IS AN OUTSIDE DAW NECESSARY AT ALL?

Bezo wrote:I have no doubt folks can mix the hell out of a song in an MPC or in its software. With the tools I lean on, I can't. I use VCA tracks, I need multi-output plugin support, delay compensation, actual stereo panning.

I agree. Software DAW with appropriate input/outputs give the most flexibility for workflow. From Orchestral to Singer and Acoustic Guitar everything can be done this environment. It's also easier to render different versions and work at different studios with.

If you guys ever need pro-level mixing or mastering, get in touch…my job all day every day

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Joswun wrote:That's definitely the plan! Thank you!

Besides that get your business in order and register for ASCAP or BMI.

https://www.ascap.com/
https://www.bmi.com/
https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-register.html

Yes! On my to do list.... Thanks!

I was recently given some stems (raw audio tracks, for those who don't know) to do a dance remix for a vocal artist.

Despite the fact that one of the MPC Live's "sweet spots" is creating dance music, I wouldn't dream of doing this remix outside of a DAW. My "muscle memory" is optimized for rapid beginning-to-end production in my DAW (been using the same DAW since 2001).

Plus, I know the DAW's ecosystem and my plugins of choice inside and out and have certain setups and production methods tuned to my DAW over the years that get me the best results.

My main use for the MPC is for creating, sequencing and performing live electronic sets, so my intended outcomes are different than finished mixed and mastered songs, at least not within the MPC. So with my DAW already in my production pipeline for so long, and for many other practical reasons, I just don't have the incentive to dump all of that for the philosophical ideal of "all in the box" MPC production, as appealing as that is from certain perspectives.

That said, with the addition of the AIR FX and other improvements, the MPC certainly has the horsepower and features to produce modern properly mixed songs "in the box", although mastering is another story. I would argue that the MPC Live firmware IS a DAW, just not one that I have optimized my workflow to use as a beginning-to-end production tool, and one that is not necessarily optimized for arranging, mixing and mastering dozens of raw stems. And I need a lot of RAM and CPU horsepower to do this kind of thing properly.

That said, I am coming up on doing some brand new dance tracks with a vocal artist, and won't have the same time constraints, so I intend to work the MPC more directly into my DAW workflow for these next tracks and see where that takes me. I find my ideas and output with the MPC (and other hardware) is musically different than if I write, perform and arrange more linearly within a DAW. Those differences are a good thing.

Before the MPC Software I used to track out into and mix in Logic. Especially now with the AIR FX I can do everything inside the Live, except for automation on the master channel.

Now I only fire up Logic for tracking vocals or minor tasks like described above.

An outside DAW necessary or not? Totally depends on what kind of ball game you’re playing.

The MPC is a tool in the artists pallette. For me it allows me to use/play/manipulate samples. It is a partial daw but can never replace the daw. But can complement it

I have a seaboard rise which changes everything. The equator software and all the other mpe compliant software is stunning. Cubase 10 now includes mpe compatible included synths and has been mpe compatible for years

On the other hand my seaboard just sends the MPC into a complete mess and is unusable together . I really doubt it has the power to handle mpe. Not a problem as MPC is an addition to my studio and can never fully replace. The two can co exist. And will co exist.

*not trying to sound like a jerk, so don't take it that way*
You don't "NEED" anything. You never have. In 96 I made stuff that could slap using "Making Waves...before FL Studios was really a thing. So on the rip - no you don't need a DAW with the MPC.

With that said, a DAW is a tool, and the more useful tools you have, usually either the quicker you can complete or project, or the better the quality you can complete a project - and that goes for music as well. I'm SURe I can do a song soup-to-nuts in the Live, but I typically stop once I have an idea down, and then take it to the computer/DAW. I can clean things up so much more and so much quicker and easier there, than I can on the Live, I have access to more FX, better filters, better synths (both hard and soft), I can navigate and make adjustments so much quicker without hearing the same bloody loop for 20 minutes, until my ears grow numb and interest fades as I start to lose track of the improvements. I can load mix & master chains that are pre-configured by genre or sound design goal, etc.

So no, you don't need a DAW, but its such a powerful tool that can increase the speed at which you actually finish songs and quality, that ignoring it as a tool feels like doing something the hard way, just to say that you can do it the hard way, not because it yields better results.

Side note, so while I started with Making Waves and migrated to Cool Edit *freeware*, then Cool Edit 2 *freeware*, then Cool Edit Pro 2 *bootleg*, I often view Reason 4 (bootleg) as my first real DAW. I think a lot of us went free or illegal early, just make sure to go legit as soon as you can, don't put it off indefinitely. Not only do you future proof yourself, but you are funding development of improvements, and you'll feel so much better. I bought Reason 6 when 7 came out and got the free upgrade, then when I transitioned to Ableton, I straight up bought the Suite w/ Push bundle, and am so glad I did that. Got my hands on FL Studios when I bought the Akai Fire earlier this year as well. Hell the MPC Lice COMES with a DAW...its not the greatest, but it works.
- Unreall

I gave up the DAW as primary tool in 2014, but I still use either Audition on PC or Auria on my iPad for mixdowns and conversion to websites.

