MPC Live for me?

Hi,

I’m doubting to buy a MPC Live. I wonder if it is suitable for my needs. So please your opinions.

The MPC Live would be used for backing tracks in a coverband. I play the keys and sometimes I need backing tracks like brass or a sequence. Drum tracks are not necessary. I would use it live on stage. Ipad is controlling 2 keyboards by midi with program change messages. It would be great if the Ipad could also send a message to the MPC Live for program changes. The MPC Live is also used for a click track for the guy who plays drums. So click track on another output channel.

Is the MPC Live the machine for us. Now I use Ableton on a Windows PC.

Thanks

matje wrote:Hi,

I’m doubting to buy a MPC Live. I wonder if it is suitable for my needs. So please your opinions.

The MPC Live would be used for backing tracks in a coverband. I play the keys and sometimes I need backing tracks like brass or a sequence. Drum tracks are not necessary. I would use it live on stage. Ipad is controlling 2 keyboards by midi with program change messages. It would be great if the Ipad could also send a message to the MPC Live for program changes. The MPC Live is also used for a click track for the guy who plays drums. So click track on another output channel.

Is the MPC Live the machine for us. Now I use Ableton on a Windows PC.

Thanks

If you're already using an iPad to control 2 keyboards, why don't you just use the iPad for your backing tracks as well? Why introduce a completely new piece of hardware into the mix? There's a plethora of very capable iOS DAW that you can utilize backing track recording (playback) on and MIDI sync to everything...

That said, you could retire the iPad and use an MPC Live to control your hardware, plus do some backing tracks (in song mode). Just be aware that the audio recording of the MPC Live is somewhat limited, and there's no multi-timbral MIDI.

On the Ipad I use Forscore. My notes (as PDF) are stored in Forscore. When I open a PDF a program change is send to both keyboards. When I would also use the Ipad as a DAW, I have to use 2 apps on stage. Continously switching between apps is not going to happen. Now I use Ableton on a Windows PC. That means a laptop and an audio interface on stage. The MPC could replace this.

The lack of multi timberal midi is not directly a problem for me. For backing tracks I use audio and midi files. The MPC would play the midi files, not send midi data to the keyboards. For example, a song with brass section. This midi files contains 5 tracks with on each track a different brass instrument. I hope you can on the MPC define a different instrument (MPC voices) to each track and play all 5 tracks together. So the MPC has not to send for each track on a different channel midi data to the keyboards.

matje wrote:The lack of multi timberal midi is not directly a problem for me. For backing tracks I use audio and midi files. The MPC would play the midi files, not send midi data to the keyboards. For example, a song with brass section. This midi files contains 5 tracks with on each track a different brass instrument. I hope you can on the MPC define a different instrument (MPC voices) to each track and play all 5 tracks together. So the MPC has not to send for each track on a different channel midi data to the keyboards.

You will have to assign each part on a different midi track (as well on the mpc as on the source receiving the midi notes.

All in all, i think an MPC live is pretty over qualified for your needs. BUT! it could also open an extra world of making music for you, besides the live gigs. Personally, buying an MPC is always a win win, in my point of view

Maybe a Digitakt will sort you - it has 8 midi tracks.

My knowledge of the MPC is almost nothing, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

The MPC has a huge library of voices (sounds). When a midi file is imported with for example 5 tracks, it is possible to assign a different voice to each track. For example track 1 a saxophone, track 2 a trumpet and so on.
Each track doesn't get a different midi channel. When the midi files is played, there has also to be a click track for the guy who plays the drums.

An other possibilty is the MPC plays an imported audio file. Also with a click track for the drums.

This are 2 examples of songs we want to play. In this on you can clearly hear the sequence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZilUww0rPw

In this one I play the piano, the brass section and strings should be played by the MPC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHeY9oexobo

I think the Digitakt is more a drum computer?

The MPC Live should work, but so would the Digitakt. While it cost more, I personally am a fan of the Force - though it does cost more.
- Unreall

matje wrote:My knowledge of the MPC is almost nothing, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

The MPC has a huge library of voices (sounds). When a midi file is imported with for example 5 tracks, it is possible to assign a different voice to each track. For example track 1 a saxophone, track 2 a trumpet and so on.
Each track doesn't get a different midi channel. When the midi files is played, there has also to be a click track for the guy who plays the drums.

