iMPC iPad app out now!

MPC FLY + Beatmaker 2

psr wrote:MPC FLY + Beatmaker 2

[quote=clearly u havent used or learned a 500..i prefer my 500 over my 1000. impc is a joke right now. beatmaker2 is on par with a 1000..[/quote]

You're half right. I owned a 500 a few years ago, but I didn't really take the time to learn it before selling it and getting a used 1000. I loved the portability but didn't like the small screen.I'm thinking about getting a used one from Ebay to use with the Ipad as a portable controller with standalone capabilities.It would only cost a little more than some "brainless" controllers.

coolderb wrote:[quote=clearly u havent used or learned a 500..i prefer my 500 over my 1000. impc is a joke right now. beatmaker2 is on par with a 1000..

You're half right. I owned a 500 a few years ago, but I didn't really take the time to learn it before selling it and getting a used 1000. I loved the portability but didn't like the small screen.I'm thinking about getting a used one from Ebay to use with the Ipad as a portable controller with standalone capabilities.It would only cost a little more than some "brainless" controllers.[/quote]

at first i hated the 500s small screen, but i love it now, using my ears more then my eyes.. yea, u could just sample ur chops from the ipad into ur 500, or u can midi it, i used mine a few times to control bm2 and nano studio on my ipod touch..

inflict3 wrote:

coolderb wrote:[quote=clearly u havent used or learned a 500..i prefer my 500 over my 1000. impc is a joke right now. beatmaker2 is on par with a 1000..

You're half right. I owned a 500 a few years ago, but I didn't really take the time to learn it before selling it and getting a used 1000. I loved the portability but didn't like the small screen.I'm thinking about getting a used one from Ebay to use with the Ipad as a portable controller with standalone capabilities.It would only cost a little more than some "brainless" controllers.

at first i hated the 500s small screen, but i love it now, using my ears more then my eyes.. yea, u could just sample ur chops from the ipad into ur 500, or u can midi it, i used mine a few times to control bm2 and nano studio on my ipod touch..[/quote]

Cool,glad to know it will work as a controller.I missed out on an Ebay auction for a 500 yesterday because I fell asleep near the end of the auction(:I'll probably grab a used one from GC this weekend.

Dom wrote: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=54s

I 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

I agree on many of those points. You can most definately make a professional sounding project with iMPC within tabletop. But iMPC does need an overhaul. Panning of pads, multiple chops, and possibly more tracks although that isn't a killer for me. I personally like sampling with it because the little vinyl player makes it faster for me. I don't have load the whole song up the go into the wave for for the part I like like win BM2. I can just use my ears and record where it starts and stop where it ends. Also mute groups would be nice. But I think that's my only complaints.

Hey guys I know that iMPC has been sort of a touchy subject because of its limitations but I must say that personally I like the app and it has potential. With that said I've sent an email to Several departments in Akai pro and I encourage you to do the same. This is the contents.
To whom it may concern,
Let me start by saying that I am an iMPC user. I really enjoy your app especially when in conjunction with Tabletop. With that said I must say that I'm a bit disappointed that some very basic things were not included in the app. So I would like to make some suggestions for updates and or in app purchases for the hopefully not to distant future.
1. You need to be able to pan each pad. ( must)
2. You should be able to do multiple chops with the sampler. At least enough slices to cut up a 4 bar sample. (ie. Beatmaker 2 already has a built in chop shop)
3. More than 4 tracks
4. Mute groups
5. Some sort of sequence window
At this point I've been through the major forums and these seem to be the most often brought up complaints. The other thing people are saying is that they really don't believe the Fly will sell very well at all do to the issues of the app being so limited at this point in time. To by quite frank I also own Beatmaker 2 and it is far more advanced than your app. And I understand that BM2 is $20 and iMPC is only $7. But one other common theme I read in the forums and I agree with them is that we would not mind paying a little more for the app if it wasn't so crippled.
Please don't take offense to any of this. Take it only as an iMPC lover who just wants for it live up to its potential. Again I enjoy the app but this is the word on the street. For you consideration.
Concerned yet loyal iMPC user,
Andrew

Btw I also pitched this to Retronyms and they said they would present them to Akai to see if they wanted to add features.

dude, dont hold ur breath hitting up akai, i have hit those **** up sooooo many times........and...and.....and

Yeah I hear ya man. I've heard that about Akai with all the problems with their OS and no support and what not. I must say the extremely fast responses I've been getting from Retronyms with problems I've had has given me just a sliver of hope.

