[OFFICIAL] - MPC X & MPC Live Photos, Specs & Pricing

@Danoc: yeah man, you should get Keyscape. Listened to some of your beats, and those keys would suit you well. Pretty fast load times for this deep sounding presets. I've had it for about 4 months now. I love it. Especially the wurlitzerss and the key basses Not yet a good piano player but I just started half a year ago.

@Starmanwarz: I've just but my first analogue synth a couple of months ago. I've should 've bought one years ago. I find it so much better than using software synths. I've got the Arturia Minibrute. Might not be your style but I find it liberating to have a knob for every function. Way better than loading a plugin, waiting, midi assigning controller, having to watch the screen often. And I hate using the mouse, when making music. I plan on combining the Minibrute sound with record samples and mangling them together in the Live via external hardware effects.

But for the wurlitzers and keybasses I haven't the space or the money so I will stick with the plugin . But will record everything in the Live and chop it all up

I have ten hardware synths being run by my mv8800.

Minilogue is a fun synth and very easy to control from a hardware sequencer.

I have some analog, some virtual analog, a rompler, and a grain sampler hooked up. I like the multitimbral virtual analogs most fir the fact I can use multiple midi tracks on the same synth using different channels and have unique sounds on each track.

Minilogue or Monologue is a great place to start though.

the only softsynths i use now are on my iPad, but i still use them. They sound great too, but I prefer the tactile satisfaction and mental connection of real controls on real hardware. Just a personal preference. No right or wrong way to do things, but i like the hardware synths and a good variety of them.

Two midi outs on the mv8800 can be expanded by powered midi thru boxes like the Kenton 1 in 5 out, or if cables kept very short, a midi solutions quadra thru passive box will work too. the powered thru boxes have active outs for resending clean midi signals over longer cable runs.

Midi over ethernet would work too, but hve to watch some videos on how others et that up. i find th powered thru boxes to be very easy. two midi outs gives 32 midi channels. New MPC X has 4 outs and Live has 2.

starmanwarz wrote:Watching these videos on the new MPC's workflow made me want to buy my first synth. I never thought I'd use one (being a sample based beat maker) but I think it's opening up many possibilities and allows experimentation.

Anyone else plan on using a hard synth for (mostly) hiphop beats? Does it work? How's your workflow and which one do you have?

I currently have my eyes on minitaur, minilogue, bass station 2 and even the sub37..

I am predominantly hip-hop, but not big on sampling, so most of my stuff comes from combinations of hard and soft synths. The good news - current trends in hip-hop are very synth friendly. The bad news? They are so damn generic sounding. Now that's more a factor of the producers/clones/"What's hot", but there is room to grow there.

with that said, don't just waste money on a synth 'just because'. The Minitaur for instances would NOT be a good option for you - between deep menu-diving via PC, and a soft-capped range, its just not a good first look. The Minilogue is a "little" overblown in popularity right now, I've been eyeballing it as a cheaper option to the System-8 myself as the MPC and other real life issues have drained my funds already. Sub37 sounds TERRIFIC to me, but for hip-hop, you are going to get more bang for buck buying soft-synths. If you really want to get your hands dirty with a synth to learn with, with what you've listed, the Minilogue will be the best bet - simply because its super straight forward, has the OLED screen to show you what's making the noise, and it does sound good. I'd also recommend one of the Arturio Mini/Micro Brutes if you are looking for the synths to play the front of your mixes. I personally use Komplete (10 Ultimate) coupled with a System-1 (its straight forward like the Minilogue, but the $500 or 600 I paid for it was too much, get it used off eBay now for like $350), and other soft synths - I actually use Reason for its synths wired into Ableton (just has a different sound to it).

Most of the time however, my synths sit behind my drums a bit, short of bells/strings/epiano-ish sounds...they play up my low-end, emphasize my drums , and add some motion via pads...for hip-hop. That changes when I start doing the electronic music and *now* drum-n-bass...but those are still more exploratory for me.
-Unreall

Dj Bo wrote:@Starmanwarz: I've just but my first analogue synth a couple of months ago. I've should 've bought one years ago. I find it so much better than using software synths. I've got the Arturia Minibrute. Might not be your style but I find it liberating to have a knob for every function. Way better than loading a plugin, waiting, midi assigning controller, having to watch the screen often. And I hate using the mouse, when making music. I plan on combining the Minibrute sound with record samples and mangling them together in the Live via external hardware effects.

