The limit of max 8 plug-ins - what does it mean ?

Hello all !
I have a question regarding the limit of 8 plug-ins max that are allowed in the sequencer.
Does it mean, that the sequencer can only manage 8 midi tracks ( plus 8 audio tracks ) ?
In other words, if I have no external midi gear (keyboard/expanders/etc.) and I want use only the MPC Key 61 to compose my music, am I also limited to 8 midi tracks inside the sequencer ?

Or does it mean, that I can use max 8 plug-ins, but freely choose from them max. 128 instruments to be used in the sequencer ?

Please elaborate.
Thanks in advance,
Sergio

You can have up to 128 midi tracks which includes clip programs, drum programs, midi programs, plugins, or keygroups but only a hard 8 instances of the internal plugins.

Hi Sergio,
In Standalone mode, you have a total of 128 midi tracks that can be used towards external Midi, or internal Programs (programs are made up of samples) and 8 of those 128 midi sequences can be Plugins (Odyssey, Electric, Mellotron, Baseline, etc). and you can still use 8 Audio tracks. You could also sample any of those 8 Plugins and make a Program out of those samples to free up a plugin spot for another.

Hope that helps,

Dave

I'm new to the MPC-Ecosystem.
If I correctly understand, extensions can be also used as instruments.
Now it seems more clear to me.
Thanks for the answers so far
Best regards,
Sergio

semar wrote:I'm new to the MPC-Ecosystem.
If I correctly understand, extensions can be also used as instruments.
Now it seems more clear to me.
Thanks for the answers so far
Best regards,
Sergio

Do you mean Expansions? If so, that's just a container that can have Keygroups, Drum Programs, (which are technically "instruments") and samples. Think of Expansions as a Reason ReFill, or if you're truly old school - a proprietary sound library from a floppy disc or ZIP drive.

'Extensions' is typically what auto-translation software converts the word 'expansions' to.

EnochLight wrote:

semar wrote:I'm new to the MPC-Ecosystem.
If I correctly understand, extensions can be also used as instruments.
Now it seems more clear to me.
Thanks for the answers so far
Best regards,
Sergio

Do you mean Expansions? If so, that's just a container that can have Keygroups, Drum Programs, (which are technically "instruments") and samples. Think of Expansions as a Reason ReFill, or if you're truly old school - a proprietary sound library from a floppy disc or ZIP drive.

Yes I mean Expansions
And yes I'm truly old school

it's a great question. To me, it means a typical initial reaction, a reaction that I have experienced myself, first-hand.
When I learned of the 8 max plug-in (not to mention drum synth multi can only have one instance) I thought of this as a limitation. And it is if you compare your MPC to a computer. But here's the thing I learned, and it changes the original question entirely: I am empowered with 8 synth plug-ins - what does this mean? It meant to me that I realized that the MPC is made to be a music production center. The bass synth is laid down, I can render to sample and free up that plug-in slot. That Hype synth I'm using in the chorus and bridge? It's perfect, so let's render this to a sample too and free up another plug-in slot.
But here's the thing. Over time it's possible your keygroup library builds to the point when you don't have to use instrument plugin all the time. Most of the songs I've made, I maybe use 5 or 6 instrument plugins at the most. I don't even have to bounce anything down to free up one of the eight slots available.

brisket wrote:it's a great question. To me, it means a typical initial reaction, a reaction that I have experienced myself, first-hand.
When I learned of the 8 max plug-in (not to mention drum synth multi can only have one instance) I thought of this as a limitation. And it is if you compare your MPC to a computer. But here's the thing I learned, and it changes the original question entirely: I am empowered with 8 synth plug-ins - what does this mean? It meant to me that I realized that the MPC is made to be a music production center. The bass synth is laid down, I can render to sample and free up that plug-in slot. That Hype synth I'm using in the chorus and bridge? It's perfect, so let's render this to a sample too and free up another plug-in slot.
But here's the thing. Over time it's possible your keygroup library builds to the point when you don't have to use instrument plugin all the time. Most of the songs I've made, I maybe use 5 or 6 instrument plugins at the most. I don't even have to bounce anything down to free up one of the eight slots available.

These are really wise words, which I feel completely to agree.
It's another approach at music composition/jamming, which forces us to be more creative in order to circumnavigate our composition challenges.

Don't let me wrong. In this world where everyone ( me too ) wants everything and now, I find nice to have lots of choices at disposal. It would be great to have an "unlimited" plug-ins ready to be played.

However, sometime I think that less is better.