Hardware synths exist nicely with softsynths on my iPad and I can sequence the iPad from my hardware. Mixer has a usb input and recorder for recording tracks directly wav files. It is a much different process than I’m used to after 14 years of in the box mixing on a DAW. It’s definitely not faster for me yet, but one day I might get close. I just wanted a change of pace for a bit. I really enjoy the tactile experience as well as limitations of the hardware.

This is hobby for me though and I don’t work with any other musicians at this time. Last project I did a collaboration on was before the switch and I did it in Ableton and the person I collaborated with did his parts in Sonar and sent me the stems.

Most of my stuff I do now is to entertain myself so only 2/3 sequenced and the rest played live.

Someday I’ll probably go back to a DAW on PC. Not anytime soon though.

I will stay with my DAW, and power of the computer. I don't want no problems, to lose a client is no joke and I want the best power for my music. I know Reason in and out and its easy for me and I work quick. The MPC Live helps me out with the drums, and I do them quickly now I am so use to it now. I have not done a whole track on the MPC since 2012, and I fell out of love and rhythm to do an entire on the MPC. I can but I am not really feeling it. To do my music, I am inspired doing it in the DAW, and I have a 27 inch screen and I love seeing everything huge LOL

Danoc wrote::smoker: I will stay with my DAW, and power of the computer. I don't want no problems, to lose a client is no joke and I want the best power for my music. I know Reason in and out and its easy for me and I work quick. The MPC Live helps me out with the drums, and I do them quickly now I am so use to it now. I have not done a whole track on the MPC since 2012, and I fell out of love and rhythm to do an entire on the MPC. I can but I am not really feeling it. To do my music, I am inspired doing it in the DAW, and I have a 27 inch screen and I love seeing everything huge LOL

Do you map the MPC to Kong? I haven't really used Reason in a long while, longer than I've had the MPC Live.
- Unreall

Wat up bro.
Oh nah l don't use Kong at all. I use Redrum. I love its step sequencer its dope.

Man Reason 10 is dope. I don't want to use nothig else.

St the end all our tracks will end up in a DAW. Most likely Protools.

Unreallystic wrote:Do you map the MPC to Kong? I haven't really used Reason in a long while, longer than I've had the MPC Live.
- Unreall

Danoc wrote:Wat up bro.
Oh nah l don't use Kong at all. I use Redrum. I love its step sequencer its dope.

Man Reason 10 is dope. I don't want to use nothig else.

St the end all our tracks will end up in a DAW. Most likely Protools.

Unreallystic wrote:Do you map the MPC to Kong? I haven't really used Reason in a long while, longer than I've had the MPC Live.
- Unreall

Yes man Redrum is dope and Reason 10 is the best music production daw ever.
I am not using it because I switched to Mpc standalone but I start to miss it.

Watch how you say that Reason is the best DAW. There will be a fught lol

There's something about Redrum, it almost reminds me of the MPC in a way. It saved me when l gotvaway from Protools and the 2000XL. The way l can do my trap hihats in it and put them anywhere on the grid is amazing. I love the editing also plus blocks. I use it in a different way thought. Being l have the X-Touch One that thing makes mixing and doing music in Reason fun. And the NNXT is the best thing since sliced bread lol
Did you know they added buss faders? yo its off the chain. Plus l can't let go of the SSL 9000k mixer emulation that's in it. And the sound that runs through it is consistant. A lot of hits come off Reason. The things it does is sweet.

Studio One is dope too. I master in it and do sound design there. Crazy.

Frisbi wrote:
Yes man Redrum is dope and Reason 10 is the best music production daw ever.
I am not using it because I switched to Mpc standalone but I start to miss it.

@ Danoc

Yes Studio one is my mixing/mastering tool also.
The winning point of Reason is that it just sounds great, I never found soft synths that sound like Maelstrom or Thor, for example. Maybe some soft synths have same features or even more, but they never sound like Propellerhead synths.
And yes, I had been using Redrum a lot with much fun in the past.
Now I am fine with Mpc, I like to work with drum programs and grid view, I think that Mpc is well covered when we speak about drum machines and beat making.
Anyway I read somewhere that Propellerhead is trying to put Reason rack extensions into hardware. I didn't find more news about that and I am waiting for some more.
That would be super dope.
Propellerhead hardware connected to Mpc outputs.

Props sw in HW? that would be bananas.

You do know Reason got some new dope synths right? Europa is crazy it will put Thor And Mal outta business. It has another one Grandular joint its stupid.
I have the amazing refills l mean they are top notch from orchestral to Trap. I freakun love refills. So a DAW that can do all the synths l want l would have to stay with my DAW.
But l still rock the MPC live but my computer and DAW is the center of my stu.

Frisbi wrote:@ Danoc

Yes Studio one is my mixing/mastering tool also.
The winning point of Reason is that it just sounds great, I never found soft synths that sound like Maelstrom or Thor, for example. Maybe some soft synths have same features or even more, but they never sound like Propellerhead synths.
And yes, I had been using Redrum a lot with much fun in the past.
Now I am fine with Mpc, I like to work with drum programs and grid view, I think that Mpc is well covered when we speak about drum machines and beat making.
Anyway I read somewhere that Propellerhead is trying to put Reason rack extensions into hardware. I didn't find more news about that and I am waiting for some more.
That would be super dope.
Propellerhead hardware connected to Mpc outputs.