Mpc live 2 > mpc live

Tabletop wrote:So how are the dedicated buttons working for live2 users?
Which ones do you use & for what? Which ones can do things that you can't do on live1???

Funny, I just literally actually realized they were there and what they did. makes it so much easier as a live performance type machine. the mix, mute, and next seq have made it so dope for me. the mix and mute are good for quickly being able to go back and forth to get your mix and frequencies right and get everything sitting good. the next seq and mute for me have been good if I have MCs over that are free styling or rapping or whatever and allowing me to **** around with the beat and do shit rather then just having to sit there and watch them. Oddly enough, I'd probably just get the 2 for those buttons just because how much they have improved the workflow for me. I actually started reading the manual today and shit since the new buttons hyped me up so much lol .

I feel like I sound like an akai cheerleader or salesman or some shit lol. im just hyped that ive finally stoked on using the mpc for making music more now. im thinking about selling my X and Force and live..but waiting just in case for some reason getting more involved with the live 2 makes me want to have like the X or force tied to the computer perm..

Tabletop wrote:MPC OS built around or integrated with Cubase.

Yeah! Now U R speaking!

emdog wrote:I have tons and tons of eurorack and hardware synths and drum machines etc. I've given up on thinking I was going to ever have everything hooked up and plugged in so I could just press record. The mpc live 2 makes it so much easier for me for example to go to a specific synth and start making music with it. im not just stuck to either using the synths sequencer or just playing without a sequencer..plugged into the headphone port with headphone wires dangling all over the place. so now I can use the mpc for either making keygroups easily like when sound designing or recording and sampling a sequence. In the past I would have to connect everything and do so much **** to sample etc. now the mpc being battery powered, not needing headphones, makes it so much easier. only thing I really need is a 1/4 plug and midi cable. this is for unplanned stuff, you know when you have some time and just start messing with **** and it turns into something good... obviously if Im planning on sitting down and creating id rather sample with the apogee, use preamps, and use the DAW. So this mpc is basically just another workflow added to the mix that helps me generate more music. a lot of times its just those ideas that would normally have just been gone since I would have had to turn on computer..connect wires, etc. it just makes it easier

Thanks for a great response, I see why mkII is perfect for your needs! But one thing: (and I mean this in the most light-hearted way) you have tons & tons of eurorack... and youre worried about the headphone cord?! But I get it, its nice to have the immediacy of the speaker!

Having and using are different things.

Tabletop wrote:

emdog wrote:I have tons and tons of eurorack and hardware synths and drum machines etc. I've given up on thinking I was going to ever have everything hooked up and plugged in so I could just press record. The mpc live 2 makes it so much easier for me for example to go to a specific synth and start making music with it. im not just stuck to either using the synths sequencer or just playing without a sequencer..plugged into the headphone port with headphone wires dangling all over the place. so now I can use the mpc for either making keygroups easily like when sound designing or recording and sampling a sequence. In the past I would have to connect everything and do so much **** to sample etc. now the mpc being battery powered, not needing headphones, makes it so much easier. only thing I really need is a 1/4 plug and midi cable. this is for unplanned stuff, you know when you have some time and just start messing with **** and it turns into something good... obviously if Im planning on sitting down and creating id rather sample with the apogee, use preamps, and use the DAW. So this mpc is basically just another workflow added to the mix that helps me generate more music. a lot of times its just those ideas that would normally have just been gone since I would have had to turn on computer..connect wires, etc. it just makes it easier

Thanks for a great response, I see why mkII is perfect for your needs! But one thing: (and I mean this in the most light-hearted way) you have tons & tons of eurorack... and youre worried about the headphone cord?! But I get it, its nice to have the immediacy of the speaker!

lol. yea true, but the headphone cable is on my chin and doesnt allow me to move about freely.

CharlesRandolph wrote:Having and using are different things.

yea exactly, the live 2 has gotten me to actually use more of my shit, since its so much easier to sequence something and record it. one could argue that I could just use a laptop with an interface, but thats not fun lol.

The thing is that many people don't put it all out there and don't see the benefits.
Sure, more memory and such would have been helpfull but with a 2020 release of 2 new units it means that all these machine Live/2, one and X will most likely be supported much longer as they share the same hardware.

Just look at the hardware:
- Speaker is usefull for some and it's like Wireless charging. That was a gimmick untill the iphone had it and now it's a selling point as people suddenly see the advantages.
- Extra buttons, they DO make a difference and people were all hyped up with the extra buttons on the One and on the X it's Gold. Granted the Live2 could have used more buttons, but this is a step up and in No way a stepback
- CV gates for those who might need the, could make a big difference in the future if your hardware taste might change.
- Ethernet port, it's there for those who need it. Probably most won't even use it but it's a bonus.
- Master Volume at the top. Rock solid upgrade that you use all the time.
- 1/4 phone jack ! Much sturdier and mos def an upgrade from the 3.5mm audio port.
- According to some the Touchscreen is more responsive which is also a nice bonus

All in all i do think it's an upgrade and for those that never had the Live there is much extra value.
For those with the Live the upgrade might be worth it and for some it won't, you be the judge.
Now with the new Retro edition that is an extra incentive for some to upgrade and with the list above i think it's worth it coming from a Live. (I did just that)

Some people want to buy the One but don't like the smaller pads, no extra internal storage options and less in/outs but they think the Live 2 is too expensive, so it won't be hard to sell the Live and recoup some of the Live 2 investment.

I think the speakers are great really.

I notice many of the Live/Live II topics devolve into the RAM issue....

I guess people want to make a full blown production on the thing...and to each their own.

I bought my unit on a complete whim. Coming from the Maschine ecosystem, I never saw myself ever using an MPC. I saw the retro edition II and just gave AMS my money.

I never looked back. It's so fun.

I guess I choose to see what a unit can do rather than what it can't. People make bangers on the OP-1 and SP-404...heck even the 202

If you bought it, make it sing. Eventually Akai will give you want you want...probably in an entirely new unit, and sooner rather than later. And most of us will give them out money anyway lol. Enjoy your tools until then

It's one hell of a system.

Louis St. wrote:Eventually Akai will give you want you want...

...

Lol well ..... No product has a 100% content userbase.