Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
By CharlesRandolph Fri Jun 22, 2018 1:25 am
Cockdiesel wrote:Perhaps they should just call it “logic less” “ableton less” or pro tool less. Arguing over semantics really. What’s really the point when the intended message is communicated but people want to be a stickler for definitions.

From my experience you could mix a track entirely on the live but it would pale in comparison to anything done a computer. It can be done but you would need a lot more time and the help of some apps to get close. I’m no expert on mixing, dynamics etc, in fact a novice but it’s pretty clear for me to see.

In that same frame of thought I found some cool free spectrum analyzer apps for iPhone you just need a way to get the sound in. I bought a Roland go mixer and it’s cool but it cannot handle the full on main output of the live. Not sure why, although the mixer is really handy for making videos and stuff just can handle everything unless it’s really turned down. Now just one keyboard patch or similar it actually sounds good for a under 100 dollar sound card.


Mixing inside of the MPC LIve is very possible. I use to mix rack-mount sound gear that way, before I moved to a STEMS work flow.
By Cockdiesel Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:27 am
I use just the live and export the files. I have posted some but they all need a lot of fine tuning, it could be just me and my poor mixing skills. More or less building up a ton of tracks to refine later but have a good reference of the material I’ve been accumulating. It’s been building up for over a year just need to sit down and sort through it all.

This proletariat only has a few hours to dedicate to making beats and am frequently away from my computer. It is what it is, though.
By CharlesRandolph Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:50 am
Cockdiesel wrote:I use just the live and export the files. I have posted some but they all need a lot of fine tuning, it could be just me and my poor mixing skills. More or less building up a ton of tracks to refine later but have a good reference of the material I’ve been accumulating. It’s been building up for over a year just need to sit down and sort through it all.

This proletariat only has a few hours to dedicate to making beats and am frequently away from my computer. It is what it is, though.


Are they the ones on your sound-cloud? Or do you have anything new?
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By Danoc Fri Jun 22, 2018 4:13 am
Dam l wish l had skills like that. Yo l kearned how to drive playimg pole position in the 80's lol

Ill-Green wrote:I once built a studio as an arcade cabinet like Pole Position where you sat in and played. Had car speakers in there, about 4 tweeters, 6 midrange and 4 bass speakers. Everyone hated it because it rocked the neighbors...and my mom. One day it was gone.
By CharlesRandolph Fri Jun 22, 2018 4:24 am
Danoc wrote:Dam l wish l had skills like that. Yo l kearned how to drive playimg pole position in the 80's lol


I could only imagine you on your driving road test? Telling the DMV person, you know this is different from the Pole Position driving simulator. There's no TOP SCORE or Starting gate.

Ill-Green wrote:I once built a studio as an arcade cabinet like Pole Position where you sat in and played. Had car speakers in there, about 4 tweeters, 6 midrange and 4 bass speakers. Everyone hated it because it rocked the neighbors...and my mom. One day it was gone.


My only issue with custom studio furniture, is what happens when I swap out a piece of gear, it was not built for. Do you make you furniture module or flexible for other gear as well.
By Cockdiesel Fri Jun 22, 2018 4:51 am


There’s quite a bit more I’ve posted but it’s across a lot of platforms and accounts.
Mpc live was the main center lots of other boxes, rackmounts, effects etc. in the process. All standalone. These are just what I exported from the live.
By CharlesRandolph Fri Jun 22, 2018 5:04 am
Cockdiesel wrote:There’s quite a bit more I’ve posted but it’s across a lot of platforms and accounts.
Mpc live was the main center lots of other boxes, rackmounts, effects etc. in the process. All standalone. These are just what I exported from the live.


You're not to far off. I would suggest you play with stereo imaging of the synth sounds. This would open up the tracks and give the more space. As of now it sound like everything is mono. Once you do that, you'll find that it's easier control the bass.

Now if you meant for the mix to be that way, all you need to do is get the low end under control. Make sure the Bass Line and the Kick Drum is working with each to drive the song.