An other possibilty is the MPC plays an imported audio file. Also with a click track for the drums.

This are 2 examples of songs we want to play. In this on you can clearly hear the sequence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZilUww0rPw

In this one I play the piano, the brass section and strings should be played by the MPC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHeY9oexobo

I think the Digitakt is more a drum computer?

Pfew, lots of different questions.

The MPC has some in built sounds (internal memory), you can also get a lot of expansion packs of sounds. You can also record your own synths, or import audio files. You can also import midi files. You can assign each ''voice'' to a seperate (midi) track. You have 4 effects per track (and 4 on the master). Click Track is possible, but you might want to check if you can send the click track to a seperate output for the drummer. (or you make a very basic drum track on the mpc, send that to a seperate output, so the drummer can play a long in sync on that).

Though, the MPC is not ''known'' or used (in my pov) for it's own library. I think most people use it to sample, and import their own samples, and use the sequencer as the heart of the setup. But sky's the limit.

I can recommend to start reading the manual to understand the mpc's workflow and possibilities.

https://www.akaipro.com/amfile/file/dow ... product/6/

Thanks!

I'm still not convinced the MPC Live is the right machine for me.

I read a lot on this forum that members are not happy that the MPC Live has no multi timberal midi. So this means when the MPC Live plays a midi file with for example 5 tracks, it can't use an external keyboard? Because 5 tracks means 5 midi channels.

Dont Listen To these Bozos lol

It is Multi Timbural. BUT....there is a Hiccup to where You can only control one Midi Track at a time on the Input side. Which means If you and your Band plan on Bottlenecking MIDI Controllers to the Input of the Live/X, at the same time....Then You're Sh*t outta Luck.

But the Sequencer can control Multiple Midi Channels...easily!

Lot of People run with what someone else says, and distorts the facts

Aha, so you can’t record midi from multiple sources at ones. That’s not an issue.

Exactly...The way the Sequencer is structured, you can only control the Active Track on the MIDI Input. There is no Port# assignments on the input. Seems like a easy fix, but it may require them to Revamp EVERYTHING.

I've always just chocked it up as...Akai concentrating on it being the Master, instead of It being Slaved.

Some users are upset...understandably... because Akai promotes the Live as a Portable, On-Stage Performance, capable unit.

I’m viewing the tutorial videos from Matthew Stratton on Youtube and learning a lot of what the MPC live in capable of. It is much easier to handle then Ableton.

In a video Matthew explains the audio tracks. He had a sequence with 2 midi tracks and 1 audio track. Then he changed the bmp. For the midi tracks no problem but the bpm of the audio tracks doesn’t change. That is really a bad thing. Or is it in the newer versions of the firmware possible?

He probably didnt engage the Warp feature on the Audio Track. Read up on that feature!

matje wrote:I’m viewing the tutorial videos from Matthew Stratton on Youtube and learning a lot of what the MPC live in capable of. It is much easier to handle then Ableton.

In a video Matthew explains the audio tracks. He had a sequence with 2 midi tracks and 1 audio track. Then he changed the bmp. For the midi tracks no problem but the bpm of the audio tracks doesn’t change. That is really a bad thing. Or is it in the newer versions of the firmware possible?

Or go via sample edit and make a patched phrase.

matje wrote:Hi,

I’m doubting to buy a MPC Live. I wonder if it is suitable for my needs. So please your opinions.

The MPC Live would be used for backing tracks in a coverband. I play the keys and sometimes I need backing tracks like brass or a sequence. Drum tracks are not necessary. I would use it live on stage. Ipad is controlling 2 keyboards by midi with program change messages. It would be great if the Ipad could also send a message to the MPC Live for program changes. The MPC Live is also used for a click track for the guy who plays drums. So click track on another output channel.

Is the MPC Live the machine for us. Now I use Ableton on a Windows PC.

Thanks

The MPC LIVE can do this.

With the Click Track for the drummer, you can just assign the metronome to output 5/6. Then have front of the house patch to the drummer in ear monitor. The only issue is, the metronome will only play while the MPC LIVE's sequencer is running.

Best advice is to rent a MPC LIVE for a week and see how it works for you.