JazzyDrewProductions wrote:Yeah I hear ya man. I've heard that about Akai with all the problems with their OS and no support and what not. I must say the extremely fast responses I've been getting from Retronyms with problems I've had has given me just a sliver of hope.

That sounds about right that Retronyms is hearing you but then..damn...they need to Akai to say go ahead.

What inflict3 said sadly...

We actually probably screwed ourselves buying it early. It's way up in the sales charts since release. Akai will likely take that as "it's good enough as it is".

^^ Jeez I really hope not. The way I tried to explain it to them was that the MPC Fly will likely flop if they don't add features and improvements soon. I really hope at least their business minds will see that that is the truth.
Btw Akai put a pic up of the fly with a red case today on Instagram and people were commenting and asking about the iMPC with no response from Akai. So I told them what it was how its fun but needs improvement. And I named some of the shortcomings. So. Long story short I look at the comments from that pic about 20 minutes later and they deleted it. So I commented again basically calling them out for censoring the post and that they should put more effort into getting the app better so people will buy the fly instead of deleting honest posts about there product. So I actually got a reply back from them ( I guess it was probly a bit embarrassing) and they said that it is early in the development stages and that new features will be added in later updates. And that he will relay my ideas to the developers. I'm starting to think we are freekin beta testers for an unfinished product! But that could be a sign for good news to come in The future. Not keeping hopes up. But I don't wanna lose hope all together. Gotta put a little pressure on em boys sometimes publicly!!

Well at least it's stable in it's current form. It's just if you've used a hardware MPC or even know the generalities you're like WTF? Just so many simple things missing. (Panning, pad mutes/cutoff...folders, I mean really folders was too much to hope for?). I have two 64GB iPads so folders are kinda key for me. I want to load a lot of samples/kits.

I'm sure at least one update will come, most apps get at least that. I've unliked that Akai page but I know what you mean. They just want "Akai rulez" posts and don't answer any real question. I actually had noticed they constantly show MPD's with Fat Pads in their posts. I used to make a point of posting, "why are you drawing attention to how you need $40 and a screwdriver to make an MPD usable?"

Just never sure what goes through Akai's heads. I wonder if Retronyms hadn't wanted to do more with the app and then Akai said no keep it super basic. Originally the coder from Retronyms said they were adapting the 2000 OS for mobile. The truth ended up being it's a variant of the 1000's OS and they just used an XL styled GUI. But if it's the newer 1000 OS as base code it's even weirder It's missing so much stuff.

BTW - do you use it in Tabletop a lot? Another thread has a user wanting to know how you save in multiple iMPC's in Tabletop. Or perhaps it's save in each module and export from the standalone. I said I'd test for him, but maybe you already know JazzyDrew. I haven't had time to check, but probably will tonight.

YeahI prefer using it tabletop but I'm not sure i understand the question though. Drop me a link to the post and maybe I can try to help as well. You probly have more experience though as I've only been using them for a couple weeks now.

Thanks for offering to join up to help kaydigi.

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=154358&start=15

I'd have to say you've likely gone further in the iMPC than I have, I heard that beat you posted, it was cool. (meant to go back and comment sorry. )

But basically this guy is about to get an iPad and Ren and is trying to plot out how his exports from iMPC will work. I haven't fully checked it yet but I thought perhaps you could have 6-8 iMPC's in Tabletop and then maybe you can save in each module (samples/program/tracks) but I don't know yet if you can export those from Tabletop or you have to export them from the standalone.

I'm going to look, I just thought you may have already experimented if you have both apps. (I only bought all the paid Table top stuff after the iMPC released so I've barely used it all yet. BTW .99 FX sale still on for Tabletop).

Do you guys think I hit the major points with my email to akai regarding possible updates?