Best Voice Modulator to complement MPC Live?

So I recently purchased the MPC Live. My goal right now is to play and sequence beats live on the streets...more street musician style. I'm an improviser, rapper, and singer and wanted to take my performance abilities to the next level, solo. Something like Reggie Watts or Beardyman.

I purchased the MPC Live because should I want to produce professionally down the road, I love that it's also a stand alone DAW.

But for now, yeah, I just plan on performing live with it. So I'll mostly be making quick and dirty beats, (that I then rap over as it's being looped) and was just curious, would anybody recommend either the KP3 or the VoiceLive 3 Extreme to complement it?

When I'm playing live, I want to be able to loop and modulate the pitch of my voice, scrub the beat easily, and use delay affects on both beats and voice. Which the KP3 seemed perfect for, because any sound I create on the MPC, I can easily funnel into the KP3 where I can produce all kinds of affects as I'm rapping.

However, the VoiceLive 3 Extreme (while way more expensive) seemed like a power house that would take the sound of my voice to the next level. It's got stuff like harmony and choir voice sounds, which could be dope, too.

Anyway, for my goal of improvised street performance with the MPC Live, I was just wondering if anybody would recommend either the KP3 or the VoiceLive 3 Extreme to help augment my voice in a live setting. Or maybe neither, or something else completely? I want it to be banging, haha.

But yeah, for now as mentioned, I'll mostly be creating groovy, hip hop beats on the fly, that people can Get Down to, which I then loop as I rap and freestyle on the mic.

Thanks so much for any advice!!

I just ordered a Boss RC-505 looper. It is made for Live performances. Initially, I was all set to buy a MPC Live for 'LIVE' remixing/beat making during my DJ gigs. I found that the beta MPC 2.0 software is missing necessary advertised features & too much menu diving even with the added benefit of a touch screen. I'm definitely NOT a vocal performer BUT the Boss RC-505 is designed for exactly what you want to do.

I have a Korg KP3+. It's great to mangle samples and the input source but the vocoder in it is somewhat limited. The Boss RC-505 looper has an impressive list of vocal & general effects. I also just bought a Roland Handsonic HPD-20 while I was vacationing in Miami. At South Beach I saw many live performers using percussions along side their vocal/DJ sets. That is what inspired me to buy the Boss RC-505 & the Roland Handsonic HPD-20. That combination along side my Roland DJ-808 should be all that I need to do live remixes/beats. Check out YouTube for more detailed info on the Boss RC-505.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em0Jp48ANrQ

You know, I was looking at vocal processors today for I'm looking for something dope. This one attracted me, but really not my thing so I passed this but maybe this what you looking for? There are two versions. Might wanna check them both.

Thanks for the replies Chino and Ill Green!

I'll look into the voicebox, Green.

Chino, are you saying I should complement the MPC Live with the RC-505 (instead of the KP3 or Voice Live 3 extreme)...or are you saying replace it completely with the RC-505?

I saw this video of a guy rocking an MPC and RC-505 together brilliantly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcWZfRrpDf8

I only ask because the RC-505 looks awesome, but it seems like I'd need sound to come from another source in order to loop it? My beatboxing skills are ok...but nowhere near the level yet where it'd need to be to fully sustain a dope song on the RC-505.

But the RC-505 is definitely on my radar now.

Just curious, if I had the RC-505 by itself (and took back the MPC Live)...could I still make banger beats with it solo...or would I need to sample in some music and sounds?

Michael221 wrote:Chino, are you saying I should complement the MPC Live with the RC-505 (instead of the KP3 or Voice Live 3 extreme)...or are you saying replace it completely with the RC-505?

I only ask because the RC-505 looks awesome, but it seems like I'd need sound to come from another source in order to loop it? .

Just curious, if I had the RC-505 by itself (and took back the MPC Live)...could I still make banger beats with it solo...or would I need to sample in some music and sounds?

The Boss RC-505 does come preloaded with loops to get you started. You can also save/load up & play your own beats from an external source like your phone, iPad, MP3 player etc. I would recommend getting the Boss RC-505 over a KP3 or the Voice Live 3. It is more flexible in that it has more features, efxs & is completely designed for live use. The RC-505 also has a dedicated mic input with excellent vocal efxs.

If your eventually looking to produce your own tracks then you can compliment an MPC Live with the RC-505. Everything you described above can be done with the Boss RC-505 EXCEPT making a beat from scratch(unless you sample your voice or sounds from the mic input). In order to make tracks/beats you need an input source like an external drum machine. The RC-505 is NOT as fully featured as the MPC live with regards to the sample editing functions. Having both would be a great combination!

Hey, Michael, re: Boss RC-505:
Be sure to check out the vids of performer called Dub Fx. Amazing how this guy makes music using his own voice, usually with no third-party loops. Mind you, the bloke can really sing and improvise, which is a good start, eh.

MPC novice here, got a new Live for the standalone sampling, touch screen and the great pads, very enjoyable hobby. But am saving hard to get a 505 too.

Good luck with your street music, mate.

Thanks so much everybody for your reply!

Ok, after more research, I'm sold on the RC-505. Guh, to save money though, I might take back my MPC Live for now. Get good on the RC-505, and then potentially get the MPC Live down the road if I think it's necessary. But maybe get a cheaper, external drum machine for the time being for the RC-505 to help me make tracks live in the street.

Haha that said, any suggestions for some cheaper, legit drum machines if I take back my MPC Live?

Michael221 wrote: I might take back my MPC Live for now. Get good on the RC-505, and then potentially get the MPC Live down the road if I think it's necessary. But maybe get a cheaper, external drum machine for the time being for the RC-505 to help me make tracks live in the street.

Haha that said, any suggestions for some cheaper, legit drum machines if I take back my MPC Live?

If you need the 'MPC workflow' then a MPC 500 or 1000 will do the job. They are selling relatively cheap on Ebay these days.

If your looking for a fun, inexpensive way to get started with drum machines then an Arturia Drum Brute, Novation Circuit Groove box or a Korg Electribe sampler 2 will work.

On a side note, I tried the Arturia Drum Brute at a local Sam Ash store. It was really easy and fun to use!

Thanks again Chino! I'll look into all three of those.