Post your views and questions about the Akai MPC2500
By SHARP. Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:44 pm
I'm looking to find either some dope sound/production software or plugins that work best with the MPC2500 as controller.

My set up: MPC2500, Pro Tools9 (iMac), & Oxygen49 controller.
Thanks
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By Metatron72 Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:03 am
SHARP. wrote:I'm looking to find either some dope sound/production software or plugins that work best with the MPC2500 as controller.

My set up: MPC2500, Pro Tools9 (iMac), & Oxygen49 controller.
Thanks


That's not really the way to look at it. Any software will take a MIDI out signal from an MPC, either to use the pads to trigger or to sequence the plugin/ DAW. So everything works best once you have it set up.

But I do kind of know what you mean, NI's Battery is nice with an MPC as it's super easy to set up Battery in. 64 pad grid with 4 banks and have a MIDI PGM control it with Battery even having banks A-D responding to the MPC's bank switches.

For a host DAW Live is cool with an MPC, quick to sample into Live, warp/time stretch takes mere seconds, it's a nice combo.

Reason also is a nice complement to an MPC, treating the Reason rack like a big sound module rack is a common thing folks do.
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By Metatron72 Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:47 am
Sharp wrote:in your opinion, for overall workflow & production value... Reason or Live?


Tough one, I have both and love both. Even with no MPC in the mix those two apps Rewired together are BEAST.

The lines are blurrier lately too now that Reason allows audio tracks and has a great time stretch nowadays too. Reason 7 will finally add MIDI out, previously you could only have an MPC or other MIDI sequencers (hardware or software) control Reason as the MIDI master.. But you couldn't have Reason control the MPC.

In most cases though you'd want the MPC as the MIDI master so the computer app will follow the MPC's MIDI clock/timing. Unless you go and spend $800-$2000 on an audio/MIDI interface most MPC's MIDI timing accuracy will be superior to the computer clocking it.

Some might choose Reason as it has more instruments and you really need to shell out for the pricey Live Suite package to get all it's sample libraries and instruments. Some also prefer Reason's instruments for the fact they have graphics that look like real hardware and might find that more comfortable to use. Other users don't care about the interface and sound is the bottom line.

Live is the most unique piece of DAW software ever in my opinion. It's not perfect, but it's so versatile and I've never seen two people use it exactly the same. But it's ease of use is universally loved by it's users.

Best I could say is research videos from Dubspot and others that showcase the two apps in use and if it's a one or the other proposition the vids should help to see what fits your needs better.

But if you got bank for both I say get both.