Workflow Questions - songmode, output, tracks

So I love using my MPC and making patterns on it. But turn these patterns in the songs can sometimes be a monotonous process. The song mode is so step based it doesn't feel like it captures the spontaneity of just jamming a pattern with the pads. This wouldnt be a problem if I could simply get isolated audio of all the different patches into my DAW for mixing and editing purposes. But with the selected a number of outputs it seems that isnt really possible.

I thought the audio interface USB connection would solve my problems but since you can only use either the internal or external audio interfaces no affordable Audio interface or anything I have laying around will solve this issue (due to lack of outputs). I have a nice interface but it is thunderbolt. and my U-24 zoom only has 4 outputs, not even an improvement on the MPC's 6. A big scarlett 18i20 v2 would solve this issue (as long as you could use the lightpipe IO which I dont know about) but its a bit expensive (about 300 used in my neck of the woods)


So far I've just been recording demos to 2track but I would like to be able to get more than six tracks out of my MPC for creating the framework of a song without having to go through the process of creating a song mode version. It feels more like DJing when you can just use the pads and
and mute and unmute things, switching between a few different patterns on the fly.

Does anyone or else work this way? And has anyone figured out a good way to get isolated tracks for mixing and editing out of this thing without going through the rigmarole of song and export??? I have done some songmode tracks to some success, just not what I want for this current collaboration, where spontaneity is more important.

i suspect there would be a way in controller mode to import the song or something like that but it takes away the sexy dawless workflow. I like that the MPC is the instrument and the Daw is like the tape recorder, keeping that separation is helpful for my creativity.

Anyways this is a topic i have been thinking about and wanted to ask the community what they thought.

If you are happy to work in controller mode you could create an aggregate audio device with the mpc and your Thunderbolt interface in your Mac, workflow is identical to standalone mode except you have a USB cable connected from the mpc instead of 6 audio cables. Use the aggregate device for mpc output and daw input.

As an aside, your workflow seems more suited to an akai force imo, which also has the linear arranger which can record and recall /edit live performances like the ones you describe

Thanks @MPC-Tutor this is the kind of answer I was hoping to find here. I will look on youtube and online for some help setting this up, unless you have a resource you recommend?

I have been using the MPC this way since the 1000 and I am just used to the flow. I am in love with the battery and speaker options now and so it's hard to imagine switching. I just love the pads and programming style. That being said I have never tried a Force and I will seek one out and keep an open mind.

In your Mac, go to the 'Audio MIDI Setup' App, go to Window > Audio Devices. On the bottom left, press + and choose 'Create Aggregate Device'. You can now combine 2 or more audio interfaces into a single device. Should be plenty of tutorials for this knocking around, it's pretty easy to set up though. Works well in my experience.