I have a different appreciation for this app.
The iMPC's graphical interface is nice and bright, easy to read and understand. Looks are everything; this is where Beatmaker 2 doesn't do so well.
It's just my opinion, but it's true.
Let's quickly compare iMPC to its closest rival, Beatmaker 2, in perhaps, the most important factor for iOS musicians --- how to get audio in/out.
iMPC offers AudioCopy/Paste and iTunes file sharing for getting audio in/out. Beatmaker 2 offers those in addition to Dropbox and FTP. The latest update of Beatmaker 2 (Version 2.4.2) offers the iTunes file sharing, which I haven't yet updated. The more widely used SDK for AudioCopy/Paste, SonomaWireWorks, is in iMPC.
http://www.sonomawireworks.com/iphone/audiocopy/http://code.google.com/p/intua-audio-sharing/Both can upload to SoundCloud.
Why do I like iMPC?
I like that iMPC has a faux-vinyl player (corny!). Well, it allows me to quickly go from different sections in a song (quick ff/rw, slow ff/rw). It also remains where you were last in the song, so while you edit your chop, you don't have to find your place again.
I like that I'm forced to categorize my samples [this will probably help Studio/Renaissance users more-so]. It uses a date/time filing system - not to overwrite previous samples (ie. "sample_1" gets overwritten by "sample_1").
I like that iMPC supports mp3, I know-I know… Only sample from vinyl, only sample from WAV/AIFF. Yet if you plan to distribute [some of] your songs via mp3, should you care?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdIqbv7 ... u.be&t=54sI like that I can use iMPC within Tabletop. For one thing, Tabletop was the first iOS app that I spent any time learning. I'm familiar with the way it sequences and it's pretty easy to learn. You might like it, too.
For those don't like iOS or software in general, for sampling, why? I, and many others see their purpose in situations such as: a limited set-up [no space in your room, traveling], quick to begin sampling [no hooking up 1/4'' cables, getting proper recording level]. Just boot-up the application.
By the way, I posted a picture earlier with 8 iMPCs inside Tabletop. That was an "exaggeration". You'll only be able to adequately use 7, I think, (I haven't tried using that many yet nor do I really care about using any more than 1, at this time).
For on the go and/or minimal set-up, iMPC is great. I find it quick to sample in iMPC. I hope this app might help speed this process for me. You can always use those chops and re-sample or load into a hardware sampler.
iMPC is no renaissance... or is it? [pause]
What I'd like to see in a future update:-Some bugs fixed (I already emailed and received a reply-back from Retronyms)
-Zoom in/out in sample edit mode (my thought is to have a scroll bar above (to zoom-in the audio waveform and a scroll bar below to zoom-out the audio waveform.
-Longer sampling time