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 Himelstein Fri Jan 13, 2023 7:56 pm
Ok, so I have my mpc hooked up in controller mode and have successfully integrated it with cubase 11. However- I’m kinda confused about using the mpc as the ASIO. It’s cool, I guess it’s almost like having two sound cards, but one isn’t connected to cubase?

Anyways- I was wondering what happens when it comes time to layer and overdub. Like- the tracks are all now coming out of the mpc, so how am I supposed to record guitar or whatever over top? The tracks from my computer are now coming out of the mpc and going into my mixer, which is then going into my interface.

I guess I should have clarified, my setup is basically my mixer running into an interface, so whatever is going into the mixer will be recorded.

Idk, if anyone can help me out- I guess I’m just kinda overwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing, and I can’t believe how crazy my studio is right now with cubase and the mpc smashed together
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By Lampdog Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:18 pm
Block diagram of your gear and connections would help us understand better.
Where will your guitar be connected?
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By akom-studio.com Sat Jan 14, 2023 12:19 am
When I connected my Live to my DAW, I basically decided to switch to using it as my interface. I use an external mixer for synths etc too, and while the Live's output also runs into the same mixer, one of the mixer's subgroups is routed into the Live's inputs. By this, I can monitor the DAW using the Live along with all outboard gear via my mixer, and also (using the subgroup) send dedicated tracks into the Live's input for recording (e.g. into Cubase).

Not sure if this helps, but I thought maybe it serves as an inspiration or similar.
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By Lampdog Sat Jan 14, 2023 2:30 am
Lots of people can benefit from this forward and meticulous type of thinking.
More need to follow that path and the forge their own signature path(s) when comfortable.
By Himelstein Thu Apr 06, 2023 6:59 pm
Reviving this:

Basically the whole thing I was trying to do was this: I wanted to be able to have my mpc live synced to cubase and integrated the way it is when I’m controller mode, just thru midi, without having to use midi cables from the mpc to the computer. I don’t really need/want the audio from cubase coming out of the mpc, I want it to behave like standalone, but MIDI and sync wise, I want it to be like when I switch the asio over and use it in controller mode in cubase.
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By hyena Thu Apr 06, 2023 10:32 pm
they developed it in strange ways in that department: if you just plug the usb cable to the computer, but keep the mpc in standalone, it wont send midi data over usb , whic-h sounded very weird to me... you can use the akai network midi driver tho , either via ethernet or wi-fi. i use it with an hackintosh laptop over wifi and it's pretty solid. for syncing i found out that the ableton link is much more stable and trusty than midi clock , at least over wifi. i don't know if steinberg integrated ableton link in cubase (logic has it, some other daws and software too), if it has i suggest you check it out, great improvement over midi clock, you can start\stop mpc or daw independently (but keeping the beat sync when they come back into play) or have them start\stop together.

using the akai network midi driver you can then use the pads as a midi controller, just use a midi program on a track and set its port to REMOTE.

personally i use a method very similar to Akom: i have the 8 subgroups outs of my mixer into 8 channels of a motu ultralite which is my computer soundcard, the output from the computer goes back into a stereo channel on the mixer, all six outputs of the mpc on six separate channels of the mixer, a copy of subgroups 7 & 8 going into audio inputs of the mpc. the mpc sends midi clock to a midi\cv interface in my modular and midi to other instruments (s950, a reface cp, some effects). this way i can record into separate tracks on the daw, i can send whatever goes into the mixer to the mpc for quick sampling or recording, and the ableton link keeps the daw in sync, while the midi clock out keeps the other tools in sync. this way even if i jam out something, its always recorded in grid in ableton, very easy to quick edit afterwards. integrating a mixer in your setup can be really helpful in having all under control and always ready to record\sample.