Mpc key61 for live use

hey, new member here!
I never touched an Mpc, I’m just a gigging keyboard player looking for a sampler keyboard to swallow my favorite sounds from my keyboards and vst, to play live. My plan is to pair the mpc keys with my Yamaha cp73 (digital piano), and use the akai only for the organ plugin and the multisamples that I want to steal from other gear. Does anybody know if it is stable enough for live use, just as I’m describing? And how long is the loading time of a “combi” with some splits and layers of multisampled instruments? I understand that I can load a project with 8 sounds ready to use, so I just need it to load the project fast enough to avoid keep the band waiting for the next song
Thanks in advance!

Tcl wrote:hey, new member here!
I never touched an Mpc, I’m just a gigging keyboard player looking for a sampler keyboard to swallow my favorite sounds from my keyboards and vst, to play live. My plan is to pair the mpc keys with my Yamaha cp73 (digital piano), and use the akai only for the organ plugin and the multisamples that I want to steal from other gear. Does anybody know if it is stable enough for live use, just as I’m describing? And how long is the loading time of a “combi” with some splits and layers of multisampled instruments? I understand that I can load a project with 8 sounds ready to use, so I just need it to load the project fast enough to avoid keep the band waiting for the next song
Thanks in advance!

Yes, as of the latest firmware it is absolutely stable for gigging. Loading projects can take 2 seconds, or it can take 10 seconds, or it can take more - it depends on how much crap you've loaded into RAM with said Project. Loading presets in most of the plugins is close to instant; loading presets in Fabric XL, Studio Strings, and Stage Piano can take a noticeable pause - some less than others; some more than others.

My advice is to buy one from a reputable retailer with a liberal return policy and give it a spin yourself. If it feels like it doesn't work for your workflow, return it. Unless you live by a Guitar Center (or similar local shop) that has one in stock so you can kick the tires?

Thank you for your answer!
Yeah, right now I’m working in a hotel in an island, so I don’t have any chance to try it.. that’s why I’m so reticent about buying it. I could wait a few months, until I’m back to the “civilization”, but the mpc would be very useful here..
I was a little afraid because of some YouTube videos claiming it isn’t usable live but I guess probably these guys are demanding much more from the keyboard.. I’ve seen in some videos most of plug-ins loading pretty fast, but I’ve no idea how much time would take to load my multisamples

To be honest I don’t even plan to use the pianos and eps much, cause I always prefer to use weighted keys for that (for years I gigged with a small nord electro and, although the sound was great, the feeling was terrible)

By the way, is it possible to play backing tracks from the main outputs while sending the metronome just for the band from output 3? And play only the organ plugin from output 4, to use a mini-vent pedal?

(I’m sorry for the ignorant questions but, as I’ve said, I’ve never touched an Mpc)

Replying to your last question, while I don't have a Keys, I have a Live, and I can do everything you asked about with that instrument. So I assume you can with the Keys.

Metronome. Page 102


MPC 2.11 Standalone User Guide (73.24 MB)