ever want it to do.

but i've run into a little problem. our band signed to a label that has a "no laptop" rule for live shows. so, basically whenever we play a label event, the laptop/ableton/apc is not an option. We're going to be playing A LOT of label events soon, and probably a couple tours, so i need to come up with a solution quick.

I don't intend to use the MPC for production, i basically need something to play our backing tracks while syncing to the midi clock on our synths. I'm playing two synths at the same time while on stage, so i need something that is pretty foolproof and easy to launch samples. can i just import my backing tracks as wav files and launch them from the MPC ?

so what do you guys think? will the 500 do what i need?

thanks in advance!

The MPC 500 will do what you need, although it may be overkill for only playing back samples.

You may want to also consider a rackmount sampler such as an Akai S5000 -- they generally are cheaper than a used MPC 500.

what label is it?
i like this no laptop for live shows idea.

like watchin someone mess with a macbook on stage,
however hard it is what they're doing,
is not really considered live to me.

Copper_Tony wrote:what label is it?

haha, yeah...not a chance...


thanks for the advice guys. I looked up the akai S5000, but that looks a little too bulky (not to mention it uses hard disks? don't even know where i would find those). i need to be able to hop on an airplane and travel lightly with it; as it stands i'm already gonna have to check in two synths, and pack everything else in a backpack.

i get what you're saying about using laptops; i don't like seeing them on stage either, but the Ableton/APC combo gives me the level of control i want with an easy to use interface. I'm playing bass lines with the left hand, and leads with the right, so i generally need to be able to trigger drum tracks/control effects/etc pretty quickly and easily, and i like being able to have a screen to quickly glance at to see where i am.

still, i'm not totally convinced of the reliability of laptops on stage; even if the label didn't have the no laptop rule, i would still consider having an MPC on stage as backup in case of a crash.

shit, just get a desktop.. the rule said no laptops, so ****, bring a desktop..lol

hahaha, you're joking, but i actually considered it before a bandmate bought a new laptop (all i had was a desktop)

lol

oh and sorry if i sound like a newb...i've been a drummer for the past twenty years, and i'm still really new to production/electronic music in general, but i'm trying to learn as much as i can. (gave up on looking for a band to play drums in and decided to give it a go myself. if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself, ya know?)

diabolik! wrote:

Copper_Tony wrote:what label is it?

haha, yeah...not a chance...

just curious, no big

Here's a thought. This guy is on another forum I'm on, and he built this customer MIDI controller and computer setup within a flight case. It is basically a desktop computer with a 9 or so inch monitor and a Faderfox and Eks XP 10 DJ controller (x2)

I've been wanting to build something like this because I hate having a laptop in the booth when I do club and the occasional mobile DJ gig.

Think of it as a "workaround" to the labels no laptop policy. You also can make a more versatile and possibly powerful computer to run Ableton and it will look more like a piece of hardware gear.

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2469974#post2469974
http://www.djdab.com

This guy also has 2 projectors and four cameras that can either stream and project a live feed or project video. You could definitely undertake a project like this!

skeezee wrote:

Here's a thought. This guy is on another forum I'm on, and he built this customer MIDI controller and computer setup within a flight case. It is basically a desktop computer with a 9 or so inch monitor and a Faderfox and Eks XP 10 DJ controller (x2)

I've been wanting to build something like this because I hate having a laptop in the booth when I do club and the occasional mobile DJ gig.

Think of it as a "workaround" to the labels no laptop policy. You also can make a more versatile and possibly powerful computer to run Ableton and it will look more like a piece of hardware gear.

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2469974#post2469974
http://www.djdab.com

This guy also has 2 projectors and four cameras that can either stream and project a live feed or project video. You could definitely undertake a project like this!

lol, thats kinda what i was thinking, take a desktop tower, turn the **** on its side, buy a small monitor, so it dont look like a computer monitor, tape the monitor to the side of the tower, also tape a midi controller with pads to the side of the tower, there you have it, i big weird piece of hardware, no laptop, and you can run the software you choose, with out learning a mpc500, which is gonna drive you **** mad if ur a software kinda guy..

inflict3 wrote:lol, thats kinda what i was thinking, take a desktop tower, turn the **** on its side, buy a small monitor, so it dont look like a computer monitor, tape the monitor to the side of the tower, also tape a midi controller with pads to the side of the tower, there you have it, i big weird piece of hardware, no laptop, and you can run the software you choose, with out learning a mpc500, which is gonna drive you **** mad if ur a software kinda guy..

Dudes shit looks clean though, not like a desktop with a monitor duct taped to the side of it though. If the OP is saavy with building computers or even with tools, then he should be able to build something that looks semi professional. IMO, this would be the best solution.

That shit looks like a 80's SatNav for a VW beetle.

skeezee wrote:

inflict3 wrote:lol, thats kinda what i was thinking, take a desktop tower, turn the **** on its side, buy a small monitor, so it dont look like a computer monitor, tape the monitor to the side of the tower, also tape a midi controller with pads to the side of the tower, there you have it, i big weird piece of hardware, no laptop, and you can run the software you choose, with out learning a mpc500, which is gonna drive you **** mad if ur a software kinda guy..

Dudes shit looks clean though, not like a desktop with a monitor duct taped to the side of it though. If the OP is saavy with building computers or even with tools, then he should be able to build something that looks semi professional. IMO, this would be the best solution.

lol.. yea his shit is clean,. but its not like someone is gonna be up there inspection his shit
the op could use glue. hahaha but yea, you get what im saying, and i get what you are saying. dude could just build something. he could even build a box to hold his laptop, hook a small monitor to it, and the controller, and its done. the cost would probably be cheaper and more effective then the 500..