MPC Live pairable device ideas for travel...

Unreallystic wrote:I've got those, my issue is configuration. That's the real headache to getting everything to work.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Unreallystic wrote:I've got those, my issue is configuration. That's the real headache to getting everything to work.

How many things are you configuring? What is machine is your centerpiece? Does your centerpiece travel with you?

Unreallystic wrote:simple parts don't push the Force to 65%, maybe if its crammed with FX and stuff on top, but not "simple". And the auto-sampler won't stretch out your MPC, its turning them all to samples, its the synths that the Force and by extension the MPC - cry about. When I do 7ths on up with sampled instruments - everything is A-OK on both 'platforms'.

Essentially I feel like the Force is 4-voice synth, trying to go beyond that is too much, and better handled outside the box. The synth aspect of the MPC/Force landscape hitting such a wall so early makes me glad I only bought one Force (I wanted 2), I'm much better off just mastering what I got first, and then planning on grabbing the next iteration when that finally drops.

Its gotten even weirder though because as I am thinking more and more about leaving Ableton and going all Akai, this issue makes it an instant no go, I'm a scrub, I'm learning the keyboard, but because I'm learning, I'm pushing it hard and I can't feel limited @ 4-notes.

- Unreall

Unreallystic wrote:That's a dirty disgusting rabbit hole (hence why I redacted the post).

right now I don't travel at all, I don't have the DJ skills yet - or connections. The goal is to travel with (2) Forces and the DJ-505, but I'm more worried about getting my content game up in 2019, which is stalled because of my setup - trying to add the Force in was the last straw. I'll try to sum up the components and the primary issues.

Brains - (1) PC i7 6700 methinks, 16 gig memory, SSD for windows, second SSD for VSTs and samples, Win10

Primary DAW - Ableton; Run FL Studio as a VST inside of Ableton sometimes, I used to rewire Reason into Ableton as well, but got tired of the Balance disconnecting randomly, and its my 'key' for Reason.

Primary Controller - Push 2; also have (2) Akai Fires for powering FL Studio, back to that in a moment; Roland DJ-505 for Serato DJ, plan is for it to function as the master clock for Ableton, Akai Force is wired to go through the DJ-505 to build up muscle memory on the hopefully future setup, audio is funneled through mixers though

Primary Mixer - (2) Roland AIRA MX-1s

External Audio Devices functioning via USB - Elektron Digitakt, Elektron Analog Heat (Both via Overbridge)

Audio Devices going through Mixers - MX-1 (Production): Roland AIRA System-8, Arturia MicroBrute RED, Roland FA-06, Moog Minitaur, Novation Peak, Roland Boutique D-05, Korg Kaossilator Pro+ Roland AIRA System-1, Behringer Patch Bay w/ Audio Technica LP60 Record Player, Korg Volca Kick, Korg Volca FM, and MPC Live; MX-1 (Groove): DJ-505:Akai Pro Force, Roland AIRA VT-3, Roland Boutique JX-03, Roland AIRA Tr-8, Arturia DrumBrute, Arturia DrumBrute Impact

video Devices - (2) C922s, (1) Samsung Gear 360

I have some other stuff not hooked up like my QuNeo controller, and the Pocket Operators, and I bought a s*** Behringer mixer that sounds so bad I can't use it at all, but it took me soo long to install it due to life *sigh* that I can't return it...never buy a sub-$100 mixer. The plan was to funnel the headphone out from the DJ-505, both MX-1s, and the PC to it, have my speakers/monitors pick up THAT signal instead of the main out being my PC, and then having a send from there to feed my Force/MPC Live/Possible MPC X, but the SQ was so terrible that I just unplugged it and reverted back to the current setup where if Ableton is on, no other application on my computer can use the sound card. Going to use the Send of my MX-1(Groove) set to just the [PC] output, and feed that send to the Force, but I need another RCA to 1/4" Stereo cable for that.

I use the Akai Fire(s) & FL Studio to control my drummachines, they give me a visual 32 step sequencer instead of the built in 8 that can be stretched to longer, its just easier for me to see, so I had to turn off control of my drum machines in Ableton so I could control them in FL Studio, then setup FL Studio with Tempaltes as a VST in Ableton.

I use ASIO4ALL to tie PC-based audio, to both MX-1s, both C922s, and the USB Mic and output from PC to my monitors/speakers. Trying to setup streaming, but none of the streaming platforms I use accept more than one input,, and "Ableton" isn't an option. Apparently there is a VST that will emulate an output that can be accessed by XSplit - but I haven't had a chance to work on that.

The final piece that sort of broke everything has been Serato DJ/Force integration. Not so much the output of that, but getting an audio signal to the Force was why I bought that (3rd) mixer, I'm hoping to try this PC Out as a Send of the MX-1 - solution this weekend, been dealing with **** all week, so no chance (wiffe's car broke down, son had cub scouts on Monday, tutoring Tuesday, tutoring Wednesday, working on car today...ugh).

I've thought about dusting my hands of the Roland MX-1s and getting a higher end mixer, but that won't really fix much, except give me better send options. I've grown frustrated as just throwwing money at it won't solve it, and my wants only make matters worse.
- Unreall

Lampdog wrote:And THAT is the reason I say ipad pro with the right apps can do the same and better job than MANY small peices.

Traveling, no space. Get gear than can do a lot of diff things in one. You can flesh out the rest when you get back home/studio.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Lampdog wrote:And THAT is the reason I say ipad pro with the right apps can do the same and better job than MANY small peices.

Traveling, no space. Get gear than can do a lot of diff things in one. You can flesh out the rest when you get back home/studio.

I agree. Went on enough tours and learned to bring the smallest footprint possible.

Frisbi wrote:Any ideas about a small stereo granulator with midi sync to connect to a Mpc output and travel with it?
I have Kaoss Pad 3 but still not satisfied.
Maybe some modular device? Mutable instruments?

Lampdog wrote:And THAT is the reason I say ipad pro with the right apps can do the same and better job than MANY small peices.

Traveling, no space. Get gear than can do a lot of diff things in one. You can flesh out the rest when you get back home/studio.

Lampdog wrote:You initially said "travel" so I was thinking light and mobile.

Ipad is not for everyone I understand. I actually don't like Apple at all. I ended up with an ipad by accident and since I had it I explored music apps on it. I was impressed. Still hate Apple.

And you don't 'have' to make music on it, use it as a sound module and control it with your Live.