Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
By bignicky Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:53 am
Been a long time Maschine user and I've been wanting an MPC since the mk1 Live with standalone was released. I ended up getting the One as a Christmas present to myself. It's been a blast, although challenging getting used to a new interface.

1) I put some songs to sample onto my SD card and can't seem to figure out how to sample a song without directly recording it into the MPC. Is there any way to just drag in a file into the sampler? Do I always have to directly record the sample into the MPC in order to sample it?

2) (basically pt 2 of question 1 lol ) I have a record player and the wire I use to connect it to my audio interface also works with the inputs on the MPC, however the MPC doesn't pick anything up and I don't know what I am doing wrong. What is the recommended way to connect a record player using the MPC's interface?

Sometimes I just plug my record player into my laptop via usb and record from there (before getting the MPC). Can I just connect the record player to the MPC with the USB?


*****If you have experience with Maschine plz help with this one******

3) I think I have some confusion surrounding the relationship between Sequence, Track, and Program.

Is a Sequence both a Scene and a Pattern together?

Is a Program just the sound applied? What is a Track in relationship to the Maschine flow?

Is there a way to duplicate a sequence and then go from there? In Maschine I would make a pattern, then I would duplicate it and then edit the duplicated one (for drums; more/less hats, fill, stuff taken away/added, etc etc). Then I could apply the different patterns within selected scenes and see what fits. I don't understand how that would work within MPC

4) Inside MPC I can make a beat with multiple sounds (drums, bass, lead, etc) but after 2 or 3 little 4 bars or whatever I have a hard time understanding how to go from there.

I know that there is no computer connected and that I don't want to use the software, but I don't really get how to connect different sequences with each other and essentially create a full song (or hear at least more than my selected sequence just looping). I think I am either misunderstanding something or it's intended that at this time I just record it into Ableton (or MPC software) and arrange from there.


I absolutely love the standalone (the reason I bought it). My DAW is Ableton and I don't want to learn another software, I only want to use this in standalone. If I need to use the MPC software as some sort of 1-time work around for these issues (like the creating/uploading packs) then that's fine, but I don't want to rely on the software permanently.

Thank you for reading and I'm sorry if my questions are novice or if I posted in the incorrect spot. Thanks in advance for any and all replies :)
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By MPC-Tutor Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:33 am
Is there any way to just drag in a file into the sampler?


Check out the Browser, page 245 of the manual.

What is the recommended way to connect a record player using the MPC's interface?


MPC One doesn't have phono inputs, so you need a line level from your turntable. If it doesn't have one, you need to route it through a pre-amp or DJ mixer.

I think I have some confusion surrounding the relationship between Sequence, Track, and Program.

Can't comment on Maschine workflow as I'm not a user, but first check the manual's explanation of the MPC hierarchy (page 33).

I don't really get how to connect different sequences with each other and essentially create a full song


Check out song mode, page 285.

The manual is a good place to start to get an overview of all the features, but If you want to learn the mpc inside-out, check out my MPC Bible course:

https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php/268/mpc-bible/
By kaydigi Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:42 pm
Is a Program just the sound applied? What is a Track in relationship to the Maschine flow?


MPC Tracks are mostly equivalent to groups in Maschine

Groups in Maschine have more options/modes baked in, while the same options in the mpc are in separated to programs , program edit or the sampler option itself.