creativespiral wrote:There's two main groups who buy MPCs. For the Hip Hop Producer crowd, its the best MPC ever. But for the crowd that wants to use the MPC as the centerpiece of a hardware setup with multiple synths, samplers, drum machines or loopers, the lack of MIDI multi-timbral (multi-mode) support and poor MIDI clock functionality is seriously a bummer.
My first MPC was the 2000XL, about twenty years ago, and that kit had solid MIDI implementation... and most of the MPCs since have. But for some reason, they overlooked it on this one (at least for now)... btw: MPC used to stand for "MIDI Production Center" ... that's the heritage of the product line. Hoping that its included in this update, or comes soon.
Not all of us Hip Hop producers make music the same way. I fit into both of your categories. I've only used a 4000 (and Z4) prior, but the Live is definitely the best MPC I've used.
I don't use my hard synths much any more, and I only need MIDI out to them any way. MIDI out over USB would be cool and I thought I was able to do it once. I have a Minitaur that can receive MIDI over USB, and has a plugin that provides additional functionality over USB. I'll have to try again as folks seem to insist it's not available.
Maybe related and more important for me, I do need support for multi-output VSTs. What's necessary to get all kit pieces on their own tracks from a drum VST, for example, is ridiculous and I've left that to do in my DAW. An Akai rep said this functionality SHOULD accompany the addition of multitimbral MIDI, so I have my fingers crossed. If not, there's not many requesting this support and would be low on Akai's priority list.
The groove baby, the groove...