The MPC-V: A Virtual Akai MPC

Nym wrote:it turned out awesome, actually...due to the technical simplicity of what we are dealin with. the mpd FSRs ported into the mpc1000 akai padfix pcb allows us the benefit of the large size pad format of the mpc2500/4000/etc/etc/

it's just a matter of me building a control interface for the L and R op boards for the mpc1000. i'm currently deciding between a capacitive touch sensitive model or a tact switch based model. both ideas have their benefits and tradeoffs

currently i'm leaning toward a capacitive model. less room for error but more room for win. time will tell.

Wait a second here,...are you building something to enhance the 1000? Are you attempting to put full sized pads on your 1000 or are there other ideas being implemented?

Wait a second here,...are you building something to enhance the 1000? Are you attempting to put full sized pads on your 1000 or are there other ideas being implemented?

yes sir. it is not an attempted...it is the success at incorporating the mpd16 fsr (ie, the full sized pad sensor layout) into the mpc1000...so that the MPC1000 receives pad data from an mpd16 FSR assembly.

i now have full classic MPC-sized pads on my MPC-1000...good day gentlemen...

Nym wrote:

Wait a second here,...are you building something to enhance the 1000? Are you attempting to put full sized pads on your 1000 or are there other ideas being implemented?

yes sir. it is not an attempted...it is the success at incorporating the mpd16 fsr (ie, the full sized pad sensor layout) into the mpc1000...so that the MPC1000 receives pad data from an mpd16 FSR assembly.

i now have full classic MPC-sized pads on my MPC-1000...good day gentlemen...

Man,...that sounds beast! Would love to see pics of that one day.

Coz wrote:

Upright wrote:I didn't read the full post at that site but it seems as if Maschine has this ground covered.

Yep, and if anyone thinks Akai can code software better than NI they're obviously tripping!

NI are definitely skilled at developing software synths and samplers. However, Maschine doesn't have everything covered. By far, the onboard sampler of Maschine isn't as good as the MPC 4000 or 5000. Maschine's sampler isn't even as good as NIs own samplers (Battery, Kontakt, etc). The same is true for Maschine's sequencer when compared to these highend MPCs. Maschine is not quite capable to do what the MPC 5000 does as a MIDI sequencer. Maschine's hardware is barely adequate. Akai's MPD32 is a much better piece of hardware.

With all this said, Akai should have jumped on this concept years ago. An MPC with "unlimted resources" resources is a logical step. Who better to do it than Akai? Creating a Virtual MPC with the hardware specs of past highend MPCs (MPC 3000, 4000, 5000) as well as an updated software using the MPC 4000/5000 as a starting point would be an amazing product. I created threads in the forum over 2 years ago detailing what I believe an MPC should have:

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=108626
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=110760

After re-reading the Virtual MPC artical again, it is nearly identical to what I had in mind when I wrote the threads above....minus the modular hardware.

Upright wrote:I didn't read the full post at that site but it seems as if Maschine has this ground covered.

The author claims his original concept dated from 2005 but didn't get off the ground. He acknowledges the advent of NI Maschine and others and of course the shortcomings of Akai.

@ Nym, you a crazy MPC scientist dude, you need a blog!! And do you have pics?

Nym wrote:

Wait a second here,...are you building something to enhance the 1000? Are you attempting to put full sized pads on your 1000 or are there other ideas being implemented?

yes sir. it is not an attempted...it is the success at incorporating the mpd16 fsr (ie, the full sized pad sensor layout) into the mpc1000...so that the MPC1000 receives pad data from an mpd16 FSR assembly.

i now have full classic MPC-sized pads on my MPC-1000...good day gentlemen...

I remember when you first spoke about it and trying it, but then we never heard from you till recently.

You know how the saying goes
Pics or it didn't happen.

Askia Shaheed wrote:viewtopic.php?f=29&t=110760

That'a actually pretty cool you were thinking along these lines before Motu and NI launched their products. IMO Motu failed at their attempt so far. I bought Motu BPM at launch and was very dissapointed in it on MANY fronts.

I just recently purchased Maschine and I gotta say they seem to be trying their hardest to nail the whole "virtual Mpc" thing. With their consistent onslaught of free updates it's shaping up to be quite an amazing environment to make music. BTW I am in no way shape or form a Native Instruments fanboy.

Askia Shaheed wrote:NI are definitely skilled at developing software synths and samplers. However, Maschine doesn't have everything covered. By far, the onboard sampler of Maschine isn't as good as the MPC 4000 or 5000. Maschine's sampler isn't even as good as NIs own samplers (Battery, Kontakt, etc).

I agree with you....I don't think Maschine has everything completely covered.

One of the things that really pushed me to buy Maschine was the fact that with it's update 1.7 coming on September 5th 2011 Maschine with be deeply inter-graded with all of the devices in NI's Komplete bundles (at least Komplete 8 not sure about previous versions).
This will bring the samplers you mentioned (Kontakt, Battery etc) so that the main parameters of these and ALL Komplete devices will be controlled by Maschine. While I don't think this will be perfect at first it's kinda cool to see NI working hard to make Maschine a rich "One stop" work environment......When you look at both Native Instruments and Akai and consider Akai's track record on updates related to their Mpc line, Native Instruments is showing a considerable amount of passion toward Maschine in making it the best product it can be.

Askia Shaheed wrote:NI are definitely skilled at developing software synths and samplers. However, Maschine doesn't have everything covered. By far, the onboard sampler of Maschine isn't as good as the MPC 4000 or 5000. Maschine's sampler isn't even as good as NIs own samplers (Battery, Kontakt, etc). The same is true for Maschine's sequencer when compared to these highend MPCs. Maschine is not quite capable to do what the MPC 5000 does as a MIDI sequencer. Maschine's hardware is barely adequate. Akai's MPD32 is a much better piece of hardware.

As a huge Akai fan I'm almost saddened to say this, but the pad sensitivity on Maschine KILLS Akai. I've had an identical drum program loaded on my 2500 and Maschine and the difference is night and day. The build quality of the controller isn't exactly world beating, so I agree with you there.

As a hub for sounds and plugins, Maschine has totally nailed it though. What it lacks in sampling power is catered for by Kontakt, and its sequencing shortfalls are covered by your DAW.

We can all dream, but Akai have got a mountain to climb in this area.

Coz wrote:
We can all dream, but Akai have got a mountain to climb in this area.

Or numark could just buy out a daw company

why havent the incorporated kontact into maschine lol

seems like a load of bollox.....buy maschine....then having to buy license for kontakt,..

ArKyve-31 wrote:

Coz wrote:
We can all dream, but Akai have got a mountain to climb in this area.

Or numark could just buy out a daw company

It'd be interesting to see the books of these companies to know how much they are actually worth. How big a company are Numark? Having multiple product lines doesn't necessarily mean they are that valuable.

gertie wrote:why havent the incorporated kontact into maschine lol

seems like a load of bollox.....buy maschine....then having to buy license for kontakt,..

Seems like common business practice... A car company doesn't put the same engine in every car they build do they?

It's all about an ecosystem with these hardware/software companies.

seems like a rip off practise to me

just cos car companies do it...doesnt make it applicable in other industries
a music software company doing it only tends to make kids use pirated versions...great business model that lol

Kids and adults will use pirated software whatever companies do, so having a specific business strategy makes no difference really. Kontakt and Mashine are dramatically different products, the same way an mpc 500 and 4000 are poles apart. The difference being that NI have found a way of integrating the 2 together for those that need it.

well if i understand u correctly....
the sampler s/w on maschine is shite...thats why u use kontakt
maybe thats why NI HAD TO FIND a way of integrating both