But for the wurlitzers and keybasses I haven't the space or the money so I will stick with the plugin . But will record everything in the Live and chop it all up

I'm also looking for a knob for every function. I never used software and vst's and I don't plan to. It's all about turning knobs and pushing buttons

chino wrote:
I used a MicroKorg XL plugged directly into my MV8800 for a while. I loved it but I can't play keys to save my life. I sold it and bought a MPK249 to control my Studio One DAW along with all the VSTs.

I'm now considering buying the Roland System 1 plug out synth and maybe a Korg Kaossilator Pro+. I can connect the Korg via MIDI to the MV and control the MV8800's built in synth. I can also run the Roland or Korg directly in via the MV's 1/4 inch input jacks to create unique synth sounds for my beats.

I run a system-1 and a Kaossilator Pro+. I love the system-1, the Kaosillator though...well it does a good job at loops, and the idea is good, but the built in synth engine feels hollow as a mug...like...its only good IMO at getting ideas out quickly so you can redo it using something that sounds better with some automation. Have you sat down with a Kaossilator yet to hear it? If not - do that before buying. Heck, the drums sound better to me than the leads and basses. Side note it is fun as hell tho...
-Unreall

Wormhelmet wrote:I have ten hardware synths being run by my mv8800.

Minilogue is a fun synth and very easy to control from a hardware sequencer.

I have some analog, some virtual analog, a rompler, and a grain sampler hooked up. I like the multitimbral virtual analogs most fir the fact I can use multiple midi tracks on the same synth using different channels and have unique sounds on each track.

Minilogue or Monologue is a great place to start though.

10 synths huh, you must be having a lot of fun! I suppose you can play keys as well? I can't but it's not like I plan on playing complex stuff anyways.

Minilogue seems noob friendly and it probably is a good choice with tons of features and it's decently priced, although I'm wondering if I should be patient and save for something like the sub 37.

starmanwarz wrote:
I'm not talking about MIDI controllers but synthesizers..

My bad, I didn't know it was only a midi controller. I thought it was a standalone synth as well.
I'm still interested tough. But first I need my 'X' to arrive.

starmanwarz wrote:

Wormhelmet wrote:I have ten hardware synths being run by my mv8800.

Minilogue is a fun synth and very easy to control from a hardware sequencer.

I have some analog, some virtual analog, a rompler, and a grain sampler hooked up. I like the multitimbral virtual analogs most fir the fact I can use multiple midi tracks on the same synth using different channels and have unique sounds on each track.

Minilogue or Monologue is a great place to start though.

10 synths huh, you must be having a lot of fun! I suppose you can play keys as well? I can't but it's not like I plan on playing complex stuff anyways.

Minilogue seems noob friendly and it probably is a good choice with tons of features and it's decently priced, although I'm wondering if I should be patient and save for something like the sub 37.

You would like either i suspect. I don't have a sub 37, but have three Mother 32's in a three tier rack. lots of fun. Almost bought the sub 37, but some other goodies took priority.

Unreallystic wrote:The good news - current trends in hip-hop are very synth friendly. The bad news? They are so damn generic sounding.

F*ck trends. Do what you like. I've found doing what they least expect from you works the best.
Or, find out what's trending and do the total opposite.

Unreallystic wrote:

starmanwarz wrote:Watching these videos on the new MPC's workflow made me want to buy my first synth. I never thought I'd use one (being a sample based beat maker) but I think it's opening up many possibilities and allows experimentation.

Anyone else plan on using a hard synth for (mostly) hiphop beats? Does it work? How's your workflow and which one do you have?

I currently have my eyes on minitaur, minilogue, bass station 2 and even the sub37..