How close are your monitor to the wall or are you mixing in headphones? If so that could explains why the bass is pushing harder than the kick and the stereo imaging is narrow.
By Cockdiesel Fri Jun 22, 2018 5:15 am
Thank you for the input, it’s all I’ve been asking for, for like a year...
Most of this is on The road with headphones. I have a really nice set up at home monitors, nice sooundcard, lots of outboard, but never really there.
Ive been making beats awhile man, but never put any real effort into the technicals or mixing aspect. Just made beats, made a lot of tapes at one point.

Without a computer and monitors I have a hard time with the stereo field. Even with monitors I still really prefer the visual feedback.
I appreciate the feedback for real, most people don’t offer much. Or imply figure it out. On you’re own.
By CharlesRandolph Fri Jun 22, 2018 5:27 am
Cockdiesel wrote:Thank you for the input, it’s all I’ve been asking for, for like a year...
Most of this is on The road with headphones. I have a really nice set up at home monitors, nice sooundcard, lots of outboard, but never really there.
Ive been making beats awhile man, but never put any real effort into the technicals or mixing aspect. Just made beats, made a lot of tapes at one point.

Without a computer and monitors I have a hard time with the stereo field. Even with monitors I still really prefer the visual feedback. I appreciate the feedback for real, most people don’t offer much. Or imply figure it out. On you’re own.


Best thing to do is trust your ears and feelings. Our eyes trick us. :lol: Plus we don't listen with our eyes. If you are adding vocals to the track. You'll need to open that middle space. If it's only instrumental then you can play more with the stereo field.

You are not far off, just need some level adjustment, low end management, and panning. As long as it feels and sounds like you want it that's the key. It also helps to second ear.
Last edited by CharlesRandolph on Fri Jun 22, 2018 6:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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By Danoc Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:51 am
I scored a %100 on my drivers teast though. I bought a used car to practice so l was good.


CharlesRandolph wrote:I could only imagine you on your driving road test? Telling the DMV person, you know this is different from the Pole Position driving simulator. There's no TOP SCORE or Starting gate.



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By mr_debauch Fri Jun 22, 2018 1:52 pm
I am just glad they took a step back away from the M.usic P.roduction C.ontroller route they were taking... the ren was not my thing at all (especially when they tried to tell us vintage mode was getting it's sound because the ren had the same circuitry of the 3000 ... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: )
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By Danoc Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:52 pm
I wasn't buying into the Ren when I got rid of the 2000xl. My homie, got the Ren and he had glitches galore. And I wasn't going that route with a complete controller to the computer like that, I wanted a standalone and I waited until last year. From 2012 I had to wait. So now I am all good.

Akai so far has been giving updates on the reg and at 2.2.1 it seems very good. I have no complaints. It handles and does the things I wanted in a future machine.

mr_debauch wrote:I am just glad they took a step back away from the M.usic P.roduction C.ontroller route they were taking... the ren was not my thing at all (especially when they tried to tell us vintage mode was getting it's sound because the ren had the same circuitry of the 3000 ... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: )
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By Ill-Green Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:17 pm
CharlesRandolph wrote:
Danoc wrote:Dam l wish l had skills like that. Yo l kearned how to drive playimg pole position in the 80's lol


I could only imagine you on your driving road test? Telling the DMV person, you know this is different from the Pole Position driving simulator. There's no TOP SCORE or Starting gate.

Ill-Green wrote:I once built a studio as an arcade cabinet like Pole Position where you sat in and played. Had car speakers in there, about 4 tweeters, 6 midrange and 4 bass speakers. Everyone hated it because it rocked the neighbors...and my mom. One day it was gone.


My only issue with custom studio furniture, is what happens when I swap out a piece of gear, it was not built for. Do you make you furniture module or flexible for other gear as well.

I look for the long term when building these things. I use cheap 1/4 inch plywood and/or any wood I find on the street so if something new comes along, I won't have an issue of dismantling. I screw everything in just in case I have to take it apart and customize a certain section. I'm pretty content with what I have, I don't seek to expand.

But building is easy, its the measurements and mathematical planning that could take months to finalize.