MPC as Master Clock/MIDI Seq for external gear

Hey All,

First off, I'm not familiar with any MPC terminology, so forgive me if I'm not using the right terms.

I'm really considering buying an MPC, but I don't know which one is right for me. The way I work is mainly using ableton live to make drum patterns to be played internally and create MIDI sequences that I use externally to send to my hardware synths (SCI Prophet 600, DX7, Juno 106). I would love to be able to do exactly this but use an MPC to sequence and trigger drum sounds that I load on it while simultaneously sending various MIDI sequences to my various synthesizers via separate MIDI channels that would then be distributed accordingly via the MIDI Patchbay I own (an oldschool MX-8 from 1989), as opposed to a laptop with ableton. I would then record my handy work onto my Pro Tools machine and overdub vocals, gtr n bass, synth solos, etc.

So just to be completely clear, my main concerns are:

1. How many MIDI sequences can I have play at the same time?

2. Can I assign each sequence to a separate MIDI channel to send out of the unit's MIDI out jack?

3. Can I record sequences via a midi keyboard plugged into the midi in jack of the unit?

4. If the answer to question 3 is yes, then what options do I have as far as editing the midi data I recorded (i.e. quantizing, adjusting velocity, etc)

Thanks so much!!!
Matt

There's many MPC models and they all do pretty much want you're lookin for (except play multiple sequences simultaineously... at least not the model I own.) My suggestion would be to go to the Akai web site and take a look at the specs for each machine and maybe browse the manuals.

20twin wrote:Hey All,
1. How many MIDI sequences can I have play at the same time?

you're using the wrong terminology, so i'm not sure what exactly the questionis: either 64 (different tracks with midi info) or 32 (midi channels - that is you can have 32 midi instruments playing at once).

2. Can I assign each sequence to a separate MIDI channel to send out of the unit's MIDI out jack?

yes.

3. Can I record sequences via a midi keyboard plugged into the midi in jack of the unit?

yes

4. If the answer to question 3 is yes, then what options do I have as far as editing the midi data I recorded (i.e. quantizing, adjusting velocity, etc)

very extensive. mpcs are the best hardware sequencer ever made.