I am predominantly hip-hop, but not big on sampling, so most of my stuff comes from combinations of hard and soft synths. The good news - current trends in hip-hop are very synth friendly. The bad news? They are so damn generic sounding. Now that's more a factor of the producers/clones/"What's hot", but there is room to grow there.

with that said, don't just waste money on a synth 'just because'. The Minitaur for instances would NOT be a good option for you - between deep menu-diving via PC, and a soft-capped range, its just not a good first look. The Minilogue is a "little" overblown in popularity right now, I've been eyeballing it as a cheaper option to the System-8 myself as the MPC and other real life issues have drained my funds already. Sub37 sounds TERRIFIC to me, but for hip-hop, you are going to get more bang for buck buying soft-synths. If you really want to get your hands dirty with a synth to learn with, with what you've listed, the Minilogue will be the best bet - simply because its super straight forward, has the OLED screen to show you what's making the noise, and it does sound good. I'd also recommend one of the Arturio Mini/Micro Brutes if you are looking for the synths to play the front of your mixes. I personally use Komplete (10 Ultimate) coupled with a System-1 (its straight forward like the Minilogue, but the $500 or 600 I paid for it was too much, get it used off eBay now for like $350), and other soft synths - I actually use Reason for its synths wired into Ableton (just has a different sound to it).

Most of the time however, my synths sit behind my drums a bit, short of bells/strings/epiano-ish sounds...they play up my low-end, emphasize my drums , and add some motion via pads...for hip-hop. That changes when I start doing the electronic music and *now* drum-n-bass...but those are still more exploratory for me.
-Unreall

Thanks for your detailed post.

I'm not interested in current hip hop trends because I dislike what hip hop has became. I'm a 90's lover, boom bap to be exact.

Mostly looking for fat basses and sounds to fill the emptiness of my sample based hip hop tracks. Other than that, looking to experiment with breakbeat/DnB and other genres where I think the synth would have a more primary role. Not interested in vst's.

starmanwarz wrote:

Dj Bo wrote:@Starmanwarz: I've just but my first analogue synth a couple of months ago. I've should 've bought one years ago. I find it so much better than using software synths. I've got the Arturia Minibrute. Might not be your style but I find it liberating to have a knob for every function. Way better than loading a plugin, waiting, midi assigning controller, having to watch the screen often. And I hate using the mouse, when making music. I plan on combining the Minibrute sound with record samples and mangling them together in the Live via external hardware effects.

But for the wurlitzers and keybasses I haven't the space or the money so I will stick with the plugin . But will record everything in the Live and chop it all up

I'm also looking for a knob for every function. I never used software and vst's and I don't plan to. It's all about turning knobs and pushing buttons

Yeah it's way better. That's one thing I'm not so sure about with the live. I now have the MV and I love pushing buttons . But with the touchscreen, the q-link next to it and at least some buttons it should be quick. I busted my MV's sampler input and the MV is so big, so I want a new sampler with nice pads. And with hands on midi note and wave form editing I think it's certainly a step up. Editing on the MV i don't find very fast without the mouse. Zooming in, selecting notes. But I still love my MV, my first sampler. The pads are great, solidly build, audio tracks, no bugs and maybe just 1 crash a year. Last year I even thought about buying a second one, because they're discontinued.
And if the X will be solid, and well built I probably buy the X next year. One portable and one stationary

Fanu wrote:

Unreallystic wrote:The good news - current trends in hip-hop are very synth friendly. The bad news? They are so damn generic sounding.

F*ck trends. Do what you like. I've found doing what they least expect from you works the best.
Or, find out what's trending and do the total opposite.

Amen.
That's why Coltrane and JB are my heroes

Wormhelmet wrote:You would like either i suspect. I don't have a sub 37, but have three Mother 32's in a three tier rack. lots of fun. Almost bought the sub 37, but some other goodies took priority.

What kind of music do you make?

Akai at Musikmesse!

Dj Bo wrote:Amen.
That's why Coltrane and JB are my heroes

As for today's producers…guys like Om Unit have hit me really hard because he went against the trends…and that's what gained him the position where he is today. Proved my point of doing what they don't expect.